Heats and Finals Start lists for the Women's C1 200 and C2 500. 17 countries are on the line

Pam Boteler | WomenCAN International - Canada's reigning World Champion and unbeaten - Laurence Vincent Lapointe - is back on the line to defend her C1 and C2 titles. In the C2, she is teaming with Sarah-Jane Caumartin after the retirement of 2-time World Champion Mallorie Nicholson.

For C2 we expect a very close and exciting race. This is anyone's game this year. Hungary's Zsanett Lakatos and Kincső Takács went 1:59 for the C2 500 at the Jr/U23 World Championships in Welland. They are the first women's canoe crew to break 2:00 and have every intention of continuing to set world records. They are on one side of the Canadian crew. On the other is the always formidable Russian crew of Anastasia Ganina and Natalia Marasanova. They know how to win. Ecuador and Belarus have some rising stars and cannot be ignored. This final will be on Sunday at 15:25.

In C1 - Laurence will have her work cut out for her. Bulgaria's Staniliya Stamenova - a pioneer for women's canoe in her country - has been waiting for this race for months. Also - look out for Russia's Irina Andreeva. She beat European Champion Maria Kasakova for the top spot for Worlds and has her sights set on Gold. Hungary's Zsanett Lakatos is proving she is one of the best in the world and will certainly fight for a medal in C1. Ecuador's Anggie Avegno is hungry to follow up her Silver medal performance at the Junior/U23 World Championships. France's Sophie Cordelier - one of France's pioneers in women's canoe - has been around a long time. She also cannot be overlooked for a medal.

Good luck to all the paddlers! and Welcome new paddlers from Japan and Turkey!

On a side note - we are missing the following countries who have competed this year, in 2012, or at the last World Championships (country abbreviations): USA, BRA, GBR, POL, KAZ, ROU, ANG, GHA, SEN, MAC, GEO, PUR.

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