Dolwyddelan kayaker's Norwegan adventure

Aug 7 2008 by Michelle Coyle, North Wales Weekly News

A DOLWYDDELAN kayaker has returned triumphant from a competition in Norway.

Lynsey Evans, 30, battled it out on the rapids with rival competitors to claim gold at an important international competition at the Sjoa River Festival.

“I’m delighted to have won the extreme race event,” said Lynsey, home and dry in the Conwy Valley. “The race took part over two challenging Grade 4 rapids, which I took about two minutes to complete before getting to the final eddy line.”

The Sweet Rumble extreme race was part of the Sjoa River Festival over July 16-20 in Norway. The kayaking festival attracts whitewater enthusiasts from all over Europe to Norway – a paddler’s Mecca.

Lynsey’s recent triumph is just one of many. In 2003 and 2004 she took the British champion crown for freestyle kayaking, she won gold in the 2004 Freestyle Kayak Eurocup, came fourth in the Freestyle World competition in Australia in 2005, as well as taking first place in the Sjoa Festival and second in the Eurocup in 2006.

Fearless Lynsey cut her teeth kayaking in North Wales, home to some of the best whitewater in the UK.

“I have been kayaking for 21 years, and about 12 of those have been spent in North Wales,” explained Lynsey, originally from Milton Keynes. “Kayaking in the local area had a big influence on my choice of university.”

Lynsey now works in Afon Goch, a children’s home in Deiniolen, close to the rivers of Snowdonia.

Despite the various destinations kayaking has taken Lynsey to, North Wales remains a firm favourite.

“We definitely have the best rivers in the UK,” said Lynsey. “My favourite kayaking spot in North Wales is the Fairy Glen just outside Betws-y-Coed which provides an excellent training ground.

“There is a big local kayaking scene due to the rivers around Snowdonia and further afield in Llangollen and the Tryweryn. Access is a constant problem as we are only allowed access to 4% of the rivers in England and Wales.”

michelle.coyle