World Championship - The Slalom and the aftermath...a supporters eye view

A view up the slalom course, floodlights and all. Charles Stapleton

The evening slalom event was the first time we'd seen the team's in action since the head to head, having 'duckied' out of the 14 hours coach journey to Tara, to restore our vocal chords. We were nearly as anxious as the teams as we found our 'spot' in the spectacular grandstand built on the side of a gorge. Flags & banners proudly displayed, we watched the lower ranked teams heading down tricky course as the sun set & the floodlights came on.

A view from one of the grandstands looking up the slalom course

Where the girls called home for the slalom event, although when they had finished, there were no tents!!

We were in an good spot, looking over gates 7,8,9 and 10. The first few teams went down, with some strategically missing out a couple of gates, taking the 50 second penalties instead of spending the equivalent time fighting to get through the difficult up gate 8.
The Slovenians, obviously feeling outdone by our cheering during the Head to Head turned up in their hundreds, cheering their teams through. We gave them our best efforts when the ladies came down, looking smooth & impressive through the gates, putting down a really solid first run.
On the bank we waited in tenterhooks for the men...we'd already done the double on Tuesday - could we do it again on the last night of the competition? Unfortunately, the boys used some unique tactics for their first run, missing their line and subsequently a gate...
We didn't know what to do, could the boys recover their focus for their final run of the World Rafting Champs or would the pressure of needing a clean run get to them...?

The girls checking out the improvements, ready to do battle

Ninks studying the changes in her mind

This time, the second round took a controversial turn for the ladies team, the judge on gate 11 gave our ladies a 50 second penalty, took it away, gave it again shrugging his shoulders..? It was an impressive, slick run and it was a shame for their competition to end on such a note from an undecided judge. Rightly or wrongly, the penalty was given. In our eyes the ladies had given a medal winning performance, and we were very proud to have been part of their cheering team. All we could do now is wait to find out where that put them overall.

Not quite recovered from the ladies we waited (and prayed) for the men...come on boys - we know you can do it, just make it clean...and boy, did they!! It was one of the best runs of the night - quick, slick & with some impossible looking hanging draw strokes, they fully nailed it this time. But where would they finish...?!





Thats the way to do a slalom, the boys showing how to 'up' gate 2

If your waiting for a bus, there's no better way to do it than sing!!

In typical Banja Luka style we were herded, athletes & fans, to wait for the buses to the closing ceremony for the presentations. After 45 minutes and our own renditions of 500 miles, place your hands and you're the best around we clambered on ready for a 5 minute shower & change and off to the party...it was now 12.:30am!!
The GB teams were popular winners of the Head 2 Head and we're cheered by all when they collected their medals. unfortunately there were no anthems & flag raising but both teams made the most of their moments on stage.

The girls preparing to storm the podium

The girls collecting their medals are Sprint Champions of the World

Off to the podium we go, err ... follow me kids!!

Sprint Champions of the World

The boys though, didn't come back & a member of another team (i think the Germans) congratulated us on our boys finishing 3rd overall...? It was the first we'd heard, and when I found them next to the stage for confirmation, they were confused & didn't really believe it. In fact they didn't want to believe it until it had been confirmed...and it was about 5 minutes later when they were called onto stage to collect medals for third place overall!! What a result, and what an achievement!! Our boys looked happier than the Brazilians who won for the second time.

The mens overall podium, reigning champions Brazil, the full timers Japan and Raft Club from UK, UK!

By the time the presentations were over, it was 1.30am. With the party finishing at 2 we gathered as much Nektar as possible and took the party back to Camp GB to celebrate in style!

Jimbo showing off the medal haul, trophies and all

Ruth - Team GB Supporter