Hereford Kayak Club's Allen Spencer gave three creditable performances for the British Canoe Union development team in northern Spain.

Competing in three marathon events, the 15-year-old paddler finished 132nd - from 2,000 competitors - in the 20km 67th Sella Descent, second in a 6km K4 race and third in the under-18 section of a K1 20km descent and ascent.

The unique Sella Descent started with competitors racing to their boats after a shot from a cannon and Allen was number 482, which placed him about 800 metres away from the front.

Although the Hereford paddler got away cleanly, he was accidentally turned as he reached the first rapid and had to reverse to the bottom of the section.

However, he completed the remainder of the race without further alarm and finished in 1 hr 37 mins to come 132nd overall and 12th in the Under-18 class.

Steve King and Brendon Rees, also from Hereford, competed in the senior K1 class and the pair finished 107th and 80th respectively.

Allen then joined three other paddlers for a 6km K4 race in the harbour at Ribbadesella, where his crew finished second, just five seconds behind the winners.

And the following day Allen competed in the 100-strong K1 20km descent and ascent of the River Nalon and produced an excellent showing, completing the tough course in 1 hr 57 mins, and securing third place in the under-18 category.

Meanwhile, Allen's sister Jenny and Hereford club- mate Paul Burgoyne have just represented a Great Britain Under-23 team at the pre-Olympic sprint regatta in Athens, Greece.

Jenny was third in the first round of the K1 500m heats with a fine individual display, in which she finished two seconds faster than her previous best. But she faced stiff competition in her semi-final heat and failed to qualify for the final.

Burgoyne raced in the men's K1 1,000m and also reached the semi-finals before bowing out.

Jenny is now looking forward to competing at the Marathon World Championships in Spain on September 27.

Last year she gained fifth place in the 26-mile race and she hopes to improve on that this time.