The Junior International Canoe Polo Championships will be hosted at Let’s Go Hydro Resort & Spa this week. Teams will compete to decide who will be crowned world Champions. Belfast Kayak Academy founded by Pete Boyle have been very successful in producing young Canoe Polo players, and at present we have over 4 team’s competing on an international level.

“This week we host the Championships of our sport in Carryduff and it’s free to come and watch. Ulster will be competing with 49 teams from across the world for the title of Champions of the Junior International 2023 in both Male and Female categories. We have over 200 athletes travelling in on Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th with the competition beginning on Thursday 27th Morning at 8 am. The Finals will take place on Sunday. This year we are delighted that teams from China, Australia and South Africa will visit Belfast to compete.”

Pete Boyle founder of Belfast Kayak Academy

We would love to attract a crowd to discover this great sport. On Wednesday 26th we are hosting our opening ceremony with Irish dancers, a trad band, flag ceremony and a DJ to mark the start of a great competition.

Belfast Kayak Academy are currently recruiting 10 – 16-year-old young athletes. To try out or for more information send an email to info@belfastkayakacademy.com

With 49 teams from over 12 different countries the competition is set to be extremely competitive, the groups are as follows:

U14

  • CYMRU
  • CZECH X3
  • KILCOCK
  • RHONDDA
  • CHINA
  • MULLINGAR X3
  • LITHUANIA
  • ULSTER X2
  • PORTUGAL

U16

  • CYMRU
  • SOUTH AFRICA X2
  • KILCOCK
  • KILKENNY
  • ASCE
  • RHONDDA
  • CHINA
  • MULLINGAR X2
  • DENMARK X2
  • ULSTER
  • PORTUGAL

U18

  • SOUTH AFRICA X2
  • SWEDEN X2
  • SAINTDOM
  • CZECH X2
  • KILCOCK
  • PORTUGAL
  • ULSTER
  • DENMARK X2

U21 – MEN

  • BRETAGNE
  • CZECH
  • AUSTRALIA
  • IRELAND
  • MERIDIAN
  • DENMARK
  • GERMANY
  • GB

U23

  • CZECH
  • KILKENNY
  • RHONDDA
  • ULSTER
  • SWEDEN

Entry to watch the young athletes is free of charge. The Games start a 8am on Thursday and run daily until 8pm.