With five months to go until the ICF 2021 Canoe Freestyle World Championships, the GB Freestyle team have selected Holme Pierrepont Country Park, home of the National Water Sports Centre, as its Centre of Excellence for training.
The National Watersports Centre’s white water course is recognised nationally as one of the best freestyle facilities in the UK and is due to host the ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in July this year.
As part of the new partnership, Holme Pierrepont Country Park will provide those selected onto the GB Freestyle team with access to a range of benefits to enhance their performance. This will include an extension of the benefits and discounted services currently available across the site to British Canoeing’s World Class Programme athletes who use Holme Pierrepont’s training facilities.
Over the past four years, the GB Freestyle development pathway has made major steps forward to support GB Freestyle athletes and community programmes aiming to enrich athlete development opportunities and grow participation at grassroot levels.
This new partnership shines a light on the progress of British Canoeing’s Stronger Together Strategy for non-Olympic disciplines. It also highlights the world class facilities provided by Holme Pierrepont Country Park; home of the National Water Sports Centre.
2018 freestyle silver medallist and contender for this year’s Freestyle World Championship title, Harry Price, said:
“The National Water Sports centre has been the training ground for many of the world’s top freestyle kayakers since it was built in 1986. With the 2021 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships set to be the most competitive event in freestyle history, our preparation for the event could not be more important.
“We are super excited about the partnership between GB Freestyle and the Holme Pierrepont Country Park. Access to their facilities is going to be a game changer for the GB Freestyle athletes.”
Jack Garner, Contract Manager at Holme Pierrepont Country Park, home of the National Water Sports Centre, said:
“We are delighted to be hosting the ICF 2021 Canoe Freestyle World Championships later this year, and showcase an amazing freestyle white water facility to paddlers from around the world. Alongside the desire to inspire the future generation of paddlers, we are proud to support the freestyle community within the sport and provide a legacy for the event.”
The partnership comes in the build up to the biggest event in the freestyle calendar, the ICF 2021 Canoe Freestyle World Championships. Held every two years, the event is the pinnacle of the international freestyle calendar. From the 12-17 July 2021, over 200 of the world’s best freestyle paddlers from more than 25 countries will head to the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham to battle it out for eight world champion titles.
GB Freestyle Chairman Andrew F Jackson, said:
“I am incredibly excited to be entering this new partnership with the Holme Pierrepont Country Park which will support team members by allowing them unique opportunities to access the Holme Pierrepont white water course – one of the best locations for freestyle kayaking in the world.
“Our volunteers, team and all those involved with freestyle in the UK look forward to developing a great legacy through the work we do together over the coming years.”
The 2021 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships are supported by:
International Canoe Federation * Holme Pierrepont Leisure Trust and Holme Pierrepont Country Park * Nottinghamshire County Council * Visit Nottinghamshire * Nottingham City Council * Rushcliffe Borough Council * Jaffa * Energy Generator * Peak UK * Ecoworks Marine * Aquapac
