The GBU23 Raft team are based in Lee Valley London where they meet and train weekly. Following success at the National Selections they earnt their place at the IRF European Championships in the Czech Republic.
Instagram – @gbru23rafting
George Rogers
My first experience of White water rafting was at the age of 14 when I visited Lee Valley with the Scouts and took part in a session. At 16 I applied for a role as bank safety at the centre and from then on I was hooked! Whilst working at the centre I took every opportunity I could to jump in a raft with a raft guide and eventually I was asked if I would like to join the under 19 team on a Wednesday night. I became a member of Lee Valley Paddlesports club and a regular member of the team and can honestly say I adore rafting and can’t wait to represent Great Britain in the European Championships next month along with the rest of the team.
Max Rose
I had been kayaking at an event where there had also been rafting, I saw it going on and always thought it looked good. Later that day a member of the men’s u19 team had asked if I wanted to give rafting a go, I loved it and we got GB selected for the 2019 season and went to Bosnia later that year. Now we are a mixed u23 team and I am looking forward to Czech.
Molly Rose
I started white water rafting when I was 12 years old. My older brother had recently joined the GB u19 men’s team and I quickly gained a fascination for the sport. For my twelfth birthday I went rafting with my brother and a few of my friends and I instantly fell in love. Within a few weeks, I was training with the GB Masters Women’s team and ever since have found myself in multiple teams including, The Tadpoles for the British Open, GB u19 women’s and my most recent team, the GB u23 Mens team.
Lorna Childs
I first started learning to kayak at Lee Valley in 2015. Shortly after I had a go at rafting with the then U19 team and before long there was enough girls to form a new U19 team. We competed at the British Open and were later selected to represent GB at the R6 world championships in Japan in 2017. We won a bronze medal in head-to-head beating the Indonesian and the Japanese teams. I then went to Slovakia in 2018 to compete in the R4 European Championship winning 3 silver and 1 bronze medal earning 3rd place overall. Still loving rafting, I carried on after covid and now look forward to racing in the Czech Republic in August.
Amelia Childs
I started kayaking in 2018 and after watching my older sister Lorna raft for a few years. I knew I wanted to give it a go and I’m glad I did as I really enjoy the sport and paddling with my teammates! I look forward to my first international race representing my country.
