Great Britain's Richard Hounslow during the Kayak Single Slalom Heats at Lee Valley White Water Centre on the second day of the London 2012 Olympics.

Harrow oarsman books kayak semi-final spot and looks forward to canoeing men’s double heats

When Team GB supporters think of men’s canoeing the name of Beijing gold medallist Tim Brabants is usually at the forefront of their minds.

However, there is another home hope competing at London 2012 at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, and north Londoner Richard Hounslow is not there to make up the numbers.

The 30-year-old from Harrow made light of the appalling conditions on Sunday evening to qualify for the semi-finals in the kayak slalom after finishing in 11th place in the qualifying heats which saw the top 12 progress.

“My coach said to me on the start line to paddle within myself and don’t do anything stupid and that’s what I did,” he said afterwards. “I didn’t go out to try and win qualification, there was no need to do that, I could have risked everything and not made it through.

“By the time of my second run I was sitting in 16th position and I knew I had to deliver. If anything I felt a little less pressure as I had already been down the course once and my running time was easily good enough to make the top 15 even with a couple of mistakes.”

The semi-finals will take place on Wednesday, with the finals later on that same day. Before that Hounslow will team up with David Florence to begin their quest for men’s double canoe glory in the heats on Monday afternoon.