 Will Forsythe - Men's K1
David Polglase, Sunday, 22 February 2009 Australian paddlers medalled in all five events at the Canoe Kayak 2009 Australian Open held today at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium. The event, held under heavy cloud, also served as the first round of selection trials for the 2009 Australian Slalom Team with a number of athletes putting their hand up for selection.
Slovakian Matej Benus claimed the first title of the day with a victory in men’s C1, upsetting the silver and bronze Olympic medallists, David Florence (GB) and Robin Bell (AUS).
Benus negotiated the tricky middle section of the course with ease and set a lightning time of 106.02 to hold off Florence by three seconds, with Bell a further second back in third place.
Benus said that he had enjoyed the set up of the course.
“I always knew it was going to be tough because our Slovakian coach helped set it up,” Benus said. “I knew I had to be quick because the quality of the field was very good.
“I am very happy with the new rules as coming from Slovakia, Martikan is very hard to beat and now I have a chance to compete internationally as well.”
Fellow Slovakian Jana Dukatova prevailed in the final of the women’s K1 with a superb time of 115.85 to lead home Austrian Corinna Kuhnle and Australian Rosalyn Lawrence (NSW).
Dukatova, who entered the event as favourite to claim the gold medal, finished five seconds clear of the field. Kate Lawrence finished in fifth position, while Jessica Fox ended up in sixth place.
Olympic champions Pavol and Peter Hochschorner of Slovakia were pushed all the way in the final of the men’s C2 by the Slovenian combination of Ladislav and Peter Skantar but eventually triumphed in a time of 114.30, to pip their European rivals by only 0.34 of a second. Australian’s Robin Jeffrey and Kynan Maley rounded out the top three.
Italian Daniele Molmenti flew down the 2000 Olympic course to win the final of the men’s K1 in a time of 102.93. Molmenti was the last paddler to take to the course and did enough to finish just over half a second clear of Australian Will Forsythe (NSWIS), with defending champion, Slovenian Peter Kauzer finishing in third place.
Molmenti has been training in Australia and applauded the state of the facilities.
“I’ve been here for two months now for training, and of course summer, but although this may not be the most important race of the year it is a good start for me,” Molmenti said. “The course and the facilities here are world class and it has put me in a great position for the rest of the year.”
Forsythe claimed the first blow in the race for Australian selection but still noted there was a long way to go.
“It was a really hard race, we have a lot of internationals here but a lot of quality Australians here as well so it was good to get on top of them this weekend,” Forsythe said. “It’s good to get a win under the belt in the selection races but there are still two more to go and Hooch (Anthony Brown) and Waz (Warwick Draper) are two really tough competitors so there is still a long way to go.”
Leanne Guinea (VIC) swept to victory in the final of the women’s C1 with a time of 152.56 to finish almost 18 seconds clear of fellow Australian’s Rosalyn Lawrence and Jessica Fox (NSW).
The women’s C1 is a new introduction to the international calendar and will make its first appearance at the world championships in 2010, and the results for the Australian paddlers will be seen as promising.
The 2009 Australian Junior Slalom Team will be announced early next week, while the remaining rounds of the Senior selection trials will be raced over the weekend of 7/8 March.
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