The Australian Sprint Kayak Championships, held in Perth Western Australian, concluded on Sunday March 15. I’m going to start this report at the completion of the regatta and work backwards to the beginning.
From 11-15 March, the Paddle Australia canoe sprint community celebrated the biggest participation at the Canoe Sprint National Championships in 10 years with incredible performances from the next generation, elite paddlers and legends of the sport.
The Champion Lakes Regatta Centre in WA was home to over 270 paddlers for an intense five days of competition where athletes from U10s to masters had to battle windy and challenging conditions.
National teams for the World championships and Asia Pacific games were announced, with two of MWKC athletes gaining selection in the U18 Asia Pacific team. Congratulations to Tess Lever and Mate Eles, the club is extremely proud of you both .
State vs State K4 races finished off the week of competition, with 4 of our finest involved with the NSW team. Mate Eles in the U18 male K4 won, as did Tess Lever in the U18 female K4. Charlie Wright and Hugo Dooney finished 2nd with the U16 male K4.
In the National Championship K4 500m racing, Tess lever won U18 Silver in a composite crew, whilst two of our U16 girls Julia Ralston and Maja Jelaca teamed up with Chloe Harris and a girl from Avoca to cross the line in a credible 7th place. Mate Eles won U18 Silver with a composite crew.
The Open men’s saw Sean Ryce finish 5th in a composite crew. In the U16 K4, our boys, Charlie Wright, Jack Zhang, Cameron Briggs, and Zac Moffat paddling the only “full club” boat and narrowly missed the podium in 4th place. Also in the same event Hugo Dooney won Gold in a composite crew. The under 16 girls, Julia Ralston, Maja Jelaca, Pippa Smith and a girl from West lakes were not far off the pace in a strong division finishing 5th.
The remainder of the regatta was made up of K1 and K2 events over 200, 500, and 1000 m races. Apart from the above mentioned athletes, MWKC also had Chelsea Sutton (u 21 and Open female) Ryce Diaz (u21 and open Male) and our President Villiam Mako (55+ male and Legends mixed K2) compete in the regatta. Full and detailed results can be found on Paddle Australia’s web page. But it’s fair to say most of our athletes made finals and all performed admirably.
Team Manager Chad Wright worked tirelessly behind the scenes and deserves everyone’s thanks, as do all the parents and supporters who travelled with the team.
Finally it’s appropriate to wrap up this report with a massive congratulations to young Cameron Briggs, he is part of our Poseidon Programme, and the Narrabeen Sports High Academy. Cameron won Gold Medals in all three individual distances, clearly justifying his place as the Number One ranked U 14 male Sprint Kayaker in Australia.
Peter Grimes
MWKC Head Coach