One Big Thing: World Championships, but make it Paracanoe
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While we prepare for the FEI Eventing World Championships this weekend, former international eventer Saffron Cresswell is preparing to represent Great Britain at the World Championships for a different sport: Paracanoe.
Saffron, 25, will compete in two boats: a va’a and a kayak, in 200m sprints, at the Paracanoe World Championships in Poznan, Poland (26-30 August). Saffron, who sustained a serious spinal injury in a cross-country fall in 2024, told Horse & Hound that her first time in a paracanoe was only 23 December last year. Through the Women’s Sport Trust unlocked programme, an initiative bringing elite female athletes together, Saffron met Olympic canoeist Deborah Kerr, who encouraged her to try it.
“I tried loads of different sports, but hadn’t really found one that I loved,” said Saffron. “Debs said, ‘You should really have a go at para canoes’. I’d had a few people suggest it in the past but hadn’t taken them up on the idea, then after meeting Debs I ended up going along to Leamington Spark New Club.
“December was completely the wrong time of year to start a water sport, but coming from a horsey background, it didn’t really cross my mind that it was going to be wet and cold. I turned up and since then have been training. My coach Attila Herbent made it really fun, and then I realised I wanted to do it more seriously so the World Championships became a quiet aim.”
Saffron said it was important to her that she found a sport that she really enjoyed and that provided a challenge. “I tried wheelchair racing and stuff, but once you had the technique it was a case of pushing for longer and faster, a bit like running,” she said. “Whereas canoeing is quite technical, and coming from a technical sport, particularly the dressage phase of eventing, I think it’s probably more relatable to the elements of sport that I really enjoy.”
Saffron, who won eventing medals for Great Britain in ponies, said getting selected for the paracanoe World Championships was “unexpected”.
“It’s not quite what I had in my January bucket list at the start of 2026,” she said. “It’s all a bit of an unknown, but I’m so excited. I never thought I would be representing my country this soon. Two years ago I was in a hospital bed-bound not knowing what my life would look like, so this has come around really quickly and probably a lot quicker than I anticipated. There’s not a huge expectation on me for the championships, but that’s something I’ve learned from having my accident, that it’s really important just to enjoy the sport as much as trying to perform and be the best athlete I can.”
Saffron is making her final training preparations before heading to Poland. “We’ll have some days before the race to train there and get used to the water, because all the different lakes feel different. The plan until then is to keep doing what I’m doing and not overcomplicate it,” she said. “My family and friends are coming out to watch and will make a bit of a holiday out of it. They’ve obviously all been so supportive since my accident, helping me find new sports and challenges, so it will be lovely having them there.”
Major International Events This Weekend
FEI Eventing World Championships for Seniors (Aachen, Germany): [Website] [Tickets] [Definite Entries by Country] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [Official App – Apple] [Official App – Android] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Kentucky Performance Products]
Hartpury International & the British Championships CCI4*-S (GBR): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]
Bromont Horse Trials CCI4*-S (CAN): [Website] [VIP Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [Watch – YouTube]
US Events This Weekend
Applewood Farm YEH, OEH & Mini Event (NJ): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times]
Caber Farm HT (WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
The Event at Archer (WY): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club HT (NY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Waredaca Farm HT (MD): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Ocala Summer HT II (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
River Glen Summer HT (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Full Gallop Farm August HT (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Other Links and Reading
- Who has the best Eventing Manager in the world selected for Aachen? (Make your final picks by tonight!)
- Young horse starts as favourite as Burghley entries revealed, plus exciting debuts
- LandSafe Equestrian Enters A New Era
- The Business of Horses with Emily Donaldson
Chewy Pick of the Day
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Training Tip of the Day
Of course we’ll all be glued to the screens this weekend, but here are some things you can keep in mind to help you walk away this weekend with some educational moments:
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Go Eventing
All we can say is… welcome to Aachen:
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