WA Kayakers Selected for World Championships

Published On: 13 March 2018

WA will have four sprint kayak athletes competing overseas at world championship level in 2018 following a successful campaign at the National Championships in Penrith.

Steve Bird and Jaime Roberts will compete at the senior world titles in Portugal next August, whilst U23 reps Shannon Reynolds and Yale Steinepreis will feature at the combined Junior and U23 titles in Bulgaria in July.

Bird rubber-stamped his return to international duty with a comprehensive display over the 200m distance at the national titles to reinforce his sprint pedigree.

Bird broke the course record in clocking 34.79 for victory in the final of the men’s K1 200. He finished ahead of South Australian Matt Goble, with WA/NSW paddler Mark Stowe in third.

Although pleased with his national title win Bird said the main focus for him was on August’s titles.

“My preparation for the selections was fantastic and I couldn’t have done anything more to put myself in the best position,” he said. “Ultimately though my preparations are geared towards the World Championships in August.”

Bird wound-back the clock in the K2 200 final, partnering his London Olympic teammate Jesse Phillips for victory in the two-man boat. Stowe and Callum Dunn were second.

Gold Coast based West Aussie Jaime Roberts was strong across a number of events at Nationals, partnering NSW’s Jo Brigden-Jones for victory in the final of the K2 200. Steinepreis and Brianna Massie finished second.

Roberts and Brigden-Jones also combined for a silver medal in the final of the women’s K2 500 which was won by Queenslanders Alyce Burnett and Aly Bull. The four combined to easily win the K4 500 final, with the group set to contest the event over the European World Cup season and into the senior world titles.

In the K1 500 final, Roberts finished in fourth place with the win going to Burnett. Shannon Reynolds finished in seventh position, with Steinepreis eighth.

Roberts also claimed a bronze medal in the K1 200 final, with gold once more going to Burnett. Steinepreis was sixth and Reynolds finished eighth.

Photos: Lawrence Greed (c)