CREDITON schoolboy, eight year-old Freddie Heard, is making waves in the world of kayak racing.

Freddie started kayaking with Exeter Canoe Club when he was six with his dad Colin who is an elite kayak racer and coach.

By the time he was seven Freddie was competing in the South West League in age group competitions over the distance of two miles. In the 2016/17 season he won the League in the under 10 category and also the under 12 category.

Recognising his potential, and eager to develop his talent, Exeter Canoe Club applied for an award from Sport England to provide not only Freddie but also half-a-dozen other youngsters at the Club who were beginning to rise through the sport with opportunities to progress.

The Club’s bid was successful and Sport England provided almost £10,000 to enable the Club to buy more racing kayaks, designed and built here in Crediton by Kirton Kayaks.

Freddie was able to move from the junior kayaks to an adult kayak, a move which he made with absolutely no problems despite the kayak being lighter, speedier and therefore more unstable.

In 2018 Freddie has once more won all his age group races by a considerable margin and so dad Colin decided to enter him in the next adult league race, a more competitive league and over the greater distance of four miles.

Despite not winning Freddie did manage a podium finish in a time which would have kept him in the adult league.

After the race one of the adults was heard to say: “Well at least when he’s on the telly in the Olympic team I’ll be able to say I beat him once!”

Last Sunday (September 16) Freddie competed in his new kayak in a newly created division within the South West League for racers like himself. He won by some considerable margin.

The racing season ends next month with the final league race of 2018 on the River Fowey when once more Freddie will be in action and we are all hoping for another outstanding result.

Freddie intends to train throughout the winter on Saturday mornings at Exeter Canoe Club and looks forward to the start of next season in April when he will still be only nine.

He clearly is a terrific prospect for Great Britain kayak racing.

Ernie Lloyd

Chairman Exeter Canoe Club