WAIS Canoeing Update

The third canoeing regatta of the season was held at Champion Lakes on the weekend with some of Australia’s leading female talent showcasing their form.

The men’s field was somewhat depleted with four of the top males attending a National Squad camp in Adelaide and Brendon Sarson (Balcatta) absent having competed in the recent Southern Shamaal Ocean Race from Port Elisabeth to East London South Africa. The women’s field was red hot with arguably four of the top 10 paddlers in Australia racing.

WAIS’ Alana Nicholls (Dianella) had a dominant day comfortably winning the K1 500m and K1 200m and if not for misjudging the final row of buoys in the 1000m race, she could have departed with three race wins. That error of judgement allowed Gold Coast based Rachel Simper – who is working her way back to full fitness following the disappointment of missing Beijing – to sneak through and take the victory.

Simper was also second in the 500m and third in the 200m. Lisa Russ (nee Oldenhof) (Hilton) – competing for the first time since winning Bronze in Beijing – finished second in the 200m. Jenni Bateman (Wembley) finished third in both the 500m and 1000mafter strong paddles and showing she looks to have stepped up following a solid winter program.

With the main stars away in the men’s events Daniel Bowker (Kinglsey) shone out with comfortable victories in both the K1 500m and 1000m as well as both the K2 500m and K2 1000m with partner Tom Herrera.

Brendan Sarson (Balcatta) paddling for Team Multiplex in the 250km Southern Shamaal Ocean race finished third in the teams event behind Team South Africa and winners Team Australia. Sarson would have been buoyed by the news that he was a recipient of a wild card entry for the Nutri Grain Ironman Series in January and February next year.

Sarson did not qualify in the qualifying series the week before, but selectors obviously recognised the adversity he had to overcome with his foot infection and the fact he came fifth at this years National Championships.

Meanwhile in Adelaide, Lee Davey (Myaree), Reece Baker (Marmion), Jesse Phillips (Nollamara) and Steve Bird (Mt Pleasant) are putting in up to four sessions a day at the National Men’s Squad Training Camp. All will be racing this weekend at the first National Domestic Grand Prix of the season and will go into the event a little flat from the heavy work of the camp, but all are looking forward to kick starting their domestic season in style.