Over the summer Olivia Wears (Form I) became the Scottish champion in slalom kayaking in her age group—Junior 12 K1 Women. The Scottish Junior Slalom Championships were held on the River Tweed, near Selkirk, on Sunday 12 August.
Olivia has been involved with kayaking for three years now, having been introduced to the sport in 2015 when her mother enrolled her in a one-week taster course at a local kayaking club. Before that, she had paddled on Gartmorn Dam with her father. She trains with the CRCATS Canoe Club—several previous members of the club have represented GB in the Olympic Games and World Championships.
Olivia trains on the River Devon, near Alva, and also at Grandtully and in Glasgow at the Pinkston Watersports Centre, for whitewater experience.
‘I like the adrenaline,’ says Olivia. ‘Because when I go down the drops, my hair blows back and I like the feeling of the wind in my face. It’s just such a different thing to do, and I really enjoy it.’ She is beginning to compete far and wide and says that almost every weekend is now taken up with training or competing.
Typically, she trains three times a week and, this summer, she attended a two-week training camp in France with her club. And she competes in kayak slalom events throughout Great Britain. There are five national divisions for K1 and Olivia currently compete in Division 2. These divisions are open to all ages, so she is used to competing against adults. She was delighted to claim the title of Junior 12 K1 Women at the Scottish Junior Slalom Championships on the River Tweed this summer, and looks forward to more such exciting competitions.
