| The sport of Canoe Slalom has
developed well since it gained international recognition in 1949
when the first World Championships were held on the Rhone in Geneva.
One of the first Slalom competitions held
in the United Kingdom
were on the Trevor Rocks, on the River Dee in North Wales.
Britain's first World Champion in Slalom was
Paul Farrant in 1959 at Geneva. Dave Mitchell won a Silver medal in 1967
at Lipno, Czechoslovakia.
Britain had to wait till 1977,
at Spittal in Austria, when Albert Kerr won the World Championships
by 11 seconds.
Richard Fox was to follow at Bala
in North Wales in 1981.
Richard Fox continued his success winning the World Championships 5 times; Lynn Simpson was the last Ladies World Champion; and Paul Ratcliffe is the current holder of the World Cup, and silver medallist at the Sydney Olympic Games.
Slalom first entered the
Olympics games in 1972, where it probably led to its
popularity and growth in other countries.
|
|
