There is always an element of uncertainty coming into the first big race of the year, especially having had an extended break after the Games. But as soon as you get to the start line it all becomes familiar and you know what to do. I finished with a silver medal behind Ecuadorian Cesar de Cesare and just ahead of 2011 World Champion Ptior Siemionowski. I am satisfied with the result but know there is a lot of work to do going forwards as everyone is only going to get faster we get towards the business end of the Season. Hopefully I’ll have some pics to add soon.

Race results can be seen here, as well as articles by GB Canoeing and BBC Sport.

I’ll be racing again next weekend at World Cup 2 in Racice, Czech Republic.

The GB Canoeing team can be viewed here. Coverage of the two world Cups will be on Eurosport on the mornings of 11-12th May and the 18th-19th May. You should also be able to stream live video on the planet canoe website.

There was a good range of athletes from different sports in the area including rowers, swimmers, a sitting volleyball player, a judoka and myself. We boarded an open top bus in Marlow, went up to High Wycombe (ducking as we passed a few low trees) got off to sign a few autographs, have some pictures and generally chat with the public. We re-boarded the bus looped round passing through the villages, ducking under a few more trees and went back to Higginson Park in Marlow. The crowd in Marlow were fantastic and came out in force, filling the entrance to the park and lining the path all the way down to the Court Garden complex.

I think that might be the last parade, and that makes me a little bit sad, the realisation that the Olympics are over and it will be another four years before there is the opportunity to compete at such an amazing event.

It was an opportunity for us as athletes to thank the public for their support, for making London 2012 the greatest sporting event ever and it was great to see all the Games makers in their uniforms.

I’m not really going to describe the race as it all happened so quickly, all I know is that I got a good start and that laid the foundations for a good race, and the last 40m really hurt into the strong headwind. I feel really privileged to have been able to race in front of a home crowd, who were so amazing and enthusiastic, even if many may have been previously unfamiliar with the sport of sprint canoeing, but I’d like to think they enjoyed what they saw and i’ve been inundated with messages from people who were keen to go out and give it a try. you can find your nearest club here.

Now for the thank yous, as always the biggest thanks is reserved for my coach Alex Nikonorov, who without his knowledge and training I wouldn’t be where I am now (and his wife for letting him spend so much time away with us on training camps), my training partner Edd Cox who kept pushing me on training even though I was the one stealing all the limelight, my other training partners Liam Heath and Jon Schofield whose achievements I am so proud of, my parents who go to support me at every race I compete at (and some I don’t go to), my girlfriend Anya who has been very patient with me spending so much time away training and competing, GB Canoeing support staff & other athletes especially Ginny, Katherine, Angela, Mike and Ben, All the guys at Nelo, who make that company the best kayak manufacturer in the World, ACCA who have been patient with me fitting in my exams and studying around my kayaking, Oakley who have stopped me squinting so much and getting crows feet, UK Sport & Lottery funding who have made it possible for me to train full time and fully commit to my sport, the Gamesmakers who were all amazing ,so enthusiastic & cheerful even on day 15 of the Games and finally the crowd at Dorney and everyone who made the Games such an amazing experiance for me and making me proud to be British!

At this point I’d like to make a special mention to Tim Brabants, someone who has been a personal inspiration to me, whose athletic performance having competed in five Olympic finals in the course of his career, winning a gold and two other medals, most of the time being the outstanding performer of the British kayak team and virtually single handedly ensuring the future of our sport through his performances and also one of the nicest people I know who has always had time for others. I’m very proud to have trained with him in the course of my career and to have him as a friend.

Ed

I promise to update you with a detailed blog in the next few days.

Ed.

It’s been a busy couple of months, yesterday I received my official Olympic nomination, I’m extremely proud to be selected to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games and I can’t wait to get out there and smash things up on the water. The first two World Cup races of the year went very well, firstly into a strong headwind in Poznan, I won Gold ahead of Saul Craviotto of Spain and then a week later in Duisburg, I won another Gold medal beating Cesar de Cesare from Ecuador and rounded the series of by winning another Gold in the 4 x K1 200m relay with my team mates Liam Heath, Jon Schofield and Edd Cox.

The short term focus is currently on the European Championships which take place in Zagreb next weekend, where I am aiming to reclaim my European title. From then there will be six and a half weeks to put in the final preparation ahead of the Olympic Games.

Please feel free to take a look around and let me know what you think.

Training has gone very well over the Winter so far, with successful training camps in Switzerland and South Africa. and with only five months to go until the London Olympics I’m looking forward to the racing season starting in Nottingham next month.

The racing was good, there was a high level of competition as many international teams took up the opportunity to come and see the Course at Dorney ahead of next years Olympic games. On sunday morning for the final the wind moved round to a headwind, which made the racing after a minimal amount of training over the past two weeks all the more difficult as it slows the race down, by 2 seconds and stops the stroke rate getting so high. I won the event ahead of Swedens Petter Ostrom and Canadas Mark De Jonge. Hopefully I can stand on top of the podium here again next year but we’re all aware next year will be a different prospect altogether. Report and results.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people current sponsors ACCA, team sponsor Tesco, boat manufacturers Nelo and paddle makers Bracsa, my Fiance Anya, my Parents, all those supporters who I’m sure will crank up the volume at Dorney next year, my training partners Edd Cox, Jonny Schofield, Liam Heath and Kristian Reeves, GB Support Staff (Ginny, Katherine & Ange) and our Coach Alex Nikonorov who has certainly earned his holiday.