I think the decision to aim for the Olympic qualifiers was never really made but was always with me since my early days in a boat. I can't explain it, it's just the way it is; to compete at my best at the highest level. So, around September 2008 I made a decision to do something about it; to concentrate all my efforts into slalom training for the next while with the only aim being "to be able to look back and say I did my best"



This blog is the story of my journey
.




Summer 2010 roadtrip

I will be competing in three World Cup Races, Czech Republic, Spain and Germany. After five weeks is the Pre Worlds in Slovakia, with the Slovak open the following week.

Depending on my results at the World Cups I also hope to qualify for the World Championships in Slovenia.

Having never competed at this level before, it's going to be a steep learning curve, but thats what I'm here for.

PREVIOUS RESULTS

At C1 National level I am unbeaten in Slalom and Freestyle.

As a kayaker:
I have competed in marathon racing since 1994 including Liffey descents (1st in '97) and Exe Descents (1st '97 and '98. Nationally I have many wins and top placings as a junior and senior.
I also played polo from 1994 including Junior Irish Squad in '95.
I have been involved in slalom since 1995 and in freestyle since 1997. My first surf event was in 1998 and first boatercross was in 1999

As a canoeist:
I finished 4th in the '99 Liffey Descent and 1st in the '99 Exe Descent.
I started competing in C1 freestyle also in 1999 finishing 19th over all at the Sluice Rodeo in Dublin. For the 2008 Squad selection I finished 2nd, again competing against kayakers.
Since 1999 I have paddled C1 at boatercross and surf events.

Canoe Slalom
I was ranked at the bottom of Division 1 in the UK for 2009. Three wins out of five during the season now puts me at the bottom of Premier Division.

OTHER HOBBIES/INTERESTS