Daniel Weston – Holme Pierrepont June 2025 ©Dave Mangan
Hannah Rhodes – Holme Pierrepont June 2025 ©Dave Mangan
Huw Swetnam – Holme Pierrepont June 2025 ©Dave Mangan
Karley Leeson – Holme Pierrepont June 2025 ©Dave Mangan
Lorelei Kennan – Holme Pierrepont June 2025 ©Dave Mangan
Kevin Campbell – Holme Pierrepont June 2025 ©Dave Mangan
Sam Leaver – Holme Pierrepont June 2025 ©Dave Mangan
Rachel Ellis – Holme Pierrepont June 2025 ©Dave Mangan
Sebastian Reeves – Holme Pierrepont June 2025 ©Dave Mangan
Latest Results
| Sun 12th Oct | Symonds Yat |
| Tees Barrage | |
| Sat 11th Oct | Symonds Yat |
| Tees Barrage | |
| Sun 5th Oct | Shepperton |
| Stone | |
| Sat 4th Oct | Shepperton |
| Stone |
Recent Promotions
Congratulations to:
1C1W Emma Wallace
2K1M Dexter Diggins
2C1M Thomas Henshaw
2K1M Drew Southan
2C1W Connie Albrighton
2K1M Nathan Hicks
3C1M Timo Storey
3K1M Timo Storey
2K1M Semir Ahmed
3K1W Poppy Neenan
3K1M Aneurin Friston-Kemble
3K1W Rebecca Brown
3C1M Jacob Riches
3K1M Ivijah Campbell-Bryan
3C1M Jacob Chattell
3K1W Josie Sparrow
3K1M Finn Martin
3C1W Anna Dovey
3C1M Fraser Diggins
Upcoming Events
Llandysul 1/2 DoubleLlandysul Paddlers |
Llandysul Lake Div 4 DoubleLlandysul Paddlers |
British Open Practice SessionsLee Valley Paddlesports Club |
Lee Valley Olympic Prem2025 - ICF World Ranking Race 1 & 2 And British Open |
Slalom coach job in Tasmania
Peter Eckhardt is looking to recruit a slalom coach in Tasmania commencing February 2025. Club/regional level coach, it is not novice or high performance. It would suit a slalom paddler looking to start coaching and wanting to explore the world or a current coach looking to try something different. The working holiday visa is automatic for two years, looking for at least a 12 month commitment.
Slalom Coaching Conference
Sunday 30th November 2025 10am – 4pm
The 2025 Slalom Coaching Conference is an opportunity to bring the slalom community together, to share experiences, practice and insight. The event will take place on the 30th November, the day after the Slalom Committee ACM (29th November). The conference will be hosted at Holme Pierrepont.
Full details can be found here.
Please register to attend the event via the form HERE by 9:00am on 17th November 2025, to allow us to account for catering numbers, dietary requirements, accessibility needs and to manage group rotation numbers.
Draft 2026 Senior, U23 & Junior GB Canoe Slalom & Kayak Cross Team Selection Policy
FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Once again, the IP shares this draft policy for consultation and welcomes all feedback to help the development of the 2026 policies prior to their publication by the end of December 2025. For this year, we have simplified the process by summarising the proposed key changes in this document whilst still allowing everyone to see the full draft if they wish to by following the link provided. The draft policy builds on the selection process used in 2025 and in particular incorporates the feedback from the questionnaire shared in May 2025 following the selection process. Please be aware that the ICF have recently shared initial proposals for the Olympic Qualification System (OQS) which may have an impact on the final senior policy as explained later in this document.
Please take time to tell us what you like about the policy as well as dislikes, errors or omissions as if you don’t tell us that you like it, we may change aspects in response to feedback. Thank you in advance for reading and providing feedback.
Please feedback on the policy HERE by 23:59 on Wednesday 29th October 2025.
ACM Advanced Notice
As the end of the racing season comes into sight, a reminder that the Slalom ACM will be on Saturday 29th November 2025, 10am, at Paddle UK HQ, Nottingham.
