A MEMBER of Frome Canoe Club has been selected to join the Great British junior team for Wildwater Racing. He will head to the Czech Republic at the start of July for the Junior World Championships.
16-year-old Toby Wilde will compete in the under 18s single person race on the River Elbe in wildwater racing where competitors’ race down a river through a section of white water.
Toby, a lifeguard at Frome Sports & Fitness and a student at Midsomer Norton Sixth said, “This is a really exciting challenge, I will be paddling a very fast and tippy boat down a section of white-water river which I have only ever seen before on Youtube. I’m also really looking forward to the experience of visiting the Czech Republic.”
Ex-GB team member Alex Edwards coaches Toby. Alex said, “Toby has only taken up wild water canoe in the last year or so but he has lots of skills and experience in other forms of canoeing which he has been able to transfer to this new discipline. I am genuinely impressed by his achievements this far and will be following his progress closely while he is overseas.”
Wild water racing is not an Olympic sport and almost all of the associated costs must be financed by Toby and his family. Currently Toby is paddling a borrowed canoe but is hoping to be able to purchase his own more competitive canoe ready for the world championships.
If any local business or individual would like to help Toby on his way, please contact him by email, toby.wilde2023@ gmail.com
