PADDLERS from Worcestershire won 38 medals at the 10th European Championships.

Worcester Dragons and Pershore Phoenix competitors represented Great Britain over 2,000 metres, 500m and 200m, achieving 27 gold medals, seven silver and four bronze.

Their efforts at Nottingham’s National Watersports Centre also helped GB win the overall team award for the first time since 2000.

Worcester’s Lisa Ashdown won five medals in the premier women and mixed sections, including four golds, while under 18s paddlers Kieran Goode and Millie Southwood also won four golds.

Ben Williams-Hubbard and Andy Trunks won three medals apiece in the premier open category alongside a golden treble for under 18s competitor Karra Douglas.

Lorraine Chandler claimed two golds in the senior women’s small boat competition, while Nigel Leigh and Ali Collier bagged two silvers each in the over 50s.

Pershore head coach Dave Cole and Jonathan Small both won gold in the senior mixed 2,000m.

Their club captain Andrew Forrest was part of the quickest senior men’s 200m small boat but no medals were awarded due to a lack of teams.

Lisa Hayes, British Dragon Boat Racing Association chairman, said: “It was an honour and a great pleasure to see the success of all our GB teams at the European Championships.

“Not only did our GB crews perform well, but GB claimed the Nations Cup, which we last won in 2000.

“This success is testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of all paddlers, helms, drummers, coaches, crew managers and all those who have worked with the GB teams.”

Meanwhile, Evesham’s Debbie Ashton claimed three gold medals at the event after overcoming a career-threatening injury and only taking up the sport 12 months ago.

The 46-year-old, who trains on her own but has competed with both Pershore and Worcester clubs, was part of the squad that triumphed in the senior ‘A’ standard mixed 2,000m and both the senior women’s small boat 500m and 200m.

Competing in such an event appeared impossible in 2003 when Ashton shattered her left shoulder in a motorcycle accident.

She was forced to retire from her job as a police firearms officer and told by doctors her shoulder was beyond repair.

However, following research, she underwent a successful reconstruction by surgeon Stephen Copeland, who has operated on five-time Olympic gold medal rower Sir Steve Redgrave.

“It’s been an amazing journey with some truly inspirational people,” said Ashton. “I didn’t think I would ever achieve my dream of wearing a British shirt in any sport.”