Captain claims kayaking victory (From This Is Cheshire)

Captain claims kayaking victory

4:28pm Saturday 23rd February 2008 in

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A WHITE water canoeist has lifted silverware after winning a kayaking competition for the armed forces.

Captain Alex Burt, a 30-year-old soldier, helped paddle the Army to victory over their rivals in the Navy and Air Force at the annual inter-service championships in Dumfries, Scotland.

The 30-year-old former Culcheth High School pupil whose parents, Mike and Alison, still live in Warrington, was already a keen canoeist when he joined the Army in 2000.

"I started at the age of seven when we were on a family holiday and I've been paddling even since," he said.

“I started at the age of seven when we were on a family holiday and I’ve been paddling even since”

Captain Alex Burt

"I loved it as a sport and then I found how the Army support us with time to train plus equipment and race boats and I realised it couldn't be better."

The course at the River Nith near Dumfries is over four miles long and combines fast-flowing white water, strewn with rocks, with calmer stretches swollen by heavy rain and melting snow.

Capt Burt said his team were delighted to defeat their rivals in the other services, especially the Air Force, by 10 points despite having several members away on operational duty.

In addition to being a member of the winning team, Alex also came second in the Canadian singles and doubles competitions.