Cowdenbeath kayaker Kira Grant, on the rise since becoming British under 16 champion in June, took second place in her first major international event, the Teen Cup in Tacen, Slovenia.

In the words of Kevin McHugh, Scottish Canoe Association’s (SCA) Performance Director, “These races are for the world’s leading J16 paddlers and are used as an important stepping stone for athletes striving to progress to compete at Junior World and European championships in future years.”

This was 16 year old Kira’s first time in a GB team.  Against competition from the Czech Republic, Italy, Slovenia and the USA she finished second, behind Scotland’s Alice Haining.  Had it not been for a mishap in the latter stages of her final, the gap between the Scottish pair would have been tight.

“In the final I fell in at the third last gate after getting stuck on a rock,” said Kira.  “When I got to the bottom of the course I thought I’d completely blown it, so to come second was a nice surprise. 

“I must have lost seven or eight seconds.  Alice was on 89 and my final time was 97 so she probably still would have just clipped it.

Kira became a kayaker after following her older brother into the sport.

“My brother Simon took part in a come and try day when he was in primary school,” she said.  “Different clubs noticed him so I went along and we both ended up doing pretty well.”

CR Kats, which Kira says is the best club in Scotland for producing top kayakers, became their club.  The Club’s coach and SCA Development coach, Johnny Brown, took the pair under his wing, coaching them for the last five years.  As a member of the SCA’s Performance squad, Kira’s main coach now is Kevin McHugh.

Supporting Kira (and bother Simon) for the last two year is the Tayside & Fife Institute of Sport, part of the Area Institutes of Sport network that provides high performance expertise to Scotland’s potential world class talent. 

“The main thing I use at the Tayside & Fife Institute is the Strength & Conditioning training,” she said. 

“It’s three times a week every week during the winter and it’s improved my strength so much.  It’s so important because the English paddlers have a lot more water time than we do and as a result are getting much stronger and faster. 

“So it’s great to be able to go to the gym in Pitreavie and build it from there.  We’ve got a programme which changes depending on the phase of the season.  We build strength in the winter then work on power before the racing season.”

This weekend Kira turns her attention to defending her national under 16 title at Fainilee on the River Tweed.  After that she will turn her attention to races which carry ranking points.

“I didn’t have the best start to the season in my ranking events so to be able to go abroad last week and compete in my biggest event so far, and realise I haven’t lost it has put me back on track,” she said.  “I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”