WA Paddlers Help Australia to Victory at Asia Pacific Cup
A group of WA’s next generation of top level sprint kayakers have helped Australia to victory at the 2019 Asia Pacific Cup in New Zealand.
The WA athletes were part of an Australian team that won 30 gold, 26 silver and 17 bronze in finishing ahead of New Zealand’s canoe sprint team in second and Japan in third.
Seven Western Australian athletes competed in New Zealand, with all returning home with medals, whilst the group were joined by two coaches from state, with WAIS program lead Ramon Andersson and WASP head coach Jessie Phillips part of the leadership team.
WAIS scholarship athlete Yasemin Ray enjoyed a competitive hit-out ahead of her campaign at this year’s Junior World Championships which will take place in Romania next August.
She was part of a women’s U18 K4 500 team that claimed gold, whilst she added further success in the U21 mixed 200 relay.
Jeremy Alderson and Tim Hyde were both members of the U16 men’s K4 200 crew that won gold, whilst Alderson also won further gold in the K4 500 and mixed 200 relay.
Luke Egger picked up gold medals in the men’s K2 200 and K2 500, and added another victory in the mixed 200 relay.
Kobe Wilson won the U18 men’s K4 500, whilst Harriet Brown and Angelina Good-Gerne collected multiple minor medals in their respective efforts for Australia.
WAIS coach Ramon Andersson heralded the trip and praised the culture of the young squad during a successful tour.
“It was a pleasure to work with the team and see the growth over the ten days on tour. It was great to see so many of the team bring their A game to the regatta and more importantly watching them how they supported and cheered for each other. It was fantastic.”
Jesse Phillips, who coached the U21 athletes on the team agreed and stressed the importance of this type of international event.
“It has been a real pleasure coaching and supporting the U21 athletes towards their respective events. There is some serious potential in this group of athletes which we will be working hard to support across Australia to further their potential.
“This event is showing to be an ideal international regatta to form bonds between Australian athletes, regional athletes and the coaches and supporters of our sport across the region. These opportunities and friendships will form the bedrock for sustained careers in our sport. And fundamentally, what the Asia Pacific Sprint Cup provides is a meeting point of culture and sport which unites people to a common goal – the true spirit of sport.”
-with PaddleAus