Welcome to the website of Champion International
Whitewater Kayaker Claire O'Hara!
|
WORLD CHAMPION FREESTYLE KAYAKING WORLD CHAMPION SQUIRT BOAT KAYAKING WORLD CUP CHAMPION EUROPEAN CHAMPION
Click here to see
more! |
NEWS: Claire
named Leeds Sportswoman of the year at the Leeds
Sports Awards at Elland Road
-
click here or
here
NEWS: VW Van
Centre West Yorkshire are sponsoring Claire again in
2012 -
Click here to see more
NEWS: Claire
completes a 19-day expedition down the Grand Canyon
Colorado River in the USA -
see more here
NEWS: See Claire
in The Red Bulletin magazine
-
more here
NEWS: Claire
featured in a Rapid magazine article
-
see more here
NEWS: See Claire
perform at the
London Boat Show 2012
See
Claire's Blog to
keep personally updated on her competitions, results
and general gossip!
About Claire O’Hara
Claire, 31 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, NZ, Australia 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, World Cup Champion, European Champion and British Champion in squirt boat kayak and World Champion 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 also spent 4 years working part-time as the Further Education Sport Coordinator and Enhancement Coordinator at Notre Dame 6th Form College.
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 training full time and works as a Freelance Instructor for Claire O’Hara Coaching.
Through her achievements Claire is keen to motivate other young people to stay active, follow their goals and dreams and strive to be the best they can be . She is also actively seeking sponsorship and anyone interested in sponsoring her can contact her by e-mail at ohara_claire@hotmail.com.
