Three sprint canoe athletes from Fort Canoe & Kayak Club have been named to Canoe Kayak BC鈥檚 Provincial Team.
Abby Charlesworth, Alex Smith and Jeffrey Sun all had podium finishes at the National Sprint Championships, held in Dartmouth NS, this summer.
They are among B.C.鈥檚 top 21 sprint and slalom canoe and kayak paddlers recognized by Canoe Kayak BC performance program that supports athletes with the potential to make junior, U23, senior development and national teams, and have also shown a commitment to training to achieve these goals.
As well, five members of the Fort 91原创-based club have been selected for the BC NextGen Team which helps athletes develop their skills to be successful at provincial and national levels 鈥� Bishan Biln, Eva Jancker, Roxie Bodnar, Terry Igarashi and Zach Smith.
Team members will be invited to training camps and have educational opportunities, as well as receiving training support during the year.
Fort Canoe & Kayak Club Sandra Young said the club was 鈥渟o proud of our athletes鈥� achievements.鈥�
鈥淭heir hard work has paid off and offers them new opportunities to develop their skills with exceptional coaching and training,鈥� Young commented.
Announced in mid-December, the news capped off a successful year for the club, which reported 2023 marked the first season of programming comparable to pre-pandemic times, with 565 students from local schools participating in field trips, 75 adults and 21 youth in recreational canoe programs, and 162 participants in summer camp programs.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Top young canoe and kayak sprinters race in Fort 91原创
Highlight cited by Young included hosting provincial events at the club in Fort 91原创.
In October athletes from across the province attended clinics, a training camp and a provincial regatta, which included Canoe Kayak BC鈥檚 fall training camp, the BC Cup long distance regatta and a Women on Water clinic.
The club also hosted provincial athlete testing in early December.
鈥淲e set out to maximize our offerings to the public this year,鈥� explained Young.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Fort Canoe and Kayak Club open house draws more than 100
Fort Canoe and Kayak Club offers recreational and competitive programs for youth and adults, operating from the paddlesport dock on the Bedford Channel in Fort 91原创, located on Billy Brown Road, just west of Glover Road behind the Fort Pub.
Access to the facilities is managed by the Bedford Channel Society and users include five community paddle organizations.
Online, the club can be reached at or at the 鈥�.
