Kayaking: Fiona Pennie to compete in Highland Perthshire

Feb 5 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

OLYMPIAN Fiona Pennie will return to Perthshire’s icy waters during a top watersports event in April.

The 27-year-old Crieff paddler will be joined by a host of canoeist from across the country at the Easter slalom in Grandtully.

Now based in Nottingham, the former Loughborough University student was part of the British canoe slalom team that competed in 2008’s Beijing Games.

Despite being a regular on the global stage, Fiona insists that the River Tay has the potential to catch-out even the high-octane sport’s most skilled practitioners.

She said: “The fact that Grandtully is a natural course, and the majority of the ones we regularly compete on are man-made, is exciting.

“Conditions can change very quickly, depending on the weather, if the water levels rise and fall.”

Held from April 3-5, as well as the following weekend, each athlete will charge down the 200m course twice against the clock.

With five different classifications on show, Fiona – who will showcase her skills in the Premier division – told PA Sport the intricate manoeuvres seen as participants twist between coloured gates can be a sight to behold.

She continued: “It takes about 100 seconds for someone to get from one end the of the course to the other – it’s very quick.

“The sport has changed a lot over the years, the runs are shorter than they used to be.

“The organisers take your best time from either of the two runs and calculate your position based on that.

“It’s great to watch, because it means that – even if you capsize during one of them – you still have a chance to make up for your mistakes.”

For more information on the event, call the Scottish Canoe Association’s Christine Baillie on 01224 741 401.