Nicholls Suffers Re-Race Defeat

WAIS paddler Alana Nicholls has been defeated in the re-race for the Olympic K1 500m boat, after finishing behind New Zealand’s Erin Taylor.

Nicholls had originally taken out the selection event in Penrith but New Zealand lodged an official appeal claiming that weed coverage had hampered their performance.

The appeal was successful leading to the re-race for both men’s and women’s K1 500m boats. The result comes as a further blow for Nicholls who was not nominated for selection in the Australian team, meaning NSW’s Jo Brigden Jones will not compete in Beijing.

Australian Canoeing had requested that Brigden Jones be allowed to compete in the event instead, but that request was turned down meaning Nicholls was made to race again with nothing to gain and everything to lose.

National Performance Director Richard Fox said that it was a disappointing outcome.

“It was a very tough situation for Alana to find herself in”, Fox said. “She is a very talented athlete with a bright future and I am sure she will bounce back from this disappointment.”

In other news:

AIS/WAIS cyclist Ryan Bayley has continued his preparations for the 2008 Beijing Games, competing at the Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester, England.

Bayley raced in the Men’s Sprint but was edged out by World Champion Theo Bos (Holland) in the in the 1/8 heats. Bayley was unable to make amends finishing third in the 1/8 repechage behind Kevin Sireau (France) and Francois Pervis (France).