A teenager kayaker has set his sights on paddling into the Olympics thanks to a £2,500 donation from digger giant JCB.

Harry Kirby, 18, of Stone, who is ranked as the highest performing English paddler for his age, is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Olympic silver medallist Adam Burgess as he aims to reach the GB Olympic Junior Squads this season. JCB has now funded the purchase of a new kayak for the teenager to boost his training regime for the Junior GB team selections in March and April.

Harry, who is currently studying engineering at Stafford College, said:

“Thanks to JCB I am now feeling confident and prepared for selections. The new boat sits better on the water, which helps my paddling feel smoother and more importantly faster. It also doesn’t leak like my old kayak, which has kept me warmer over the winter months!”

For the last two years Harry been competing at the highest level in the Premier Division and is currently ranked 22. He has also represented England at several international races including premier paddle event the Celtic Cup.

Harry’s father Matt Kirby said:

“Harry had natural talent from the first time he got on the water. His hard work and determination is now seeing him consistently improving and edging closer to his Olympic dreams. It takes great commitment and resources to help make Harry’s goal a reality and we will be forever grateful to JCB. We wouldn’t have been able to offer such a boost to his training without JCB’s support.”

Harry, who started kayaking at Stafford and Stone Canoe Club at the age of 10, takes part in races across the UK and Europe. He is part of Paddle UK’s England National Talent Squad (ENTS) and is also supported by the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) provided by Nottingham University.

Olympic silver medallist Adam Burgess, also from Stafford and Stone Canoe Club, was Great Britain’s first ever canoe slalom U23 world champion in 2015 before coming home with a silver Olympic medal in the individual event in Paris earlier this year. He has been sponsored by JCB since 2020. Like Adam, Harry is also involved with the new Olympic sport of kayak cross, also known as extreme kayak, and a new version of kayak slalom. Harry recently made the Junior Olympic GB Squad reserves.