Disappointment for Team GB canoeists

CANOE POLO

STRATFORD canoeists Nicole Brain and Danielle Brain helped Great Britain senior women’s team to fifth place in the first leg of the European Cup competition.

The two sisters travelled to southern Poland for the competition but it was mixed fortunes for Team GB, with some crushing victories and a couple of frustrating defeats.

Nicole, 23, swim manager at Stratford Leisure Centre, and Dani, 18 and who is now at Liverpool University, headed to Kaniow for the second international of 2016, were joined by GB Women’s Coach, Stratford’s 1992 Canoe Slalom Olympian Paul Brain.

But while the girls travelled by plane and minibus, Paul and national referee Steve Watts had to make the 2,000 mile return trip to Poland in a minibus with the team’s eight canoe polo boats and the kit inside.

The weekend started well for GB with three wins in a row before three defeats meant they missed out on the semi-finals.

Playing in the fifth-sixth play-off, Team GB then ended with a flourish to crush the Czech Republic 8-0.

Read a full report in this week's Herald.