Canoe Competition

I would first of all like to say a big thank you to the committee for giving me money towards a new boat.

It is over 2 weeks ago now that I had my first International competition as a member of the Great Britain team. I think that I have just about recovered, mentally and physically. I didn't realise that I would be nervous just thinking about it a week before I went, this got worse and worse until it turned into excitement about 2 days before I went.

Teams that we were playing in were of mixed ability with players who were in the Worlds last year mixed up with the players who weren't. This was so the teams were even. It was an important weekend for some people as it was selection for the Europeans, which are to be held in Poland in August. I wasn't particularly bothered, as I knew that I didn't have enough experience at high level to be considered. But hopefully in 2 years time I will be selected for the European and Worlds team.

This competition was held in Belgium near a town called Charleroi. In order to be there in time to have a training session on the water, we set off at 5 o'clock in the morning from Huddersfleld. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon we eventually arrived at the venue (after having a pretty big detour thanks to the bad maps and my even worse map reading). We had our training session, and managed to get all our muscles back into almost working order. We then went about trying to find our accommodation - 2 hours later, after getting lost yet again (this time it had absolutely nothing to do with me) we managed to find it. By this time we were all extremely tired as it was about 9 o'clock, but we still had to eat. After a team meeting we eventually got to bed at about 1 in the morning. Having to be up at 6.30 the next day proved to be pretty difficult, but we managed. Having breakfast also proved very difficult, it just didn't happen, which as people who know me will understand is very strange - I was extremely nervous. Luckily my friend who was also on my team was also very nervous.

Our first game was against a German club team - we managed to beat them about 7 or 8 - O. It was a really good game to start off with as it calmed down my nerves. We then played the French U21 team, we beat them, then played the Spanish National team we played really well and beat them 4-1. Our last game was against a Belgium team, we again played well and beat them. These results meant that we were at the top of our league. The other GB Senior Womens team, were at the top of their league, the development squad was second but due to the (bad) luck of the draw the GB U21 womens team didn't do so well.

The next day we played Ireland A team and beat them, this meant we were into the semi-finals - not bad for a first international, but our good fortune had almost run out, we played the Dutch A team and lost against them. Our other Womens senior team had lost their second game against the French A team. We then swopped teams and we played the French A team, but lost, our other team lost against the Dutch A team. This meant that the French and Dutch A teams would play in the final against each other. We found out that we had to play our other team - it seemed a long way to come just to play our other team! We were playing for third and fourth places. An excellent game was played by both of the teams, it helped that we won 6-3. We had come third, I was really pleased, I had played the best I ever had and scored 3 times in the competition, which isn't bad really as I'm the goal keeper!!

The summer competition season has now started. In 2 weeks time I have the National Championships, then 2 weeks after that I have Liverpool International. Both of those are with my team, Old Speckled Hens. I am then going to Belgium again, playing for the GB team. I am then going to Leper, yet again in Belgium, then to Ireland these are both with my team. So I've got plenty to do, somewhere I've got to fit a holiday and another GB training weekend in. It is then the start of the indoor season. I am really enjoying competing at this level I even enjoy all the training.

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	Swaledale Outdoor Club

Canoe Competition

Ellie Bridgstock