Asda Athletes

Its been a few weeks since my last blog and in that time I have done another store visit to promote yorkshire day and promote kayaking to families again. It proved very successful with my local canoe club having many new faces join in on its weekly pool sessions which help younger paddlers to become accustom to the world of paddling. As well as this I have recently moved to Kettering Northamptonshire which is throwing up its own problems in finding somewhere to train which proves difficult when most places are restricted such as lakes and access to rivers.

I feel that access to sport should be made far easier now with the recent success of british olympians but this doesn’t seem to happen as far as land owners and exclusive sports clubs are concerned. Does anybody out there have any opinions on this or ideas of how we can get around this as aspiring british sportsmen and women?

Also if anyone that’s reading my blog knows of somewhere near Kettering in which I can train on a river/canal or even a lake any knowledge of this would be greatly appreciated.

This saturday was the Charity Gala in Brighouse which was a great sunny day out until the rain came and when it came it really did. Myself and ASDA store Huddersfield set up with the rest of the sports teams trying to encourage kids to take up sport as a good way to keep fit and have fun whilst making new friends.

I managed to get alot of people interested in kayaking as a leisure active aswell as a few being interested within the competitive aspect of kayak racing from flat water sprint racing to down river racing.

Unfortunately we didnt raise any money to aid within my training and race entry fees but a positive point is that many kids will be taking up the opportunity to come and try kayaking at our weekly club sessions at dewsbury sports centre on a saturday afternoon.

I feel it is important to constantly encourage kids to take up sport and try something new as it broadens there horizons and also helps them to become healthier fitter athletes.

I received my cheque from my local asda store at the start of april after unfortunatley not being able to make the workshop in manchester due to training commitments for the run up to selection for the senior team.

Unfortunatley I didnt make the senior team but it is only my first year as a senior so I’m not too put off by this.

I am currently concentrating on my marathon paddling and at the minute I am competing well as I have been promoted to division four after just two marathon races this season in the midlands region.
T
he sprint season is part way through now and I am consistently pulling personal bests at the regattas despite the changeable weather this year. However I am hoping to be promoted to Mens B which is the division above my current one but I musnt get too hung up over this as my current performance may start to slip because of me being too critical upon myself.