GB Junior Training Squad
ABOUT
The Great Britain Junior Training Squad (GBJTS) is a joint collaboration between the Sprint Racing Committee, the National Associations and PaddleUK's World Class Programme to establish, create and deliver an annual series of coaching events and camps that are additional and complementary to club provision.
The ambition of these events is to bring the fastest Juniors in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland together and provide opportunities for them to train and develop. In doing this, we want to help equip young paddlers - up to and including U18 - with the skills to successfully perform at international events and to help establish new friendships across Great Britain.
We want to foster a sense of pride amongst paddlers who are part of the GBJTS, while also recognising that being named as part of the squad will also aid athlete grant and university applications. Furthermore, the GBJTS will support coach development for any coach in the racing community, with opportunities to attend, learn and share knowledge at each weekend.
Athlete Standards
Athletes will be eligible for the squad once they have hit one of the following standards:
2024/25 Squad Entry Points
Selection to the 2024 Junior Sprint Worlds Team*
Selection to the 2024 Junior Sprint European Team*
Selection to the 2024 Olympic Hopes Team*
Top 6 in the K1/C1 500M at the British Junior National Championships within the U18 and U16 categories*
*Athletes must be U18 in the following racing season (2025) to be eligible for the squad
Athletes will be eligible for the squad for 1 year and must continue to meet standards to be included in future years.
If an athlete has not made the current standards to the squad but believe, based on their performances and results in the preceding year that they are of an appropriate performance standard, an athlete and their coach can contact the GBJTS steering group to outline why they should be included. Clear evidence of performance or performance potential are required.
Athletes who have made previous squads but have incurred an injury and have been unable to make standards for the following year can apply to the GBJTS steering group for special dispensation to be included in the squad.
Athletes who have achieved an international medal winning performance in other paddlesport disciplines and who are seeking to prioritise a sprint focus can also apply for squad consideration to the GBJTS Steering Group.
In all instances, please contact Charlie Barwis - Flatwater Pathway Lead on charlie.barwis@paddleuk.org.uk
For the avoidance of doubt, the GBJTS is separate and in no way linked to selection events. Attendance of the squad in no way enhances or inhibits an athlete's ability to be selected through the process laid out by the International Panel, which can be found HERE. Selection for international competitions is based solely on an athlete's performance at selection regattas.