Strong SA challenge for world champs

The SA Canoe Marathon committee has selected a strong provisional national team to represent the country at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Oklahoma City, US, in September.

“I am very happy with the team that we have selected,” committee chairman Brett Austen Smith said in a statement on Tuesday.

“It is a really expensive trip and so, under the circumstances I am happy with the team. The tour is mostly self-funded, or part funded for Protea paddlers, so we have to see who can afford it.

“This often means some of the strongest paddlers can’t go for financial reasons which is very unfortunate. Once the final paperwork has been dealt with, we will be able to see who is in the final team.”

In the men’s team, K1 World Champion Andy Birkett missed out on K1 selection but he and partner Greg Louw earned selection in the K2.

Olympic bronze medallist Bridgitte Hartley was chosen for the women’s K1, while Abby Adie and Laura O’Donoghue were named for the K2.

Under-23 K1 hopeful Jenna Ward and Hayley Arthur wwould partner in the second women’s K2 team.

“The depth in women’s canoe marathon paddling is not where it was a year ago and this is something we as a committee need to address in the build-up to 2017.”

Austen Smith was, however, confident there were good paddlers coming through with the under-23 age group being one to watch from a men’s point of view.

“The under-23 men are very strong this year and I think both Brandon van der Walt and Stuart Maclaren are world class paddlers and I believe that we can do really well there.

“We will be strong in the seniors again as well as the masters. We’ve sent a very strong field to the World Champs in the masters categories and this year should be no different, although it is not the biggest team we have sent to a World Champs.”

SA CANOE MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM:

Senior Men: Hank McGregor K1&K2, Jasper Mocke K1&K2, Andrew Birkett K2, Greg Louw K2.

Senior Women: Bridgitte Hartley K1, Nikki Russel K1, Abby Adie K2, Laura O’Donoghue K2, Jenna Ward K2, Hayley Arthur K2.

Under-23 Men: Brandon van der Walt K1, Stuart Maclaren K1.

Under-23 Women: Jenna Ward K1, Brittany Petersen K1.

Junior boys: Bryan leroux K1&K2, Louis Hattingh K1&K2, Jean van der Westhuizen K2, Stuart Bristow K2.

Junior Girls: Julia Trodd K1, Martine Beukes K1.

Masters Team: Marion Young K1&K1 SV, Gustav Smook K1&K2 SM, Gustav Radloff K1&K2 SM, Katarzyna Lapacz K1 M, Hilde Lapere K1 SGM, Lee McGregor K1&K2 SGM, Alan Hold K1&K2 GM, Chris van den Berg K1 SGGM, John Evans K1&K2 GM, Len Jenkins Snr K1 GGM, Nigel Briggs K2 GM, Cathy Doherty-Bigara K2 SV, Linton Hope K1 SGM.

– Sapa