WARRINGTON Canoe Club's Michelle Patrick capped her season by clinching the top junior prize while representing the north west in the English Inter Regional Slalom Championships.

Michelle became the first north west woman to take The Slalom Sports Plate on the River Dee at Town Falls, Llangollen.

Prior to the weekend's success, Michelle, at the British Open, won selection to train with the Great Britain Under 23 women's team over the winter period.

Michelle will be training with the top five under 23 women at various venues around Great Britain.

In September, Michelle took the top junior prize at Teeside at a Premier event. She won the Teeside DC Cup and is now ranked 15th in the Premier Division.

Over the summer months Michelle represented the Great Britain junior team abroad, having won qualification races at Solkau in Slovenia and at Roudnice in the Czech Republic.

Michelle came close to winning bronze at Roudnice and gained much experience from the big waters in Bratislava.

She is looking forward to training in the future for 2004 Olympics in Athens but for the moment will continue to study for A levels at Appleton College at Bridgewater High.

Warrington Canoe Club meets at Fordton Pool every Thursday night where Michelle teaches canoeing.

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