Western Australian Institute of Sport kayakers have made a highly successful start to the 2015 Australian Sprint Canoe National Championships in Penrith.
Olympian Alana Nicholls has won the women’s K1 200m and K1 500m double, whilst Steve Bird has claimed the men’s K1 200m title in a gripping final over WAIS training partner Brodie Holmes.
Nicholls claimed the first of her gold medals in day 1 action, edging a tight race with Jo Brigden Jones.
Nicholls got off to a powerful start but was matched stroke for stroke by the talented New South Welshwoman with the pair neck and neck at the halfway point. Nicholls maintained pace and form to the line to claim the title in 40.65sec with Brigden Jones second and Queensland’s Alyce Burnett third.
A delighted Nicholls conceded she was unsure how the race would unfold but knew a fast start would be crucial.
“I knew that I’d made a good start, Jo gets out really, really well and she was next to me, so I knew that if I could be next to her half way through that maybe I was half a chance,” she said.
“Winning the race is one thing, but racing a good race is another, and I’ve had both today which is great. I’m just happy to have had a great training run and then good racing as well.”
Nicholls emphasised that point on day two by claiming a second national title after winning the K1 500m championship title in personal best time. Stopping the clock at 1:48.67min – Nicholls was over two seconds clear of Alyce Burnett in second, with bronze going to another Queenslander in Alyssa Bull.
Steve Bird claimed a seventh career national title and second in the men’s K1 200m, after he took honours from training partner Brodie Holmes by a mere tenth of a second in a fascinating race. Bird set a new personal best, indicative of his form and how hard he was pushed by Holmes.
Racing from lane 5, Bird was touted as the man to beat, and he carried his successful grand prix form into the A final, clocking 34.91 to marginally defeat Holmes (35.01) and South Australian Callum Dunn (35.06), with WAIS athlete Jesse Phillips fifth in 35.57.
Bird and Phillips will combine in the men’s K2 200m, where they will face a stern challenge in the form of another WAIS combination, paired by Holmes and Todd Brewer.
A full report of the weekend action will be available on Monday, whilst @InsideWAIS will provide updates via twitter over the course of the championships.
