By Anais O' Donovan
Photo by Nancy Geary
A strong team of six women represented Ireland at the 2023 ICF Freestyle Kayaking World Championships in Georgia, USA from 9-4 October.
Over 200 athletes from 20 countries trained tirelessly for months in the hope of being crowned the 2023 World Champion.
Ireland's women's team competed in squirt boating, C1 freestyle and K1 freestyle as both seniors and juniors. This was some of the athletes' first World Championships with others being experienced and well-travelled competitors.
The first competitor up was Alex McClure, who was a strong contender in the squirt boat category. "Squirt boating is a unique discipline within kayaking, characterised by performing tricks underwater and in eddies," McClure explained.
McClure particularly enjoyed "the people and the cultures of freestyle kayaking and the kindness of the other squirt boat athletes." Although she didn’t perform the ride she was hoping to on the day, McClure is grateful to have been able to share the experience with some of her closest friends and her brother while exploring some alternative squirt boating spots on the river.
Three senior women competed in the K1 event - Éidín Dowling, Béibhin Butler and Kirsten Hand-Howard who had been training for months together were delighted to kick the competition off together. All three also attend the same University in Limerick.
This was Kirsten Hand-Howard's first World Championships and she managed to pull off some impressive rides and put strong points on the board. When asked about her experience of the tournament, Hand-Howard said: "Learning to be proud of myself was the biggest lesson I learned. Don’t knock your own experience and lean on your friends when you need to," Hand-Howard said.
Béibhin Butler, not only a talented kayaker, also represented Ireland in the canoe category. This was Butler's second World Championship but her first as a senior.
In the junior category, Leah Hough and Holly Ogilvie, who both competed last year at the 2022 ICF Freestyle World Championships in Nottingham, United Kingdom, competed. Both athletes had a fantastic ride and progressed to the semi-finals with Hough proudly making it to the finals and placing 4th in the world.
Speaking after the competition, Holly Ogilvie shared her excitement for the future: "I have my eyes set on the 2025 World Championships in Plattling, Germany. I can’t wait!"
The team's unity was notable. Even when competing against each other, they continued to encourage and support one another. Each athlete stretched their limits in challenging waters, marking a promising future for Irish Freestyle.
