WAIS Canoeing Update
The past weekend saw many of the WAIS canoeing squad competing in several events ranging from as far south as Mandurah to Moore River in the north.
Saturday morning saw the second regatta of the season held at Hinds Reserve in Bayswater with stiff easterly winds producing fast times.
In the K1 1000m a major upset occurred when promising final year junior Brendan Rice was first over the line in his best performance to date. Although not formally a WAIS squad member he has been training with the squad recently and has shown marked improvement where he hopes to make the Australian Youth Olympic Festival team at the selection trial in three weeks time.
Second place was also a surprise when ironman champion Brendan Sarson (Balcatta) was narrowly defeated by Rice. What made Sarson’s performance all the more impressive was the fact he had been out of action for almost two weeks as a result of a badly infected sore that was cut on some coral during the Anaconda Race. The infection necessitated three days in hospital and another week on intravenous antibiotics which only came out on the Thursday before the regatta allowing him to have his first training session in almost two weeks the day before racing.
The shorter 500m and 200m events were dominated by Steve Bird (Mount Pleasant) who underlined his potential by winning both events. Brendan Rice was second in the 500m and Lee Davey (Myaree) was second in the 200m.
The paddlers then had about four hours to get to Mandurah for the Mandurah Classic Ocean Paddle over 12km from the Dawesville Cut to Doddies Beach Halls Head, where the paddlers raced in strong off shore winds, meaning most of the race has held paddling with a side breeze.
Reece Baker (Marmion) handled the conditions best when he came home in first place, three seconds ahead of ocean racing specialist Marcus Brockhurst. Daniel Bowker and Brendan Sarson were the next best placed WAIS athletes in fifth and sixth respectively.
Sunday saw most of the squad head up to Moore River for thesecond Moore River Marathon over 12km. The paddlers were greeted by a very shallow river as a result of the river mouth opening out to the seas earlier in the week, provide a stark contrast to last year’s event held in beautiful deep water.
At times theevent became a running race with paddlers forced out of water to run to the next body of water. The top turn represented by what was usually an island became a muddy trek, as paddlers had to do a lap around the island with their kayak on their shoulders.
Lee Davey paddled an excellent race to narrowly defeat Steve Bird in an enthralling sprint finish.
Alana Nicholls (Dianella) returned home from a nine day National Squad camp on the Gold Coast.