2014 Australian Canoeing Sprint Titles

The 2014 Australian Canoeing National Sprint Championships begin on Wednesday with a host of NSWIS athletes taking to the water at the West Lakes Canoe Club in Adelaide.

London Olympic gold medalists David Smith and Murray Stewart return as they look to record yet another National K4 1000 title alongside teammates Tate Smith (Qld) and Jacob Clear (Qld). David Smith, 27, said he was pleased with the team’s preparation and was looking forward to another top season for the squad.

“This domestic season we’ve kept it pretty low key, but we have done a lot more team boat training than we did last year, which is a good thing,” Smith said.

“But it doesn’t really matter what we do, what level we’re at, as long as we execute our plan. But we’re expecting to have a good race, to set us up for the international circuit.”

The K4 1000 event will feature on the opening day alongside the mens K1 1000 and K2 1000. Stewart will renew his rivalry with Ken Wallace in the men’s K1 1000, whilst Stewart will team up with David Smith to take on Wallace and Clear in the K2 1000. 

The race for the senior women’s K1 500 and K1 200 titles appear its most open in years with NSWIS athletes Jo Brigden-Jones and former ironwoman star Naomi Flood among the leading conteders. The NSWIS pair will then back up on Thursday for the women’s K2 500 final where they will clash with Mitta Mitta’s Amy Peters and Bernadette Wallace (Qld).

Paracanoe will also feature on the programme with the Paralympic distance, the 200 metres to be raced on Friday. As always much intrigue surrounds who will come through and make this year’s team with just two years until paracanoe will make its debut at the Paralympics in Brazil. Headlining the NSWIS contingent will be Penrith local Colin Sieders.

Racing will commence Wednesday morning from 8:30am Adelaide time.