News Archive

AIS - Celebrating 21 years of excellence - Alumni Call - Former Athletes and Staff

Vale - Julian Carter

It is with deep sadness that we pass on to members the news of the recent passing of Julian Carter.     

For those members who did not know Julian he has been a long standing volunteer most notably making significant contributions to the Canoe Polo committee in his role as secretary up until last year.

A funeral service will be held in Launceston on Friday afternoon.

Missing Sprint Boat

A boat was lost on the way home to South Australia from Penrith on Monday April 8.

It was a Max kayaks "Tornado" (Green deck / white hull) in a cover with TWO Bracsa paddles inside it. It may be a little worse for wear...... lost somewhere near Hay NSW on Monday 8th April.

The boat is the property of SASI (SA Govt) and the paddles are personal property of the junior paddlers, Khalee Field and Mieke Boerema.

Anyone with any information regarding the boat can contact Canoe SA on  08 8240 3294 or David Foureur, SASI Head Kayak Coach, on (08)8416 6639.

Freestyle Team for Pre-Worlds Selected

The Australia Freestyle Team to compete at the 2002 Pre-World Championships to be held in Graz, Austria from May 28 to June 1 has been announced. 

The team below has been selected based on Selection events at Penrith Whitewater Stadium in NSW and Brady's Lake in Tasmania.

Mens K1
Adam Dickenson  (Tas)
David Finlay  (NSW)
Gary Finlay (NSW)
Aaron Hemmerle  (NSW)

Ladies K1
Georgia Le Plastrier  (Vic)

Junior Ladies K1
Anita Cowley  (NSW)

Junior Mens K1
Andre Hemmerle  (NSW)

Mens C1
Gary Finlay (NSW)

Open C1
Gary Finlay (NSW)

Squirt
Gary Finlay (NSW)

Congratulations and best of luck to all paddlers selected.

Plans of Management for NSW protected areas

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 requires that a plan of management be prepared for each area managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. A plan of management is a legal document that outlines how an area will be managed in the years ahead. It sets out the values of the area, its management objectives and management strategies.

Once a plan has been adopted by the NSW Minister for the Environment, no operations may be undertaken in the area except in accordance with the plan.

Procedures for the production of a plan are specified in the Act and involve

• public exhibition during which time members of the public are invited to make submissions on the plan,
• consideration by the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council, and
• adoption by the Minister for the Environment.

Plans of management at each of these stages are listed below:

Draft plans currently on public exhibition

Bird Island Nature Reserve (with Munmorah State Recreation Area) - Draft Plan of Management
(16 March 2002 - 17 June 2002)

Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve
- Draft Plan of Management
(12 April 2002 - 1 July 2002)

Munmorah State Recreation Area and Bird Island Nature Reserve - Draft Plan of Management
(16 March 2002 - 17 June 2002)

Parks and Reserves of the Northern Richmond Range (with Richmond Range, Toonumbar and Mallanganee National Parks and Hogarth Range Nature Reserve) - Draft Plan of Management
(1 February 2002 - 22 April 2002)

Note: public submissions for each plan must be received by the last date shown above.

Draft plans which are being processed and considered by the Advisory Council following exhibition

• Ballina Nature Reserve
  
  
• Ben Halls Gap National Park
  

• Boronga Nature Reserve, Boomi Nature Reserve and Boomi West Nature Reserve

• Botany Bay National Park

• Bouddi National Park

• Cape Byron Headland Reserve

• Cathedral Rock National Park

• Coolah Tops National Park
  
  
• Culgoa National Park
  

• Goulburn River National Park and Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve

• Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Lion Island, Long Island and Spectacle Island Nature Reserves

• Lion Island Nature Reserve (with Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Long Island and Spectacle Island Nature Reserves)

• Long Island Nature Reserve (with Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Lion Island and Spectacle Island Nature Reserves)
  

• Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve (with Goulburn River National Park)
  
  
• Murramarang National Park, Brush Island Nature Reserve, Belowla Island Nature Reserve and Tollgate Islands Nature Reserve (November 1997) - Proposed amendments to Murramarang part of the plan of management
  
  
• Myall Lakes National Park (with Little Broughton Island and Stormpetral Nature Reserves)

• Nadgee Nature Reserve

• Parks and Reserves of the Tweed Caldera (with Mt Warning National Park, Border Ranges National Park, Mebbin National Park, Nightcap National Park, Mt Jerusalem National Park, Goonengerry National Park, Limpinwood Nature Reserve, Numinbah Nature Reserve, Snows Gully Nature Reserve)
  
  
• Parr State Recreation Area (with Yengo National Park) - Draft Plan of Management
  
