Reading Canoe Club Juniors Shine on the International Stage

by Imogen Collins

On Tuesday, 16th September, Reading Canoe Club juniors Oli Mazur, Charlotte Fulford-Perez, Ruth Shephard, and Doogal Barnett – joined by Imogen Collins – flew out with the GB Junior Team to the Czech Republic for the Olympic Hopes Regatta. In the lead-up, all athletes trained hard, determined to perform at their best – and they delivered.

Olympic Hopes is a prestigious four-day event featuring U15, U16, and U17 categories with 52 countries competing. Each nation can enter two boats per event, making progression through rounds especially tough. Our athletes’ events were:

• Oli Mazur (U17): K1 500m, K4 500m
• Charlotte Fulford-Perez (U17): K1 500m, K1 200m
• Ruth Shephard (U15, racing up an age category): K1 1000m, K2 500m, U17 K4 500m
• Doogal Barnett (U15): K1 1000m, K1 500m, K2 1000m

Day 1 – Strong Starts

All four athletes rose to the challenge, progressing from their heats into the semi-finals – a brilliant achievement given the high entry standards and international field.

Day 2 – Finals Begin

Ruth stormed into the A final in her K1 1000m, finishing 7th – an outstanding result for an U14 racing in U15. She raced with fierce determination and power well beyond her years.
Doogal raced hard in a competitive C final, gaining invaluable experience at this level and showing strong composure and effort.

Day 3 – U17s Step Up

Oli dominated his K1 500m semi-final to secure a spot in the A final – his main goal for the event. Despite a tight turnaround before the final, he raced bravely and with ambition throughout.
Charlotte, having a fantastic regatta, clocked a new PB of 2:03 in her K1 500m semi-final, just missing the A final. Her grit and consistency across the weekend were hugely impressive.

Day 4 – Big Boats & Final Pushes

Charlotte returned in the K1 200m, flying out of the start buckets with another PB and earning a B final spot. She delivered a composed, determined performance to take 4th – a strong finish to a great weekend.
Oli took his place in the Boys K4 500m, a boat he’s raced all season at Europeans and Worlds. The crew executed a strong semi-final to earn a coveted A final spot – the first GB Boys K4 to do so at Olympic Hopes since 2018.
In the final, the boys fought hard in an incredibly tight race, finishing 4th. Though just missing the podium, it was a performance to be proud of, reflecting their season-long growth and unity.

A Proud Showing

All four athletes showed professionalism, resilience, and maturity throughout the event. Whether it was a first international outing or a final appearance after three years at this regatta, they represented Reading Canoe Club with pride and distinction. As their coach, I couldn’t be prouder to have shared this experience with them.