A FORMER Whitland pupil and rising sports star has enjoyed a busy summer and autumn, culminating in her being confirmed as the Junior Kayak Ladies 2015 British Champion.

Gabrielle Ridge, who completed her A-levels at Ysgol Dyffryn Taf before the summer, has gone on to have a successful season in this specialised sport.

Gabi is presently ranked ninth in the UK (across all age groups) and is in fact the only kayak lady under 18 in the UK top 10.

Last year she became reserve GB Junior Champion in Slalom’s ‘Ladies Kayak’ category, while 2015 saw her go one better when Gabi was acknowledged as 2015 British Junior Champion - a title earned for performances throughout the competitive year.

Gabi’s dominance was quite evident in this autumn’s racing which saw her secure four out of the five top junior awards in the last of this year’s UK Premier Races (and runner-up in the fifth) - quite a comeback after contracting glandular fever last winter!

Coached by Geoff Forster, along with a small team of coaches working under Richard Lee, the Welsh head coach based at Bala, she is currently taking a two-week imposed break from training before resuming her winter training programme which will see her away every weekend training, alternating between the Olympic site in Lee Valley, the National Whitewater Centres at Bala and Nottingham, and the White Water Centre in Cardiff, in preparation for GB selection races in March 2016 and beyond.

Gabi, who left Dyffryn Taf School in June, where she was deputy head girl, and presently attends the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, where she is studying towards a BSc in Sports Therapy, would like to express her sincere gratitude to everyone who has helped her on her journey this far.