TEENAGER Mike Dickinson is celebrating following a podium finish at the European Canoe Association races held in Flattach, Austria.
Racing in the under 23 group at this prestigious canoe slalom competition, Dickinson achieved a third-placed result after gaining second place on the first day of the race and fourth on the second day.
The result is testament to the 19-year-old athlete’s dedication and training.
Dickinson, whose progress is supported by Evesham-based Karndean Designflooring through equipment sponsorship, explained: “I didn’t expect to achieve this result as I was racing against competitors up to five years older, but it’s a good confidence boost knowing I can perform well.
“This will stand me in good stead for other competitions later in the year and help me bring my A-game to the big races here in the UK as well.”
Dickinson has gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months, having reached semi-final stages of the 2017 World and European Championships.
Alongside his studies at Nottingham Trent University, where he is studying computer studies, he has also embarked on a challenging bespoke training schedule developed by his new coach Neil Buckley.
This year Dickinson’s progress has been recognised by his club – Stafford and Stone Canoe Club – which has awarded him the Richard Fox Trophy – an accolade awarded at the start of each new season to the best performing junior under 18.
Fox is one of the club’s most successful members – a five-time world champion who now coaches the Australian team – and the trophy features his first World Team Medal from the Jonquiere World Championships in 1979.
Building on his recent success, Dickinson is continuing his training at Pau, in the south of France, in preparation for the most prestigious event on the canoeing calendar in September – the British Open in Lee Valley on the Olympic course. He is hoping to be selected for the U23 GB team in 2019.
