Australian Canoeing Flatwater Championships 2007

Dane Wilkinson, winner of the Men's U18 K1 1000m final

A total of 302 athletes from 39 clubs and countries participated in the championships. We welcomed athletes from all states as well as New Zealand, Italy, Canada, Germany and Samoa.

Over 100 of the competitors were Open but we also had strong fields in the 14, 16 and 18 age groups. Entries in the junior women’s events were the major increase for 2007

Over 50 officials and volunteers, led by Chief Official Mr Graham Halford ensured that the events ran on time and were conducted according to ICF and AC rules. Our sincere thanks to these people who worked tirelessly for the five days to ensure that the regatta was a success. We also thank the junior athletes, parents and coaches who assisted in holding boats over the first 3 days.

Many officials commented on the sportsmanlike behavior of the athletes and the way in which they coped with their busy race schedules. The efforts of the coaches, team leaders and team officials in supporting the athletes are also appreciated by officials and athletes alike.

Glen Rypp from the West Lakes Canoe Club in SA was announced as the winner of the Raj award for Junior Canoeists. His outstanding performance in the 16 year kayak events and his sportsmanlike manner earned him this prestigious award.

The champion club points for the regatta are yet to be finalized but the medals tally for each club can be viewed on the link below. Manly Warringah was first in the tally with a total of 90 medals, West Lakes and Indooroopilly were equal 2^nd with 68 medals and Holdfast bay came in fourth with 62 medals. West Lakes won the most Gold medals (42).

The successful regatta organisation relied heavily on JRaceman software provided free of charge by Jim McBeath in the USA. (www.jraceman.org). The regatta software is available for use at state level.

Thanks also to Karen Humphries (WLCC) for her help in entering data into JRaceman and to Stephanie Finn (HBCC) and Michael Bailley (WBCC) for their help in checking the schedule before the regatta.

We also thank the Red Cross volunteers for their first aid services and the 1st Cambridge Park Scout group for their volunteers who held boats on the last two days. Thanks also to the event management staff at Sydney International Regatta Centre for the outstanding presentation of the Olympic standard course at Penrith.

Due to the overwhelming number of entries to the 2007 Australian Flatwater National Championships our stock of medals was inadequate to present to all of the Australian Champions on the Saturday and Sunday. Australian Canoeing extends its apologies to those athletes who were presented with medals but had to return them after the presentation. We are awaiting delivery of a new batch of medals, and will post them to the competitors when they arrive.

Full results for all races are available by following the links below. A copy of the regatta schedule is also available to assist in finding particular race results.

Detailed summaries of personal results for each athlete will be emailed to each club upon email request to Mark O’Brien (markobrien@adam.com.au)

We look forward to the 2008 season.