THOMAS Merrifield, from Taunton Canoe Club, has been crowned a British kayak champion.

Competing at the Junior & Veteran Championships at Pinkston, Glasgow, at the weekend, he took home the trophy for fastest C1M paddler in the J12 age group.

Thomas competed in all three disciplines at the championships - K1M (single kayak), C2 (double canoe) and C1M (single canoe).

His best result was winning C1M, where the competitor kneels up and uses a single-bladed paddle.

The event was combined with a Division 1 competition so Thomas, currently in Division 2, had to ‘paddle up’ on the very challenging whitewater course.

There were other notable results from Taunton Canoe Club - Thomas also paddled with his brother, Harvey, in C2 and they finished third for their age group.

And the club’s Katie Shattock finished runner-up in the K1W J12 event.