A BANGOR teenager recently returned from the canoe polo world championships in China.
Eighteen year-old Henry McCann was one of only two team members from the Ulster squad for the GB under 21 men’s team in the international competition held in Deqing.
Saying he was ‘thrilled’ to have been selected, Henry admitted while the team came fifth, having been unbeaten until the last two matches, they had learned from the experience and would continue to prepare and train for the next round of competitions.
Henry, who is completing an electrical traineeship at the Newtownards campus of SERC, has been kayaking since he was 15, and is currently on break from training until the New Year, when he will return to train as part of the Ulster squad – and a contender for selection for Team GB under 21s again.
Of the visit to China, Henry said: “Our canoes were packed up and shipped separately from the team travelling, so there was always that worry whether they would arrive safely but thankfully they were grand. There was a lot of paperwork, certificates and visas required, and all the competitors had to complete an anti-doping course.”
He concluded, “ It was an amazing experience to travel to China for the Championships. We were there from October 10 to 21, so I got to see a little bit of the country around Deqing, where we were staying in the Ruby Lacey Hotel. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit and the competition. I am eager for the chance to compete again.”
