By Tom Collings, Australian Canoeing - Olympic and world champions Ken Wallace, Clint Robinson, Ben Fouhy and Lisa Carrington will headline racing this weekend at the Oceania Championships in Penrith.

217 athletes from 11 countries including Oceania representation from New Zealand, Guam, Tahiti, Samoa and Cook Islands, will contest the 2012 Oceania Championships at Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) from 2-4 March where national team selection and Olympic nomination is on the line.

Fans can expect an action packed three days of racing as the nation’s top sprint paddlers battle it out with a host of international stars including Athens Olympic 1000m silver medallist and ex world champion Ben Fouhy; and current 200m World Champion Lisa Carrington of New Zealand.

Prior to the commencement of the Oceania Championships, Australian athletes vying for a spot in the 200m and C2 1000m events will compete at the first Olympic Team Nomination trial.

The Oceania Championships will commence on Friday from 9:30am local AEDT with the 200m events and the K4 finals to be contested on day 1. Australia will look to secure several available Oceania Olympic quota places in the designated heats of the men’s K1/C1 and women’s K1 200m events.

Western Australian star Alana Nicholls will have the opportunity to secure her spot on the senior team if she can take back to back selection wins on Thursday and Friday in the 200m events. After finishing 4th (K1 200) at last year’s World Championships, the Bayswater paddler has been happy with her preparations and confident of a strong performance this weekend.

“I'm confident in my preparation & work that has been put in over the last few months. I'm happy with how it's all going and confident I’ll be able to get the best out of myself”, said Nicholls.

Nicholls can expect strong challengers from reigning world champion Lisa Carrington, former world number 2 Jo Brigden Jones (NSW), Queensland’s Rachel Lovell and Beijing Olympian Hannah Davis (SA) for line honours.

Joel Simpson leads the Australian charge in the men’s K1 200m event, with K2 partner Matt Urquhart (QLD), Matt Goble (SA) and Steve Bird (WA) just a number of paddlers hot on his heels.

Day one will also feature the men’s C1 200m event where the exciting younger generation of Alex Haas and Jake Donaghey will look to challenge the likes of Sebastian Marzcak and Ferenc Szekszardi to secure Australia an Oceania quota ahead of the London Games.

Friday concludes with the men’s and women’s K4 crews in action. Expect the World Championship silver medal crew to feature strongly in the men’s direct final albeit without David Smith who has withdrawn from the event due to illness. Smith (who will contest an individual event to ensure his eligibility for Olympic nomination) will focus on regaining his health ahead of the final nomination trial at the National Championships from 14-18th March.

The women’s K4 500 final will not be clear cut with last year’s World Championship crew of Rachel Lovell, Lyndsie Fogarty, Jo Brigden Jones and Hannah Davis to be challenged by the newly formed quad of Alyce Burnett, Bernadette Wallace, Hailey McGinty and Naomi Flood. aid Flood.

Saturday (day 2) will feature the K1 1000 and 500 events with the men’s K1 1000 event set to go down the wire with Manly Warringah’s Murray Stewart in career best form and Ken Wallace back to full fitness and eager to race after an injury interrupted 2011.

“I have been really pleased with the way that I have been training, my times have been fantastic, it’s just a matter of putting it all together on the day”, said Wallace.

Saturday will also see Clint Robinson start his pursuit for a record equalling sixth Olympics, and if successful will join the likes of awesome foursome member James Tomkins, Equestrian legend Andrew Hoy and sailor Colin Beashal.

Asked about his chances of finishing ahead of Ken and Murray, Clint replied,

At the end of the day I will just put in my best performance, this week will only be the first of two Olympic selection events so it’s not make or break.

“Murray and Ken are great paddlers, but there are a couple of good paddlers, Jacob Clear is always consistent and Bill Bain is one to watch, so it won’t just be a battle amongst the big names, there should be 6-8 athletes raring to go.”

For more information visit the event website: www.oceania.canoe.org.au