News

GRANDTULLY, Scotland — Following Tuesday’s Opening Ceremony, the focus now turns to the River Tay, where racing at the 2026 Paddle Europe Junior and Under 23 Wildwater Championships begins on Wednesday morning with the individual Classic competition.

After several days of training and preparation in Grandtully, athletes from 19 National Federations are ready for the first competitive challenge of the Championships and the first European titles of the week.

The opening race day will be entirely dedicated to the Junior and U23 Classic Individual events, with racing beginning at 10:00.

Women’s K1 Junior and U23 will open the programme, followed by Men’s C1 from 10:58. After a training window on the course, Men’s K1 begins at 12:45, with Women’s C1 following from 14:05. The C2 competitions will complete the opening day later in the afternoon.

The provisional individual Classic start list already brings together many athletes with European and World Championship experience, setting up a highly competitive first day on the River Tay.

Follow the Championships with live results

There will be no livestream from the Championships, but supporters around Europe will be able to follow the competition through the dedicated Paddle UK live results service.

Start lists, live timing and race results will be available throughout the Championships at:

Grandtully 2026 Live Results

The live results platform will accompany all four competition days, from Wednesday’s Classic Individual races through to Saturday’s Sprint finals and Team competition.

A special championship for the Scottish paddling community

For Paddle Scotland, hosting the Championships in Grandtully represents much more than bringing an international competition to the River Tay.

Paddle Scotland CEO Mike Strang highlighted the significance of welcoming Europe’s young Wildwater athletes to an area that holds an important place within Scottish paddling.

“This is a significant event for the Scottish community and we are delighted to host it in the heart of Scotland and the cultural home of Paddle Scotland,” said Strang.

Grandtully and the River Tay provide a particularly fitting setting for the Championships, combining a recognised paddling venue with the landscape and outdoor culture that surrounds the Scottish Highlands.

For Paddle Scotland, the event is also an opportunity to introduce international Wildwater racing to the wider community.

“It is a real community event, showcasing the wonderful natural environment in Scotland, highlighting some of the best paddlers in the world and inspiring a future generation of paddlers,” Strang added.

Volunteers and the local community behind the Championships

The preparation of the event has relied heavily on the contribution of volunteers and close cooperation with the people who live and work around the River Tay.

The organisation has placed particular importance on maintaining communication with local residents, landowners and other river users throughout the preparation process.

“The event has been organised and run by a group of incredible volunteers, with careful communication with the local community, landowners and neighbours promoting great collaboration in support of responsible river use and celebrating the fantastic River Tay,” Strang explained.

That cooperation is especially important in Grandtully, where paddling exists alongside fishing, tourism and several other outdoor activities.

The Championships are organised by Paddle Scotland with the support of Paddle UK, bringing together the local paddling community and international officials, athletes and delegations for four days of competition.

The first test: 4.3 kilometres of Classic racing

Wednesday’s first titles will be decided over the 4.3-kilometre Classic course, a demanding route containing eight Grade 2–3 rapid sections.

Athletes enter the river at Beyond Adventure in Aberfeldy before paddling approximately two kilometres downstream to the competition start at Edradynate.

Once racing begins, competitors will work their way downstream towards Grandtully, with the final challenge taking them through Fourth Falls before crossing the finish below the village bridge.

Unlike the short and explosive 500-metre Sprint that will come later in the week, the Classic demands sustained speed, endurance, efficient river lines and the ability to adapt continuously to changing water.

Wednesday will therefore provide the first opportunity to see how the strongest Junior and U23 paddlers in Europe respond to the distinctive challenge of the River Tay.

More than medals in Grandtully

While the European titles will naturally be the main sporting objective, Paddle Scotland also hopes the Championships will leave a wider legacy.

For Strang, the week is an opportunity to celebrate Wildwater racing while strengthening the relationships between athletes, federations and paddling communities across Europe.

“We are looking forward to a fun-filled week and a wonderful demonstration of the sport. We want to give everyone a warm welcome to Scotland, strengthen the bonds with our European colleagues and athletes, and create friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”

The preparation is now complete.

On Wednesday morning, the focus finally moves entirely to the water as the first athletes leave the start at Edradynate and the battle for the 2026 Paddle Europe Junior and U23 Wildwater Classic titles begins.

Racing starts at 10:00. Follow all the times and results live through the official Paddle UK results platform and stay connected to Paddle Europe channels for coverage throughout the Championships.