Five Yukon paddlers ensured the territory left its mark at the national whitewater championships last week.

The event was held July 22 to 26 at the Tamihi Rapids in Chilliwack, B.C.

Five Yukon Canoe and Kayak Club members competed: Trevor Braun, Luanda Pronovost, Mael Pronovost, Hunter Vincent and Pelly Vincent-Braun. In total, the group hauled in 14 medals in a very successful event.

Coach Braun said he was “very proud of the efforts put in” by the small Yukon contingent.

Competition began Thursday with a four-kilometre downriver race and a 500-metre sprint.

Braun and Vincent-Braun each won both of their age group races in solo canoe, while Vincent-Braun also teamed up with Mael Pronovost to win gold in both events in the tandem canoe class.

It marked the third straight year in the winner’s circle for Vincent-Braun in solo canoe, but the first time he was able to team up to win the closed two-man canoe race with a fellow Yukoner.

Then over the weekend, Vincent-Braun and Pronovost combined to win gold in the junior men’s slalom C2 race, as well as silver in the open class.

Vincent-Braun also scored silver in both the junior solo canoe slalom race, while Braun pocketed a silver in the master solo class.

Pronovost and Vincent-Braun then teamed up with Vincent to compete in a junior men’s kayak team event, finishing fourth.

It was the first time the Yukon had ever competed in a team race at the national championships.

Last year, Vincent-Braun and the Pronovost siblings took home eight medals from the national whitewater championships in Barry’s Bay, Ont.

The local paddling club wished to acknowledge the support of Lotteries Yukon, the Yukon Government, Air North and the many who helped raise funds for the trip.