WAIS athletes Jesse Phillips (Rivervale) and Steve Bird (Mt Pleasant) dominated the K2 events at the inaugural winter regatta held at Champion Lakes on the weekend.
In cold but pristine conditions Phillips and Bird had comfortable victories in both the K2 200m and K2 1000m, providing them with valuable race practice before departing for Europe in a week and a half where they will face their final selection race to secure the K2 200m spot at World Championships.
Phillips also won the K1 200m in an impressive paddle whilst new WAIS paddler Brodie Holmes (Sorrento) in second showed that he will be competitive in this event by finishing over the top of Steve Bird who settled for third.
A fast finishing Brendon Sarson (Balcatta) won the K1 1000m in a close finish from Reece Baker (Marmion) and Brodie Holmes just edged Michael Baker (Tuart Hill) for third.
Head Coach Ramon Andersson said, ” The encouraging thing was seeing Reece Baker put up a great performance which was his first 1000m race since having shoulder reconstruction surgery in September last year. This performance confirmed that Reece will be more than competitive again and I look forward with optimism to the summer season.”
This weekend will see most of the WAIS squad racing in the third race of the Indian Ocean Paddlers winter series over 18km at North Fremantle. Brendon Sarson will start favourite, but Reece Baker is showing he is almost back to full fitness and can’t be discounted.
