Members of the WAIS Canoeing program have enjoyed a productive first hit out of the summer domestic season, returning a host of medals across all disciplines at GP1 at Adelaide’s West Lakes course.
2013 Australian World Championship representative Alana Nicholls earned wins in women’s K1 200m and K2 200m events, partnering fellow WAIS scholarship holder Jaime Roberts in the K2 success.
Nicholls claimed the K1 title after finishing ahead of Jo Brigden-Jones, who was competing for the first time since returning from a shoulder complaint, sustained in March of this year.
The Nicholls – Roberts combination also earlier contested the women’s K2 500m event claiming second place behind Naomi Flood and Tamara Csipes.
Lachlan Tame proved to have the hot seat throughout GP1 – winning the men’s K1 200m final, ahead of WAIS athletes Jesse Phillips and Brodie Holmes, who finished second and third respectively.
New South Welshman Tame then partnered WAIS paddler Todd Brewer for victory in the men’s K2 200m event – in a race considered to be the most exciting of the weekend’s action. The boys combined to complete the only sub 33second effort of the meet, eclipsing their nearest rivals – Brodie Holmes and Tim Donkin by half a second.
Holmes switched boats to race with Tame in the men’s K2 500m event, with the pair taking the win ahead of Brewer and Donkin. WAIS athlete Daniel Bowker was third, pairing with Glenn Rypp.
One of Australia’s fastest rising kayak stars, Jordan Wood, underlined his capabilities with a strong win in the final of the men’s K1 1000m – taking line honours over WAIS paddlers Jesse Phillips and Daniel Bowker.
In another successful event for the contesting WAIS contingent, Holmes, Bowker and Phillips teamed with Tasmanian Sam Norton to take out the senior men’s K4 500 final.
