WAIS athletes Stephen Bird, Jesse Phillips, Alana Nicholls, Brodie Holmes and Brock Ingram have been selected in a 24-member Australian Canoeing squad for the 2013 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg, Germany.
Following two days of selection trials hosted at the Sydney International Rowing Centre in Penrith, the five WA paddlers earned selection for this year’s world championships which will be contested from August 27 – Sepetember 1.
Stephen Bird enjoyed a successful selection trial campaign, securing a double with victories in the individual K1 200m and the K2 200m partnering fellow WAIS scholarship holder Jesse Phillips.
Alana Nicholls won the women’s K1 200m race and was also third in the K1 500m event. Brodie Holmes has qualified for his first world championships, and is a member of the men’s 200m group, which will be based in Perth, also containing Bird, Phillips, Ken Wallace and Lachlan Tame.
Brock Ingram is one of three athletes selected in the men’s Paracanoe squad, with Ingram to contest the LTA (legs, trunk and arms) classification.
The team pool includes a mix of new and experienced athletes and National Performance Director, Richard Fox, said the June trials had allowed new blood to flourish and others to find their form after a long London campaign.
“We have definitely seen good improvements from the younger athletes which is pleasing and some strong performance as expected from our seasoned campaigners which gives us a good mix of youth and experience heading into the world championships in August”, Fox said.
“It is also great to see the competition emerging for the Paracanoeing spots on the team now we have Rio on the horizon. With the new funding support from the Australian Paralympic Committee and AIS we hope to build on our performance in the Para events and make an impact”, Fox added.
With no time to lose following the trials, the women head straight into camp at Penrith on Monday, the 1000m men will go into an extended camp at the AIS facility on the Gold Coast next week before heading overseas early in August while the 200m athletes will base themselves in Perth.
For a full list of selection trial results, visit the following link.
– with AustralianCanoeing
