Brackpool to rule waves at World Championships

Charlie Brackpool will reward four years of hard work when he travels to Ottawa in Canada to compete amongst the best in the world in the under-18 age group.

The 17-year-old Collyers’ pupil, who is currently in his last year of A levels, has been hooked on the sport for the past four years.

He first tried the niche sport of kayaking at a birthday party when he was eight before getting back into it four years later at Southwater Watersports Centre and Forest Canoe Club.

A year on, the Swindon Road resident decided he wanted to try out the freestyle aspect of the sport and he has never looked back.

The young athlete said: “It’s absolutely the most amazing feeling. I have been training so hard for so long in the snow and ice.

“I have not had a lie-in at the weekend for two years as I have been up for training and if not I have been running or in the gym.

“But this is the big award at the end and it’s the most amazing thing.

“My goal is to score 80 points when I am out there, which should put me in the top ten. You cannot gauge as to what other people will do, so I have set myself a points goal rather than a position goal.”

Full story in Thursday’s edition of the West Sussex County Times.