World class field battle for Australian Open

The event, which also serves as the first round of selection trial for the Senior Australian athletes, features a number of Olympic and world champions and commences on Saturday morning with the qualification runs, before the semi-final and final runs are held on Sunday morning.

Local favourite and 2008 Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Robin Bell (pictured) will return to international competition in the C1 for the first time since his medal winning run six months ago. Bell, who won a silver medal in the corresponding event in 2008, will face tough competition from British paddler David Florence, who claimed the silver medal in Beijing last year.

In the race for Australian selection, Bell’s main opposition will come from fellow West Australian Kynan Maley, who has been impressive in training as he continues his rejuvenation after a long injury lay off in 2007.

Slovakian Jana Dukatova will enter the women’s K1 and C1 as the firm favourite, with the only doubt whether she can handle the physicality of both classes in the same weekend. In the women’s K1 Dukatova will be challenged by the Australian contingent of Sarah Grant, and Kate and Rosalyn Lawrence, while Victorian youngster Leanne Guinea will be eager to impress in the women’s C1.

Reigning Olympic champions Pavol and Peter Hochschorner of Slovakia will be expected to prove too strong in the C2, while in the men’s K1 the field is considered wide open.

Defending Australian Open champion, Slovenian Peter Kauzer, returns to defend his crown but will be challenged by David Ford (Can), Brett Heyl (USA), Daniele Molmenti (ITA) and Victorian Warwick Draper, who will look to build upon the form that took him to 5^th place in Beijing.

Racing will commence at 7.30am on Saturday with the first qualification runs in the men’s C1.

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