HE won bronze medals in World and European Championships during his time, and now a Prudhoe kayaker has ended a glittering junior career by winning back his British title.

Promising paddling prospect Zac Allin (18) secured the U18 British K1 canoe crown which he last won in 2014 after a consistent season saw him guaranteed the championship going into the final race at his local white water course in Teesside.

Last year, he missed out by around 10 points to fellow Junior Team GB member Chris Bowers, but he came back firing on all cylinders to finish as best performing U18 athlete. He was second in the U23 rankings, and third overall.

The success rounds off a great junior career for Zac who won bronze at both the Junior World Championships in Australia and Junior European Championships in Poland while representing GB in the men’s K1 team.

He said: “Going into the final race of the season, it was already confirmed I couldn’t move in the rankings so I knew I had won the junior title.

“I won it in 2014 and it was very close between me and Chris last year, but I started the season slowly and tried to pick it up but couldn’t make up the difference in the end.

“Chris and I have both been in junior teams, and in the medals, together but, while we may be mates off the water, on the water the rivalry is pretty tight.

“Winning the British title was definitely one of my targets, and I wanted to get that prize and my name back on the trophy.”

Zac started the season with the disappointment of missing out on GB selection, but that only spurred him on to prove a point. He makes the step up to U23 level full of confidence, improving his senior rankings by five places.

Zac said: “I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs during my junior career and a debatable decision cost my place in the junior team this year.

“I was determined to prove a point and show I was still one of the best..

“I have come back from that setback and get some of my best results, which included four seconds in Premier races.

“I have definitely improved a lot this year, and it is great to be ranked third overall, although that is technically fourth as Joe Clarke is highest as Olympic champion but was too busy with the international commitments!”

david.coulter@hexham-courant.co.uk