WAIS Canoe program head coach Ramon Andersson is predicting some bright performances from his squad as they prepare for this week’s National Sprint Kayak Championships at Perth’s Champion Lakes.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympian and bronze medal winner has indicated his 2012 London Olympic triumvirate of Jesse Phillips, Stephen Bird and Alana Nicholls are all firmly in contention for national titles when racing gets under way on Wednesday April 3.
“Jesse and Steve are looking fantastic considering Jesse’s late start to the season,” Andersson said. “However, they did their second fastest ever 200m in time trials the other night and will be hard to beat.”
Andersson also highlighted Todd Brewer and Brodie Holmes as likely challengers for the men’s K2 200m title that Phillips and Bird currently hold, whilst fellow WAIS scholarship holder Brendan Rice and young West Australian Mark Stowe will be key challengers in the U23 ranks as they look to atone for their DQ at GP3.
K1 sprint champ Alana Nicholls has had an injury interrupted build up to this year’s titles, but Andersson believes the competitive instincts and a recent period of full training will see the former surf ski paddler back on the podium at this week’s championships.
“Alana looks like her injury woes might be behind her and is a step up from where she was at GP3 which is great and she may even spring a surprise in the K2 500m with newcomer Jaime Roberts,” Andersson mused.
Roberts herself, is a recent convert from surf ski ranks, and much like Nicholls is a powerful paddler set for a big challenge in her debut performance in flat water competition.
In the men’s 1000m events, Andersson is expecting some top quality racing, with the field including last year’s Olympic champions in the K4 event.
Leading the challenge across the formats for WAIS will be Daniel Bowker and Reece Baker, with Andersson keen to keep an eye on their performances in the individual and K2 races.
“In the super competitive 1000m events both Reece and Bowks are paddling well and will be looking to do at least as well as what they did at GP3 where they were third and eighth respectively. Their K2 is also looking good with three World class crews from the AIS being the main opposition,” he said.
In the women’s U18 ranks, young WAIS paddler Shannon Reynolds is expected to feature prominently and will be looking to impress on home course.
The finals of the Olympic classification disciplines stand out as the events to keep an eye on, with the men’s K1 and K2 1000m event finals on Thursday (April 4) morning as well as the women’s K1 and K2 500m events.
The men’s and women’s K1 and K2 200m finals will be raced on the morning of Saturday April 6.
Further event information can be found here.
