GB Freestyle Kayaking

17/06/2026

WE NEED YOU!

We're looking for volunteers to join the Academy Camp Catering Team this August and help keep our athletes, coaches and volunteers fuelled for an action-packed week on and off the water.

From helping plan menus and catering for dietary requirements to preparing meals during camp, you'll be part of a small but hugely important team at the heart of the event.

Experience in catering is helpful, but enthusiasm, teamwork and a willingness to get stuck in are just as important.

📍 Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham
📅 10-14 August 2026

Camping, food and relevant water access fees are all provided.

If you'd like to be part of a brilliant week and help support the next generation of freestyle paddlers, get in touch.

📧 [email protected]

Please share with anyone who would be interested 🩵

15/06/2026

We are so super proud of our very own Matt Stephenson (raft guide, coach and Duty Manager here at the centre) who is competing in the Freestyle European championships this year in Neitikoski, Eastern Finland.

Yesterday (Friday), Matt paddled in semi finals kayak with some amazing paddlers, finishing 6th. Today he is competing in C1 finals at 11:40 (9:40 UK time).

The livestream is on the Paddle Europe YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/

We wish you all the best, Matt!

15/06/2026

15/06/2026

What a week for Team GB at the European Freestyle Championships in Lieksa, Finland!

From the first training sessions on the challenging Neitikoski wave through to the finals, our athletes represented Great Britain with determination, skill and sportsmanship, taking on the very best paddlers from across Europe.

The headline results:

🥇 Math Cradock – Junior Men's K1 European Champion
🥉 Matthew Stephenson – Bronze Medal, Men's C1
🥉 Isabella Wormall – Bronze Medal, Women's K1
🥉 Ottilie Burrill Smith – Bronze Medal, Women's C1

Beyond the medals, Team GB showed impressive depth throughout the competition.

👏 Congratulations to those who also fought their way through to the semi-finals

• Alan Ward – Men's K1 Semi-finalist
• Gavin Barker – Men's K1 Semi-finalist
• Sam Worgan – 4th place, Junior Men's K1
• Jack Purcell – Junior Men's K1 Semi-finalist
• Michael Rose – Junior Men's K1 Semi-finalist
• Ottilie Burrill Smith – Junior Women's K1 Semi-finalist
• Olivia Watkins – Junior Women's K1 Semi-finalist

A special mention also goes to those athletes who may not have progressed beyond the heats but who proudly pulled on the GB vest, gave everything on the water and contributed to the spirit and success of the team throughout the week. Championship experience is earned through every training session, every run and every competition, and every member of Team GB played an important role in this campaign.

Success on the water is only possible because of the people behind the scenes. A huge thank you to our coaches, team leaders, support staff, volunteers, families and supporters who travelled, organised, encouraged and worked tirelessly throughout the championships. Your dedication enables our athletes to perform at their best and represent Great Britain on the international stage.

Four medals. One European title. Multiple finalists and semi-finalists. Countless proud moments.

Congratulations to everyone who represented Team GB in Lieksa. The future of British freestyle kayaking is looking incredibly bright 🌞

Head to our Linktree for photos and more on this fantastic event.
https://linktr.ee/gbfreestyle

Instagram users please head to our profile 🙌

14/06/2026

WE NEED YOU!

We're looking for Volunteer Coaches to join us at Academy Camp 2026 and help inspire the next generation of freestyle paddlers.

Working alongside our coaching team, you'll support young athletes as they develop new skills, build confidence and push themselves both on and off the water.

This is a fantastic opportunity to give back to the sport, share your knowledge and be part of an amazing week of paddling.

To volunteer you'll need:
✔ Freestyle Coach Training or White Water Leader Award
✔ Confidence operating from the water
✔ Strong paddling and rescue skills suitable for HPP

📍 Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham
📅 AVAILABILITY between 8-15th August 2026

Camping, food and relevant water access fees are all included.

Want to be involved?

Email 📧 [email protected]

Please share with anyone who might be interested 💙

14/06/2026

Congratulations to Matthew Stephenson on winning Bronze in C1 Men at the 2026 Paddle Europe Freestyle Championships in Lieksa, Finland.

Competing against some of the strongest paddlers in Europe, Matthew delivered when it mattered most, earning his place on the podium with a fantastic performance in the final.

European Championship medals are never easy to come by. They are built on countless hours on the water, dedication through the highs and lows, and the determination to keep pushing for improvement. This bronze medal is a fitting reward for all that hard work.

Matthew has represented Great Britain with distinction throughout the championships, showing skill, consistency and composure on a demanding feature against a world-class field.

To come away from a European Championships with a medal is a tremendous achievement, and one that should be celebrated.

Congratulations, Matthew. A brilliant result and a well-deserved place on the podium. 🥉🇬🇧

14/06/2026

A huge congratulations to Math Cradock on becoming K1 Junior Men European Champion at the 2026 .europe Freestyle Championships in Lieksa, Finland.

Math arrived in Lieksa in strong form, qualifying comfortably through the preliminary rounds before securing his place in the final with a second-place finish in the semi-finals. When the medals were on the line, he stepped up once again, producing a winning score of 1031.67 points to claim the European title.

The Junior Men’s competition showcased some of the best young freestyle talent in Europe, making this achievement all the more impressive. To stand on top of the podium against such a strong international field is a remarkable accomplishment and a sign of the hard work, talent and commitment that Math brings to the sport.

Championships can be unpredictable. They demand consistency, composure and the ability to deliver under pressure. Throughout the week, Math showed all three, saving one of his best performances for the final when it mattered most.

To leave Lieksa as a European Champion is something very special.

Congratulations, Math. Enjoy every second of it. You’ve earned it. 🥇🇬🇧

📸 Janne Mettälä

14/06/2026

A huge congratulations to Isabella Wormall on winning bronze in K1 Women at the 2026 .europe Freestyle Championships in Lieksa, Finland.

After qualifying for the final in a fiercely competitive women’s field, Isabella saved her best performance for when it mattered most. Her final score of 413.33 points secured third place, edging Austria’s Jasmin Stangl-Brachnik by just 3.33 points in one of the closest battles of the championships.

The women’s podium was a showcase of the next generation of freestyle talent, and Isabella proved she belongs right amongst Europe’s very best. Throughout the week she showed consistency, determination and the ability to perform under pressure, progressing from fourth in the preliminaries, to fifth in the semi-finals, and ultimately onto the podium when the medals were on the line.

A European Championship medal is something special. To win one by such a fine margin makes it all the sweeter.

Congratulations, Isabella. What a way to finish the championships. 🥉🇬🇧

📸 Jarno Artika

14/06/2026

A huge congratulations to Ottilie Burrell Smith on winning Bronze in C1 Women at the 2026 .europe
Freestyle Championships in Lieksa, Finland.

Standing on a European Championship podium is a special achievement and a reward for the hard work, dedication and resilience that goes into competing at this level.

Throughout the week Ottilie showed determination, skill and composure on a challenging feature, earning her place amongst the best freestyle paddlers in Europe and bringing home a well-deserved medal for Great Britain.

We’re incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved and can’t wait to see what comes next.

Congratulations, Ottilie. Enjoy every moment of it! 🇬🇧🥉

📸 Jarno Aritika

13/06/2026