A PRUDHOE kayaker is preparing for his first taste of international competition with Great Britain’s U23 squad on the back of his first senior victory.

In his first season in the age category, Zac Allin (19) has qualified for both the World and European Championships, in Slovakia and Germany respectively, as he carries over his impressive form as a junior.

And he travels with the British squad high in confidence with claiming the Paul L. McConkey Memorial Award in Nottingham, claiming his first victory in a national Premier ranking senior race.

It was just around the corner for the Prudhoe teenager, who has since relocated to London for university, after finishing as runner-up four times.

He said: “I got four seconds but this was the my ever win in any division at senior level, and by more than three seconds which was a decent margin.

“I was quite happy as I haven’t won before, and it’s nice to get that first win as a confidence boost with the Europeans and Worlds coming up in a month-and-a-half.”

Zac ended his junior career at the top of his game, signing off with back-to-back British titles.

He represented GB for four years at junior level, to great success, and he is now hoping for more of the same in the higher age category.

He said: “As always, the goal is to medal or make the finals. I think you pedal as well as you can, and then you see what the results are from that.

“If you make the finals, anything can happen. You can have the run of your life and be 10th, or you could win it. You never really know what’s happening until it happens.

“It’s good to make the GB team in my first at U23, and I want to just keep pushing on and show my work this year.”

david.coulter@hexham-courant.co.uk