In recent years you may have read of the continuing success of Frome Canoe Club's Slalom section, and this weekend will see some of the Club's paddlers racing for GB team selection in their sport, for the very first time.

Although the racing season was suspended last year due to the pandemic and is only restarting this weekend, Frome's paddlers have continued to put in the hard work training on the river and in the gym. And they are ready for the challenge.

Three young paddlers will race, in Nottingham, this weekend with hopes of showing that the training has paid off.

Jacob Lines, Aimee Collins and Finn Johnson will compete in two days of racing with the best of their results counting towards points for a spot on the GB Junior team. Aimee and Finn will race in kayak, while Jacob will race in both kayak and canoe. All of them have been members of British Canoeing's Talent Programme for over three years resulting in regular training camps in Nottingham and London's Lee Valley Olympic Course; though Jacob, Aimee and Finn can often be seen putting in the long training hours on the River Frome at Market Yard.

The racing will take place over Saturday and Sunday. Each paddler will complete four runs, with the fastest three times counting towards their selection ranking. The three highest-ranked paddlers at the end of the weekend in each class (male and female, kayak and canoe) will be selected for the GB Under-18 team. Opportunities are also available to secure spots as reserves.

This is the first time that Frome Canoe Club has had any paddlers eligible for selection, so even qualifying to race is a big achievement for the paddlers and a landmark for the Club.

Frome Canoe Club recently won national funding by becoming a British Canoeing Talent Club Partner, and with their young paddlers racing for national selection the Club is truly putting Frome on the map.

If you'd like to learn how to paddle and maybe move into the sport of slalom you can book a space to try it for free. Simply book a Youth Taster session on a Wednesday evening or an Adult Starter session on a Tuesday evening on https//WebCollect.org.uk/FCC