ONE of the district’s talented young sports stars scooped two trophies during a memorable weekend.

Cameron Daly (15), from Wylam, won the Cadet Trophy for boat handling skills at Solway Yacht Club in Scotland, on Saturday.

Then on Sunday, he lifted Hexham Canoe Club’s Bobby Timperley Memorial Whitewater Race on the River Tyne.

The double success marked a sizeable achievement for the youngster, who has made significant progress over the past year.

Cameron is a cadet member at the Solway club, at Dalbeattie, and attended its annual prizegiving event on Sunday.

The club awards its boat handling trophy to one cadet each year, and the teenager was recognised for his achievements during last summer’s cadet week.

He was praised for his dedication, perseverance and tenacity in recovering from multiple capsizes, and for showing huge progress in his boat handling skills during the week, where he also achieved the RYA Level 3 award in dinghy sailing.

Cameron is also a member of Hexham Canoe Club, and he returned home in time to compete in the Bobby Timperley event on Sunday.

And he demonstrated a huge improvement on his performance during last year’s race, to clinch the prestigious title.

Club coach Gary Halberg said Cameron did well in windy, rough conditions, demonstrating excellent boat control, and handled the conditions well, despite limited white water racing experience.

Cameron chose a good line through the white water and demonstrated a good paddling technique which enabled him to produce an outstanding time.

Chloe Glendenning, a Hexham Canoe Club coach who works with Cameron regularly in the discipline of canoe slalom, was also full of praise.

She said: “Cameron has made fantastic progress this year on and off the water, demonstrating great maturity with his approach to paddling and has never given up. He also dedicates his time to helping others.

“Cameron has achieved so much this year, and he should be extremely proud of himself.

“Cameron also recently gained his White Water 3 star kayak award, which required a great deal of dedication and commitment.”

Hexham Canoe Club was founded in 1994 and welcomes paddlers of all ages.

For more information visit https://hexhamcanoeclub.co.uk/

Whitewater success

And then on Sunday, Cameron took part in the annual Bobby Timperley Memorial Whitewater Race on the Tyne at Hexham. Hexham Canoe Club member, Cameron, demonstrated huge improvement from last year, to clinche the trophy.

Gary Halberg, a Hexham Canoe Club coach who was watching the race closely, reported that Cameron managed exceedingly well in windy, rough conditions. Cameron showed great boat control and handled the conditions well despite only having been in a white water racer once prior to Sunday. Cameron chose a good line through the white water and demonstrated a good paddling technique which enabled him to produce an outstanding time.

Chloe Glendenning, a Hexham Canoe Club coach who works with Cameron regularly in his chosen discipline of canoe slalom, said, “Cameron has made fantastic progress this year on and off the water. Cameron has demonstrated great maturity with his approach to paddling and has never given up; he will also dedicate his time to helping others. Cameron has achieved so much this year, and he should be extremely proud of himself. Cameron also recently gained his white water 3 star kayak award which required a great deal of dedication and commitment.”