EXETER Canoe Club members are celebrating after the success of their Crediton area canoeists in national and regional championships.

At the National Finals in Richmond, 18 year-old Francis Huntingford, lately of Blundell’s School, won the Division Two race over 12 miles for British elite paddlers, the culmination of an amazing year for Francis in which he was also selected for the British Junior team at the European Championships.

At the same event Colin Heard and Jamie Piper came 10th in the National Doubles Final and but for being baulked at the portage would have finished in the first five.

In the South West Region League races on Sunday at Gloucester Jamie, paddling this time in the singles elite 12-mile event, came a very creditable fourth.

In the doubles event Ernie Lloyd paddling with Becky French, achieved ninth place and retained their position in Division Seven, much to their relief having been unable to train together for a month.

Outstanding again was Crediton schoolboy, seven-years-old Freddie Heard.

Coached at the Exeter Club by dad, Colin, Freddie won the Under 10 South West League race on the Fowey and on Sunday at Gloucester came a close second to a boy three years older. Freddie really does have a bright future in canoe racing and the Club is very proud of his achievements.

Exeter Canoe Club is now lying second in the South West League not least due to the addition of eight new paddlers from Blundell’s School, coached by local racer Jim Taylor Ross, who also coaches at Exeter.

These youngsters have all joined Exeter Canoe Club and are both racing for the Club and preparing for the 120-mile Devizes to Westminster race held at Easter each year.

In last year’s marathon race the Exeter Club was awarded the prize for the Club with most teams entered with Crediton paddlers once more to the fore.