Any item for inclusion on the Agenda at the Annual Consultative Meeting, not originating from the Paddle UK Canoe Slalom Committee must be signed by two Individual Members who are members of and represent a Voting Club. (See the committee’s Terms of Reference section 8.5 for further details). Agenda items must be received by the Secretary (slalom.secretary@vol.paddleuk.org.uk) by Friday 24th October.
There is also the opportunity for willing volunteers to be elected to the Slalom Committee to help the running and future of the sport.
The Secretary and Vice Chair roles are due for election this year, additionally Sally Atkinson is stepping down as Chair, so that role will also be up for election. Several Committee Member roles are also due for election. The committee is particularly keen to identify someone willing to take on the role of Safety Officer on the committee. Individuals can be nominated by two individual home nation members. Enquires or nominations to the Secretary please.
Ed Ecclestone Award
Ed Ecclestone was a quiet man, working in the background to smooth the wheels and ensure that paddlers could concentrate on paddling. If there was a problem all you had to do is ask and he would sort it out, whether it was getting a replacement trailer, sorting a hotel or getting food for lunch. In his memory, this trophy was created to recognise those supporting our sport from out of the limelight, truly ‘hiding their light under a bushel’. Anyone can be nominated and can nominate someone. The award itself is decided by the previous nominees and the winner announced at the ACM.
If you would like to nominate someone for this year’s award, please send your nomination including a few paragraphs to the Secretary (slalom.secretary@vol.paddleuk.org.uk) by 22nd November 2024.
Clarification of Rules Regarding ‘Priority Entry Deadline’ (29th Sept 2025)
It has recently come to the Slalom Committee’s attention that the rules regarding Priority Entry Deadline are incorrect in the published 2025 Canoe Slalom Rules. Full details and the correct wording can be found here: Priority Entry Deadline Rule Clarification Sept 2025 Final.
National Trophy Co-ordinator Role
Fiona Pennie is stepping down as coordinator for national trophies awarded at the end of season and championship events (thank you for your efforts). Therefore, we are seeking for volunteer(s) to take on this important non-committee role. You would issue trophies to the winners each year, ensure winners are aware of their responsibility for their trophy, keep a record of winners, and collect them back in ahead of their being awarded for the following year. It may also involve arranging occasional maintenance of trophies or boxes. Fi is keen to ensure the good system that is in place continues so will provide a detailed handover and is happy to support volunteer(s) during their first year in the role. It is possible this role could be split between a couple of volunteers each looking after different sets of trophies. Please contact the Slalom Secretary or Fiona Pennie for further information or to volunteer.
Return your bibs
With the end of the season in sight, it is time to start thinking about how you are going to return your bib when you finish racing this season. The following bib officers will be at races as indicated and are happy to collect your bib.
Symonds Yat Div 2/3
Emma Godwin will collect any Div 2 or Div 3 Bibs
Tees Barrage Prem/1
Les Ford Div 1 K1M
Craig Douglas Div 2 K1M
Oli Snowdon Prem and Div 1 C1M
Karen Crowhurst any bib.
Llandysul Div 1/2
Les Ford Div 1 K1M
Emma Godwin Div 2 and Div 3 C1M
Karen Crowhurst any bibs
Lee Valley Prem
Tracy Wells Prem K1M
Paul Mew Vets
Karen Crowhurst Prem K1W, Div 1K1M, Div1 K1W Div 3 K1M
Oli Snowdon Prem and Div 1 C1M
Stuart Meakins C2
Otherwise please post you bib back to your bib officer when you finish racing this season.
Introduction of New Safety Officer Induction
The Safety Officer Induction is now available, and is designed for those that hold Safety Officer roles within National Association Communities, Clubs, Disciplines and Delivery Partners, assisting and supporting them in their role as a Safety Officer.
The workshop is free of charge and is open to those who have the role of Safety Officer within their organisation. In order to attend you must have completed the Risk Assessment eLearning. Discount codes for this eLearning are available from your Club newsletters, Discipline Committee or Delivery Partner dashboards.
This induction replaces the Event Safety Management Training.
