Lee Valley athletes shine at British Open

It was an action packed weekend at Lee Valley White Water Centre as the very best of British canoeing and kayaking talent battled it out for the title of 2025 British Champion.

The 2025 British Open saw 200 competitors, including 70 international athletes compete in two ICF World Ranking Races on Saturday 26 October and Sunday 27 October, with Sunday's World Ranking Race combining as the British Open finals.

Lee Valley athletes put in a series of standout performances with a particularly strong showing for the home team across age categories in the women’s canoe final. Bethan Forrow dominated proceedings to take victory and earn the British Champion title. Ellis Miller took fourth place, U23 paddler Rachel Ellis finished eighth and junior Arina Kontchakov placed ninth.

In Saturday’s ICF Ranking Race Lee Valley athlete James Kettle added another British gold with victory in the men's canoe, producing a fantastic run.

Bethan and Ellis were handpicked from local secondary schools as part of Paddle UK’s talent development programme following the London 2012 Olympic Games and have since fast tracked to success.

Meanwhile a host of athletes such as Rachel Ellis, Arina Kontchakov and James Kettle (among many more!) represent the next generation of Lee Valley talent coming through.

As the home to Paddle UK’s canoe slalom and kayak cross world class programme, Lee Valley White Water Centre is instrumental in developing the current British stars and future talent, with a string of home athletes on the trajectory for the LA and Brisbane Olympic Games.

The British Open brought the curtain down on the 2025 canoe slalom season, giving athletes time to reflect before they look towards the 2026 international campaign.

The 2025 British Open was also a major milestone for Lee Valley Paddlesports Club, as the first time the club has hosted a national and international paddlesports event (an aspiration dating back to 2013 when discussion first began to establish the club), and what an event it was!

Huge congratulations and thanks to the dedicated volunteers, event staff and officials whose hard work and commitment ensured another successful weekend of racing at Lee Valley White Water Centre.