Murray Stewart wins the men’s K1 1000, Queenslander’s Ken Wallace and David Smith win the K2 1000 and the K4 Worlds crew are on track with an impressive performance to kick off proceedings on day one.Day one of the 2012 Paddle NSW Sprint Championships has concluded with a world class field present for an exciting day of racing with some enthralling action on water.

The men’s K4 1000m World Championship crew showed that they are right on track for London with an impressive and dominant display on the water this morning, with the crew of Tate Smith (QLD), David Smith (QLD), Murray Stewart (NSW) and Jacob Clear (QLD) looking to go one better in London this year and win gold after finishing behind the German’s in Szeged.

“it definitely felt like we were blowing out the cobwebs, it’s been a while since we have had race, it’s good to get one out, but I think we’ve still got some work to do”, said Stewart.

Stewart was the star of today dominating the men’s K1 disciplines, dominating the men’s K1 1000 and K1 500 events and looks set for a big 2012.

Into a slight headwind the 25 year old Manly Warringah paddler dominated the Olympic distance, holding off a fast finishing Ken Wallace to win the K1 1000m in a time of 3:36.39, 2.66 seconds clear of Wallace, with Italy’s Maximilian Benassi finishing third.

“It was a tough field with obviously Kenny and Clint and all the internationals coming to race, so was a tough final, there was a bit of a head wind too, so hard work.”

“I just thought I would be it out there and just try to go out hard like I usually do so I just tried to keep my head in my lane and not look around too much, but yeah it was just a hard 1000.”

It was not the return Clint Robinson was hoping for, finishing 8th in the K1 1000 final, but after winning his heat and finishing 2nd in his semi the 39 year old still has nearly 7 weeks before selections to make remarkable comeback and qualify for a sixth Olympics.

“I didn’t really get the performance out of myself today that will give myself a true indication so that’s disappointing from my point of view, but the encouraging thing is there were five Aussies in a pretty good international field final today, and Murray paddled exceptionally well, he’s going to be hard to beat no matter who you are come the nationals”, said Robinson.

Wallace bounced back in the K2 1000m final teaming up with fellow Queenslander David Smith to win in a time of 3:21.89 from lane 8, finishing 2.16 seconds clear of Great Britain’s Paul Wycherley, who teamed up with Australian K4 star Tate Smith, with Italian pair Maximilian Benassi and Alberto Ricchetti rounding out the top three. 

17 year old Queensland C1 specialist Jake Donaghey took the C1 1000 men’s final ahead of Coffs Harbour paddler Marius Florian, which was the first time Donaghey has beaten his more senior athletes and was excited with the win. The orders were then reversed for the C1 500 final with Florian finishing 1.06 seconds clear of Donaghey with Manly Warringah’s Gavin Godfrey finishing a distant third.

In the women’s events Alana Nicholls continued her dominant 2011 form into today’s event smashing the field in the women’s K1 1000m field, finishing more than 14 seconds clear of Illawarra paddlers Maddison Prior and Kirsty Higgison, despite it being the first time in over 3 years that the Bayswater paddler has competed over the distance.

“I haven’t done a 1000 in about three and a half years so I was very anxious going into it, but it’s good to do just to see how my fitness is going and be able to prepare it to various years and things”, said Nicholls.

Nicholls will also won her K1 500m heat, where she will join the likes of SASI paddler Hannah Davis and Manly’s Naomi Flood in tomorrow’s final commencing at 8:35am EST.

Hailey McGinty and Alyce Burnett combined to take out the women’s K2 500m final in a time of 1:45.03, to finish 2.11 seconds clear of Bernadette Wallace and Naomi Flood who narrowly pipped the crew of Jo Brigden-Jones and Hannah Davis for second.

In the men’s 500m events, Stewart took out the men’s K1 finishing more than four seconds clear of Great Britain’s Paul Wycherley and Currumbin Creek’s Ken Wallace who finished second and third respectively.

Special mention must be made to 17 year old Sunshine Coast paddler Bill Bain who finished 5th, following up from finishing 7th in the men’s K1 1000 A final earlier in the day to make it two A finals for the talented teenager.

Junior Wrap (U18s)
2011 dual Slalom C1 World Cup medal winner Jessica Fox showed her ability across both disciplines cruising to victory in the women’s U18 K1 500 final, finishing four seconds clear of Sydney Northern Beaches paddler Monique O’Neill and Paddle NSW Direct athlete Jamie Brinkworth.

The K2 girl’s event was won by Sydney Northern beaches duo, Mackenzie Labine Romain and Monique O’Neil, ahead of fellow club duo Tanielle Basson and Rachel Duncan, with Paddle NSW Direct pair Kirsty Philpott and Jamie Brinkworth finishing third.

Jordan Wood capped off a great days racing in the men’s U18 K1 events blitzing the field in the 1000m crossing the finish in 3:54.29 to finish 6.82 seconds clear of Sydney Northern Beaches paddler Peter Euers, with fellow club member Ben McLean rounding out the places on the podium.

Wood then went on to take out the U18 K1 500; 3 seconds clear of Sunshine Coast’s Charlie Copeland, with McLean featuring yet again on the podium in third.

Sydney Northern Beaches continued their domination of the Junior competition with club paddlers Fraser McTavish and Ben McLean taking out both the U18 K2 500m and 1000m finals with Jacob Tsagaris and Euers in second, and Tom little and Liam Yeates finishing third in that order for both events.

Day two will see the women’s K1 500m final decided, while the 200m sprint events will be raced. Racing will kick off tomorrow from 8:30am EST with the men’s K4 500m final, followed by the women’s K1 500m final at 8:35am.