You can book your place on the following dates using the links: 29th September, 27th October, 24th November
The Standards for Deployment have been updated to reflect this change with the following FAQ added to the list
What Training do I need as a safety officer?:
All Safety Officers need to have attended the Safety Officer Induction Programme, and then continually engage with professional development through the Safety Officer newsletters and workshops. Safety Officers that have already completed the Event Safety Training will need to attend the new Safety Officer Induction Programme within a 3 year period of their training.
Standards for Events
As discussed already with each of the discipline committees, Paddle UK will introduce a standards for events in 2026. We’ve recognised that we can do more for volunteer event organisers and have consolidated the available information, current guidance and resource into a Standard for Events document. The aim is to better clarify benchmarks for events that run under the Paddle UK banner and to provide support on how to achieve this.
Inter-Club Championships 2025
This year’s event on 6/7 September saw eleven squads from eight different clubs compete at Cardington Slalom Course. Each squad consisted of 12 boats (13 paddlers) plus a squad manager. Each boat races in a team and an individual race and scores 1 point for a win, 2 for second etc. The squad with the lowest points wins.
This year’s winners of the Nomad Cup for the winning squad was Stafford & Stone A scoring a magnificent 28 points. Viking KC came second with 68 points with Lee Valley and Stafford & Stone B in joint 3rd close behind with 72 points. Well done to all who took part and a big thank you to Donna Hawkins (Organiser) and all the volunteers who made the event possible.
| Overall Inter-Clubs Results 2025 | Perpetual Trophy Winners 2025 |
| Category Trophy & Award Winners | Race Results |
Proposals for the Future Structure of Slalom Competition
As you know proposals for the proposals for the future structure of canoe slalom racing in the UK were presented in April. Based on feedback received at the event and the subsequent consultation surveys, work has been ongoing to revise the proposal. The key principles of the revised proposals are:
- Retain Divisions for Ranking, Results, Prizes and Promotion (this is the key change from the original proposal).
- Allow paddlers to have full choice of where they race; simplify the calendar; and describe courses and venues using the proposed Tier System.
- Provide compatible performance points across all Tiers as originally proposed.
These are proposals to be voted on at the Slalom Annual Consultative Meeting (ACM) on 29th November.
The application window for the 2025-26 England Slalom Talent Programme has opened. Any athlete wishing to be considered for inclusion to the 2025/26 Canoe Slalom England Talent Programme must complete this expression of interest form by 12:00 noon on 20 October 2025. Application is via the link HERE. Full qualification criteria can be found HERE.
Athletes who are currently a member of the England Slalom Talent Programme and who remain Juniors in 2026 do not need to apply as you will automatically be reconsidered for the 2025/26 squad.
How to Change Your Club on the Ranking List
Any paddler that wants to amend their Club on the ranking list needs to email the relevant Bib Officer with the details of the change needed, this needs to come from the paddler or their parent. You can also list a second club or sponsor on the ranking list – again please contact the relevant Bib Officer.
Canoe Slalom Code of Conduct
Raising Happy Champs
Train the Team Behind the Team! Support your Athletes by Empowering their Parents!
Successful sport outcomes happen when the coach-athlete-parent triangle is strong but while coaches are trained and athletes are supported parents are often left out of the game plan.
Through our experiences as a sporting family — the highs, the exhaustion, the uncertainty — I’ve come to deeply understand how important the parent role is in youth sport. So, as part of my PhD in sport psychology, I spent seven years designing the Super-P Workshop, a science-backed education program for sport parents. It’s the only parent education program to be scientifically tested and shown to reduce anxiety, improve competition outcomes, and strengthen communication between coach, parent and athlete.
Now, through Raising Happy Champs, a small but passionate team (just myself and one brilliant colleague!), we’re working to bring this workshop to clubs and organisations across all sports and all levels. It’s a one-off, 2-hour live workshop — and the feedback has been fantastic. One coach even told me, “The whole atmosphere of the club has changed.”
A short PDF is available with more details about the SUPER-P Club info Slalom and what we offer through Raising Happy Champs. If this is of interest oto your slalom club please get in touch.