  
• Pilliga Nature Reserve

• Spectacle Island Nature Reserve (with Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Lion Island and Long Island Nature Reserves)

• Throsby Park Historic Site
  

• Torrington State Recreation Area
  

• Tuckean Nature Reserve
  
  
• Uralba Nature Reserve

• Wambina Nature Reserve
  
  
• Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve
  
  
• Wolli Creek Regional Park
  
  
• Yatteyattah Nature Reserve
  
  
• Yengo National Park and Parr State Recreation Area

Plans which have been adopted (with dates of adoption)

• Agnes Banks Nature Reserve (with Castlereagh and Windsor Downs Nature Reserves) (March 1999)
  
  
• Bald Rock and Boonoo Boonoo National Park (January 2002)
  
  
• Bargo State Recreation Area (in Nattai Reserves, with Burragorang State Recreation Area, Nattai National Park, Nattai State Recreation Area, Yerranderie State Recreation Area) (April 2001)
  

• Barren Grounds Nature Reserve (with Budderoo National Park, Macquarie Pass National Park and Robertson Nature Reserve) (October 1998)

• Bellinger River National Park (May 2000)

• Belowla Island Nature Reserve (with Murramarang National Park, Brush Island Nature Reserve, and Tollgate Islands Nature Reserve) (November 1997)

• Bermaguee Nature Reserve (with Wallaga Lake National Park and Goura Nature Reserve) (November 1999)

• Bimberi Nature Reserve (January 1997)
  
  
• Blue Mountains National Park (May 2001)
  
  
• Bongil Bongil National Park (November 1999)
  
  
• Boonoo Boonoo National Park (with Bald Rock National Park) (January 2002)

• Border Ranges National Park (in Caldera Parks and Reserves, with Nightcap National Park, Numinbah Nature Reserve and Limpinwood Nature Reserve) (March 1989)

• Bournda National Park and Bournda Nature Reserve
  (January 2000)

• Bournda Nature Reserve (with Bournda National Park)
  (January 2000)

• Brigalow Park Nature Reserve (March 2002)
  
  

• Broadwater National Park, Bundjalung National Park and Iluka Nature Reserve (August 1997)

• Broken Head Nature Reserve (in Byron Coast Group of Nature Reserves, with Brunswick Heads and Tyagarah Nature Reserves) (October 1997)

• Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve (in Byron Coast Group of Nature Reserves, with Tyagarah and Broken Head Nature Reserves) (October 1997)

• Brush Island Nature Reserve (with Murramarang National Park, Belowla Island Nature Reserve and Tollgate Islands Nature Reserve) (November 1997)

• Budawang National Park (with Morton National Park) (October 2001)

• Budderoo National Park, Macquarie Pass National Park, Barren Grounds Nature Reserve and Robertson Nature Reserve (October 1998)

• Bundjalung National Park (with Broadwater National Park, and Iluka Nature Reserve) (August 1997)

• Bungonia State Recreation Area (November 1997)

• Burragorang State Recreation Area (in Nattai Reserves, with Bargo State Recreation Area, Nattai National Park, Nattai State Recreation Area, Yerranderie State Recreation Area) (April 2001)
  
  

• Byron Coast Group of Nature Reserves (incorporating Brunswick Heads, Tyagarah and Broken Head Nature Reserves) (October 1997)

• Caldera Parks and Reserves (Border Ranges National Park, Nightcap National Park, Numinbah Nature Reserve and Limpinwood Nature Reserve) (March 1989)

• Castlereagh, Agnes Banks and Windsor Downs Nature Reserves (March 1999)

• Cattai National Park (November 1997)

• Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve (October 1998, amended May 1999)

• Comerong Island Nature Reserve (with Seven Mile Beach National Park) (November 1997)

• Cudgen Nature Reserve (November 1998)

• Dorrigo National Park (October 1998)

• Dharug National Park (August 1997)

• Eurobodalla National Park (August 2000)

• Garawarra State Recreation Area (with Royal National Park and Heathcote National Park)
  (February 2000)

• Garigal National Park (November 1998)

• Georges River National Park (February 1994)

• Goura Nature Reserve (with Wallaga Lake National Park and Bermaguee Nature Reserve) (November 1999)

• Hat Head National Park (November 1998)

• Heathcote National Park (with Royal National Park and Garawarra State Recreation Area) (February 2000)

• Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve (with Kooragang Nature Reserve (June 1998)

• Iluka Nature Reserve (with Broadwater National Park and Bundjalung National Park) (August 1997)

• Kajuligah Nature Reserve (January 2000)

• Kanangra-Boyd National Park (April 2001)
  
  

• Kinchega National Park (new plan adopted December 1999)

• Kooragang Nature Reserve and Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve (June 1998)

