Photos:
Tom Clare Photography,
Lisette Nixon,
Andy Aldred,
Beth Kirby,
Ottilie Robinson-Shaw
Chris Hill &
Mike Shaw
The Paddler magazine is proud to present the GB freestyle team
Team GB will compete at the 2022 ICF Freestyle World Championships in Nottingham from June 27th through to July 2nd and will be counting on a home crowd’s full support.
SENIOR MEN
Robert Crowe
Nottingham local Rob has won five British Championships, Natural Games 2018 and finished fourth at the Worlds in 2017. An experienced competitor who finished first in the GB team selection. He broke into the 2k club with a ride of over 2,500 points.
Harry Price
Junior Bronze medal winner at the 2017 World Championships and 2018 second place ICF World Cup medalists. Harry is the current ICF record holder and member of the 2k club with a score of 2,600 points at the 2021 British Championships.
Gav Barker
Starting freestyle in a top-end Acrobat 270, Gav has since represented GB at numerous World and European competitions and was the first athlete to break the ICF 2,000 point barrier. Having won two Brit Champs, a powerful competitor, finished 6th at the 2017 Worlds, Hurley Classic winner 2019 and most recently won gold at Galway Fest 2022.
Toby Marlow
Since making the leap from juniors to seniors and known as a fearless competitor, this will be Toby’s first senior world championship, having won gold as a junior at the European Championship in Paris 2021.
James Bebbington
Representing GB since 2004, James ‘Pringle’ Bebbington won the World Cups in 2010 and followed it up with a World Championship title in Plattling, Germany 2011.
SENIOR WOMEN
The women’s category has six competitors due to Ottie Robinson-Shaw’s ICF Sort win granting her a ‘bye’.
Ottilie Robinson-Shaw
Ottie has been one of the most dominant junior freestylers in history, winning two ICF World Championship titles. A fearsome competitor, she will have eyes on another world title after winning the Senior European Championship in Paris in 2021.
Jennifer Leal
European junior Bronze medalist from Paris 2021 and first year on the senior women’s team.
Lowri Davies
Now in her third decade of representing team GB, since her first in 2001. Lowri has won six British Championships and a European title and has been in numerous World finals.
Heidi Walsh
In her fifth year as a senior, Heidi is charging in multiple disciplines, most recently taking the overall win earlier this year at Galway fest 2022.
Emma Witherford
Competing in her third world championships, Emma will be looking to build off her score from Paris, where she set the women’s highest single ride score and improve upon her last World Championship finish of 12th.
Kim Aldred
A member of Team GB since the age of 13, Kim is now a full-time physical education teacher and will have the fierce support of her family and friends.
MEN’S C1
Adam Ramadan
Representing GB for many years, Ramadan has a wealth of experience on the world’s stage and qualified for the top C1 spot.
Matthew Stephenson
Finishing just shy of a medal in the European championships, an impressive K1 paddler Matt has found his home in C1.
James Ibbotson
‘Ibbo’ made the finals in Paris and has added many moves to his arsenal of tricks; he will want to better his previous world’s finish of 14th.
Women’s C1
Ottilie Robinson-Shaw
Making her C1 debut since the women’s categories were introduced for 2022, Ottie will impress with her powerful moves.
Tamsyn McConchie
Competing in both C1 and Squirt, Tamsyn is a multi-discipline athlete.
Becky Green
A Lee Valley local, Becky is proud to represent GB for the first time.
Junior Men
Ben Higson
This will be Ben’s’ third international competition, most recently finishing sixth at the Paris European Championships. A Cardiff local, Ben was Canoe Wales Paddler of the year 2021.
James Ward
A stylish paddler with a natural ability, this will be James’s international debut and first year on the GB team.
Timmy Hill
London-based Timmy honed his freestyle skills on the River Thames; this will be his first year competing at a World Championships.
Junior Women
Niamh Macken
Winner of the Hurley Classic 2022 and first place qualifier during GB squad selections.
Poppy Ward
The eldest junior women’s competitor and first time on the GB team.
Issie Wormall
The youngest GB competitor at 14 years old and current British Champion.
Mixed OC1
Jolyon Evans
With 35 years of experience, Jo is a pure Canoeist and is a relative newcomer to freestyle, having started freestyle in 2019.
Connor Proud
Just 18 years old and representing GB for the first time, He regularly paddles on the Tyne and Tees.
Men’s Squirt
Alex Edwards
Squirt Boating at the international level since 2013. Alex is a two time World Championship Silver medalist, two times European Champion and two times World Cup champion.
Jamie Austen
Paddling since the days of Rodeo, Jamie will be supported on the banks by his beloved springer, named Bo.
Sam Wilson
The biggest smile on the team, Sam finished third in the Sort world championships 2019.
Women’s Squirt
Ottilie Robinson-Shaw
A multi-discipline Master, Ottie will represent GB in Squirt Boating and C1 and K1.
Tamsyn McConchie
The second of two categories that Tamsyn will compete in, having first competed in the 2019 World Championships, this will be Tamsyn’s second worlds after finishing 10th in Sort.
Layla Al-Riyami
A Junior competing against seniors, this will be her first international competition.
TEAM STAFF
The GB team is supported by numerous volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes throughout the year to make GB Freestyle a success. The Paddler Magazine would like to thank all those who help and support the team at the World Championships.
GB Team Manager: Tanya Neilson
GB Freestyle Kayaking Coach and Talent Development Manager: Michael Shaw
GB Freestyle Kayaking Coach and Performance Director: Dennis Newton
Strength & Conditioning/Nutrition: Sandro Dias
Sports Psychologist: Jonathan Males
Physiotherapist: Alice Shute