Dr. Jen Harris
Psychologist | Founder, Raising Happy Champs www.raisinghappychamps.com
Water Quality Alert
Since the start of the year, Paddle UK has received an increase in the number of incident reports submitted through the online incident reporting system in which paddlers have been ill and that water quality was a possible cause.
Whether you are paddling, organising paddling activities, running an event or supporting others during a challenge, it is important to consider what approaches we can take to minimise possible illness.
Risk Assessment
If you are organising a paddling activity, or running an event it is highly recommended that water quality is part of the risk assessment process, taking into account the activity, environment and those that could be at risk. Use the AI Risk Assessment Checker to support you in the development of your risk assessment.
Paddle UK has comprehensive advice and guidance which can be found here.
Clarification of the UK Judging Rules (11th April 2025)
Following a few recent queries about the Judging Rules the Slalom Committee wish to clarify the interpretation of the rules in UK, particularly regarding Prem and Division 1 events. Rule Clarification Statement (April 2025)
Combined Kayak and Canoe Prize
For 2025, the England Slalom Talent Programme in conjunction with Peak PS will once again be offering a prize for the Male and Female paddlers aged J16 that have accumulated the greatest combined points total in kayak and canoe over the course of the 2025 domestic season. There will be a separate prize for each gender, where each prize winner will receive a £100 Peak PS gift voucher as a reward.
Last year there were a total of 121 paddlers who scored points towards the combined prize criteria with over 1000 start lists throughout the season. The overall 2024 winners were Amber Forster (Holme Pierrepont Canoe Club) and Nathan Hicks (Stafford & Stone Canoe Club).
Full details of this combined prize can be found HERE. The combined league rankings will be updated throughout the season to show paddlers rankings in relation to this combined prize.
Volunteering in Slalom Training Offer
The Slalom Committee have developed and trialled a presentation to help recruit and train more people to volunteer at events. The presentation covers judging and timing roles and aims to inform people about these roles and the relevant rules, and encourage volunteers to get involved with running events. This can be combined with getting people to have a go a these roles supported by an experienced official. The trial run at September’s HPP Prem/1 event saw several new judges and section judges being recruited.
The committee would like to offer this suport to event organisers and clubs. We have a number of people willing to deliver the training which could be at club evenings, at events or training days. At events this could include supporting new volunteers into these roles. If you would like to arrange a training sessions for potential volunteers please contact Sally Atkinson.
Check out John Gregory’s ICF slalom podcasts
There are 95 episodes which can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Despite the name this is not an ICF product. John came up with the ICFslalom hashtag early in the 2015 season. The podcast started in 2019. This last year there were 58 guests across the 27 episodes. Series 4 were daily episodes through the Olympics and series 5 started this autumn. Lots of British guests and stories.
The Slalom Start Box
As announced in October, Paddle UK is excited to introduce the Slalom Start Box, a comprehensive toolkit designed to support paddler recruitment within clubs to increase the number of children and young people engaged in canoe slalom across the UK. Slalom Start builds on the incredible work that all clubs and volunteers do to introduce children and young people to the amazing sport of canoe slalom. It is intended to help share this knowledge and empower others to engage more people in canoe slalom. The digital toolkit is now available and supporting webinars are taking place during the winter, you can sign up here. If you have any queries please contact slalom start
Slalom Progress Awards
Last year Canoe Wales and the England Slalom Talent Programme, in conjunction with the England Slalom Committee, presented the new Slalom Progress Awards. We have updated the Awards for this year.
New C2 pairings
Apply direct to the C2 Bib Officer – you do not need to go through reinstatement. Ranked C2 pairs may enter races at any level.
Minutes of Slalom Committee Meetings
25 September 2025
26 August 2025
8 July 2025
24 May 2025
6 April 2025
11 March 2025
Next meeting:
Sat 8th November
ACM Sat 29th November
England Slalom Talent Programme Squad
The England Slalom Talent Programme have published their Qualification Criteria for 2025/26. A link can be found HERE.
