Kayakers hope for home advantage

Hayley Mason and Jenna Hawkey train at Bisham Abbey and Dorney Lake

Berkshire's kayakers say that training at the Olympic venue is helping their 2012 preparations.

The athletes are based at nearby Bisham Abbey, but have regular access to Dorney Lake near Windsor.

Jenna Hawkey told BBC Berkshire: "To be able to train on the lake where the Olympics is going to be held is ideal."

Fellow-kayaker Paul Wycherley added: "We're lucky to be on our home turf and to have the whole crowd behind us. I'm really excited."

Hawkey said the facilities they have at Bisham Abbey also give them the perfect preparation.

"We have a gym, physiotherapy massage, strength and conditioning coaches, psychologists, doctors and everything you could possibly need to train."

Hawkey grew up in the south-west before moving to Berkshire and she explained she has been canoeing and kayaking for a long time.

"I began paddling in the surf because I grew up in Cornwall. In 2006, I switched to flat water kayaking because I went to a university away from the ocean.

"I've taken a long time to get to where I am now. I went to the European and World Championships in 2007 but since then I've had a couple of bad years so I'm really please to be back where I am now and back on track to getting towards 2012."

Hawkey is currently competing in the K-4 500 metre event, which she says requires a specific skills.

"The thing for our K-4 racing is speed endurance, which means you have to be fast and powerful. However, you also need to be able to continue that for the length of the race, which for us is about 1 minute 35 seconds.

"On top of that, you also need the skills to fit into a crew boat."

Team-mate Hayley Mason, who also rows at the shorter 200m distance, says getting the balance of the crew right is also key.

"The K-4 500 is explosive so doing the 200m helps the K-4 500. Having Jenna in the back of the K-4 helps for endurance towards the end of the race."