• Kosciuszko National Park (November 2000)
  

• Lake Urana Nature Reserve

• Lane Cove National Park (August 1998)

• Langtree Nature Reserve (March 2001)

• Limpinwood Nature Reserve (in Caldera Parks and Reserves, with Border Ranges National Park, Nightcap National Park, Numinbah Nature Reserve) (March 1989)

• Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve (October 1998)

• Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve (May 1993)

• Macquarie Pass National Park (with Budderoo National Park, Barren Grounds Nature Reserve and Robertson Nature Reserve) (October 1998)

• Mallee Cliffs National Park (October 1998)

• Maroota Historic Site (with Marramarra National Park and Muogamarra Nature Reserve) (December 1998)

• Marramarra National Park, Muogamarra Nature Reserve and Maroota Historic Site (December 1998)

• Maryland National Park (March 2002)
  
  

• Mimosa Rocks National Park (December 1998)

• Morton National Park and Budawang National Park (October 2001)

• Mount Imlay National Park (October 1998)

• Muogamarra Nature Reserve (with Marramarra National Park and Maroota Historic Site) (December 1998)

• Murramarang Aboriginal Area (April 1998)

• Murramarang National Park, Brush Island Nature Reserve, Belowla Island Nature Reserve and Tollgate Islands Nature Reserve (November 1997)

• Narran Lake Nature Reserve (May 2000)

• Nattai National Park (in Nattai Reserves, with Bargo State Recreation Area, Burragorang State Recreation Area, Nattai State Recreation Area, Yerranderie State Recreation Area) (April 2001)
  
  
• Nattai Reserves (Nattai National Park, Bargo State Recreation Area, Burragorang State Recreation Area, Nattai State Recreation Area, Yerranderie State Recreation Area) (April 2001)
  
  
• Nattai State Recreation Area (in Nattai Reserves, with Bargo State Recreation Area, Burragorang State Recreation Area, Nattai National Park, Yerranderie State Recreation Area) (April 2001)
  
  

• Nightcap National Park (in Caldera Parks and Reserves, with Border Ranges National Park, Numinbah Nature Reserve and Limpinwood Nature Reserve) (March 1989)

• Nocoleche Nature Reserve (January 2000)

• Numinbah Nature Reserve (in Caldera Parks and Reserves, with Border Ranges National Park, Nightcap National Park, and Limpinwood Nature Reserve) (March 1989)

• Popran National Park (August 2000)

• Queanbeyan Nature Reserve (November 1999)

• Robertson Nature Reserve (with Budderoo National Park, Macquarie Pass National Park and Barren Grounds Nature Reserve) (October 1998)

• The Rock Nature Reserve (February 2000)
  

• Royal National Park, Heathcote National Park and Garawarra State Recreation Area
  (February 2000 - new plan for Royal)

• Seven Mile Beach National Park and Comerong Island Nature Reserve (November 1997)

• Stotts Island Nature Reserve (March 2001)

• Sturt National Park (February 1996)

• Sydney Harbour National Park (October 1998)

• Tarlo River National Park (May 1998)

• Thirlmere Lakes National Park (August 1997)

• Tinderry Nature Reserve (October 1998)

• Tollgate Islands Nature Reserve (with Murramarang National Park, Brush Island Nature Reserve, and Belowla Island Nature Reserve) (November 1997)

• Tooloom National Park (November 1999)

• Towra Point Nature Reserve (July 2001)

• Tweed Heads Historic Site and Ukerebagh Nature Reserve
  (September 1999)

• Tyagarah Nature Reserve (in Byron Coast Group of Nature Reserves, with Brunswick Heads and Broken Head Nature Reserves) (October 1997)

• Ukerebagh Nature Reserve (with Tweed Heads Historic Site)
  (September 1999)

• Wallaga Lake National Park, Goura Nature Reserve and Bermaguee Nature Reserve (November 1999)

• Wallumatta Nature Reserve (February 1999)

• Water catchments: Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (March 2001)
  
  
• Windsor Downs Nature Reserve (with Castlereagh and Agnes Banks Nature Reserves) (March 1999)
  
  
• Wollemi National Park (April 2001)
  

• Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve (November 1999)

• Yathong Nature Reserve(with Nombinnie Nature Reserve and Round Hill Nature Reserve) (November 1996)
  
  
• Yerranderie State Recreation Area (in Nattai Reserves, with Bargo State Recreation Area, Burragorang State Recreation Area, Nattai National Park, Nattai State Recreation Area,) (April 2001)
  

• Yuranighs Aboriginal Grave Historic Site (July 1999)
  

Environment groups call on Victoria and NSW to give the Murray River its share

Launch Of 2002 AIS/National Sprint Canoe/Kayak Program

AIS Director, Michael Scott today announced the AIS/National Sprint Canoe/Kayak scholarship holders for 2002.

