Welcome to the website of Champion International
Whitewater Kayaker Claire O'Hara!
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TWO GOLD MEDALS IN 2011 Click here to see more! World Champion Freestyle Kayaking World, European and British Champion Ladies Squirt Boating GB Freestyle Kayak Team Squirt Boating and Freestyle Kayak |
Claire won double Gold
and became World Champion in Freestyle Kayaking and
Squirt Boating at the 2011 ICF World Championships -
Click here to see more
VW Vans in
West Yorkshire have sponsored Claire again for 2011
by supplying her with one of their latest vehicles -
Click here to see more
Claire was voted
Sportswoman of the Year at the Leeds Sports
Federation's 2008 awards at Headingley Carnegie and
Highly Commended three times including 2010.
Click here to see Yorkshire Evening
Post
and Peak UK
coverage
See Claire's Blog to
keep personally updated on her competitions, results
and general gossip!
Click here to see Claire's Blog
About Claire O’Hara
Claire, 29 was born in Leeds and attended Cardinal Heenan High School and Notre Dame Sixth Form College. She attended Leeds Metropolitan University where she obtained a BA Honours degree in Sport and Recreation Development.
Claire has always been involved in sport from an early age and started kayaking with Leeds Canoe Club in 1996. Whilst at Leeds Metropolitan University she was the captain of the Leeds Met University Kayak club. At Leeds Met University she was awarded a Carnegie Sports Scholarship in 2003 in recognition of her talents and dedication to the sport of kayaking. Leeds Met University Head of University Sport Malcolm Brown said:
“I am delighted at Claire’s sporting standard and she deserves to have been awarded a scholarship. This scholarship will give Claire access to support, coaching and facilities needed to be successful in both academic and sporting commitments. I wish her well for the future.”
In 2001 Claire started competing competitively in freestyle kayaking and in 2006 she made the British team. Since winning her place on the team Claire has had a very successful international competition career. She has travelled to paddle at rivers in many countries across the world. She has paddled all across the UK and Europe and in the USA, Canada, Norway, Uganda and Nepal. Claire is a multi-disciplined paddler and has experience paddling freestyle, squirt boat, slalom, surf, polo and white water kayak as well as traditional and specialist white water open canoe at recreational and competitive level. Claire is currently World Champion and European Champion and British Champion in squirt boat kayak and World Champion and European Silver Medalist in Freestyle Kayaking, and is a great ambassador for the sport.
Since graduating in July 2004 Claire has worked as a full time instructor, senior instructor and technical advisor for Bradford Council, Nottingham City Council and Nottingham County Council’s Adventure Activity teams and for a number of individuals and organisation as a Freelance Instructor including work with Leeds Met University and the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham.
Claire is an aspirant Level 5 Kayak coach and a BCU UKCC tutor trainer. She is also qualified to teach and deliver several other outdoor activities and sports. Claire is currently working part-time as a Further Education Sport Coordinator at Notre Dame 6th Form College in Leeds and as a Freelance Instructor for Claire O’Hara Coaching.
Through her achievements Claire is keen to motivate other young people to take up kayaking. She is also actively seeking sponsorship and anyone interested in sponsoring her can contact her by e-mail at ohara_claire@hotmail.com.
