New start gates have been installed at the National Watersports Centre (NWC) in Pierrepoint, Nottingham, after British Canoeing was awarded a Lottery Sport grant of nearly £200,000.

The new gates will be used on the NWC regatta lake and will enable British Canoeing to host international sprint canoeing events, such as the World Championship regatta.

The gates were installed on 1 June and have since been used for a domestic regatta.

The new starting system will be used at the NWC before it is moved to Eton Dorney, the venue for flat water sprint canoeing at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

World class performance director at GB Canoeing, John Anderson, said: “These are exciting times for sprint canoeing in Great Britain. The addition of starting gates will have a performance impact for all paddlers as, for the first time in the UK, they will get first-hand practice in the methods used for starting major international events.

“This new equipment is vital in our bid to host international and World Cup events in the UK in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics.”

Athens Olympic bronze medallist Ian Wynne added: “Having the gates here in the UK will aid the technique of British paddlers immensely. Until now, the only time we have been exposed to start gates was in major competition. But now paddlers will be able to concentrate on improving the start element of their race right here in the UK.” Details: www.nationalwatersportsevents.co.uk