THREE Bradford on Avon paddlers are on their way to the European Sprint Championships after a successful sprint regatta at Nottingham last weekend.

London 2012 Olympic champion Ed McKeever will contest the K1 200m kayak event in Brandenburg from July 10-13 after showing his record-breaking form at the third National Regatta.

McKeever won the K1 200m singles a boat length and a half clear of the field in a course record time of 35.37 seconds.

Hannah Brown will also represent Great Britain in the women’'s K1 200m.

Brown came a close third in the ladies race at Nottingham in a time of 42.24, despite having to deviate from the fastest line to avoid a large clump of weed.

The event was won by the Olympian Rachael Cawthorn, from Wey Kayak Club.

It was a return to form for Brown who had recently still been suffering the effects of a rib injury sustained at last September's European Championships .

“It's a massive relief,” the 24 year old told gbcanoeing.org.uk.

“It grumbled on for the whole of the winter.  I went through a process before Christmas of stopping paddling, coming back to paddling, then building up and it just didn't tolerate the load.

“So I had to start from scratch again in January.  I finally got to a place where I was happy and only in the last couple of weeks have I got back to being one hundred percent.  So it's awesome to be selected.”

Brown had competed in two World Cups in April having achieved fourth place in the K1 200 at selections. 

“To be of a standard up there competing with the girls for places feels pretty good, and I can hopefully continue my progress through the year,” said Brown who became World Wildwater Kayak champion last year.

“On flat water the K1 200 is the one that I have got the most history in.  It's been perfect for me whilst being involved in the rehab process.  I couldn't have been involved in the crew boats which is unfortunate because they are obviously storming it this year.

“But this will be my first sprint Europeans, and it will be exciting to paddle with the big girls in K1.”

Bradford’s top junior James Missen was a close second in the boys K1 1000m.

Missen will race the K1 500m and 1000m in the European Canoe Sprint Juniors and U23 Championships, Mantes la Jolie, France, at the end of the month.

MORE SPORTS NEWS & PICTURES IN FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES