A Buxton & Leek College student has paddled her own canoe to the top of the national league after getting a taste of outdoor adventure. Hannah Matchett, aged 17, from Chesterfield, hopes one day to represent Great Britain in the Olympic sport of Canoe Slalom after being promoted to the first division of the National kayaking league. The Level 3 Outdoor Sports student started out kayaking on a local canal with her father, Colin, who manages an outdoor activity centre.
She said: “We’ve practised all through the winter under floodlights and I love it. I’ve had quite a few soakings and the kit is not cheap but I’ve been lucky in that my parents, Angela and Colin, are very supportive. I would like to be good enough to represent my country in the Olympics eventually and my ambition is to work as an outdoor instructor. It would be great to make my career in canoeing and I am really loving the Outdoor Sports course at Buxton & Leek College. Since I started last September I’ve done all sorts of exciting stuff including caving in the Yorkshire Dales.”
Hannah’s course leader at Buxton & Leek College, Allan Shaw, said: “Hannah is an exemplary student who inspires and supports the students around her. Although only a first year student, whilst kayaking on the River Goyt she helped coach her classmates undertaking some difficult manoeuvres with fantastic clear instructions and demonstrations. As the course team leader I am happy to support her in both her future career development on the course as well as her future in kayaking. The College is also thrilled with Hannah’s performance and is looking at sponsoring her future development.”