Mr Scott said the main aim of the 26-strong squad will be to prepare for the world championships in Spain in August.

'With the conclusion of the national titles, the AIS/Australian team will now return to its Gold Coast base for stage one of the campaign for world championship gold. From there it's on to world cup regattas in Germany and Italy during June/July, ahead of the world titles in Seville in late August,' Mr Scott said.

The AIS Sprint Canoeing Program was established in 1989, and since then has experienced a fair degree of Olympic success. Clint Robinson won gold in Barcelona, Andrew Trim and Daniel Collins secured bronze and silver in 1996 and 2000 respectively, while Katrin Borchert won bronze in both Atlanta and Sydney.

Head Coach of the AIS/National team and former Olympic silver medallist, John Sumegi has high expectations of his squad for the coming international season.

'We have some outstanding talent within the squad and I'm really looking forward to working with the athletes in achieving some good results overseas,' Mr Sumegi said.

The program - which is funded by the Federal Government through the Australian Sports Commission and Australian Canoeing - is administered from the Gold Coast.

A list of the 2002 AIS/National Sprint Canoe/Kayak Squad appears below.

The AIS is a major program of the Australian Sports Commission and this year is celebrating 21 years of sporting excellence.

 2002 AIS/National Sprint Canoe/Kayak Squad

MENS/LADIES Clint Robinson (QLD) Nathan Baggaley (NSW) Craig Rodgers (NSW) Justin Dean (NSW) Simon Martin (QAS) David Rhodes (NSW) Kennith Wallace (QLD) Martin Marinov (QLD) Jason Egan (NSW) Sebastian Marczak (NSW) Glenn Singleton (VIC) Piers Christiansen (VIC) Amanda Rankin (QLD) Chantal Meek (NSW) Katrin Borchert (QLD) Katrin Kieseler (QLD) Lisa Oldenhof (WA) Paula Harvey (QLD)

STAFF John Sumegi - Head Coach Karl Russell - Team Manager Brett Worth - Men's K4 Coach Ben Hutchings - Men's K1/K2 Coach Brendan Purcell - Women's K4 Coach Carsten Loemker - Women's K1/K2 Coach Andrew Marczak - Men's Canoe Coach Dasha Kopcek - Men's K2 Coach Ron Robinson - Men's K1 Coach Fiona Gutschlag - Physiotherapist Clara Tuisk - Massage Therapist Ivan Hooper - Physiotherapist

AIS EMERGING ATHLETES MENS LADIES: Glen Pickering (QLD) Alistair Carrie (VIC) Tate Smith (NSW) Keith Colomb (VIC) Sharlene Kelly (QLD) Lyndsie Fogarty (QLD) Rachel Simper (WA) Andrea Wood

"Max Kayaks" K2 Winning Club

In memory of Br. Ray Howard

On Monday 8th April Br Ray Howard passed away in Adelaide. Br Howard would be well known to Sprint competitors and officials who participated in national regattas in the 80's and 90's.

Br Howard became interested in sprint canoeing in the early 70's and established the second sprint canoe club in SA at Christian Brothers College. In a very short time, he was elected as Chairman of the Sprint Committee and organised the State Championships in 1975. This began an unbroken period where Br Howard was a member of the Sprint Committee as CBC delegate and Regatta Secretary until 2000. He was also the quartermaster and trophies officer for that time. He set up a regatta format that still runs successfully in SA and is the envy of many states struggling to establish state regattas

Br Howard was the driving force and organiser for no fewer than 8 National Championships at West Lakes from 1979 to 1995. With Br Howard's guidance, these regattas raised the level of organisation at national events. He arranged officials, boats, buoying, catering, printing and all the other details that must be attended to at this level. He was energetic in gaining government funding for such events and always ran at a profit.

Br Howard's great love was his Christian Brothers Canoeing and Camping Club and especially the children. He enjoyed the challenge of teaching new students the skills of canoeing and took great pride in their successes. He thought participating was far more important than winning, but took great pride when his club won numerous club championships at state and national level. He spent many hours maintaining a large fleet of canoes and kayaks for the club as well as members' boats. He loved camping and ran numerous training camps in SA and interstate.

Br Howard will be greatly missed by all sprint  canoeists, officials and administrators in SA and by all members, past and present, of his beloved CBC Canoe Club.

May he rest in peace.

Mark O'Brien
CBC Canoe Club

South Australia Scoops Junior Sprint Awards

The Australian Sprint Championships concluded with awards presented to outstanding performances over the course of the weekend.   

The Raj Award, presented to the most outstanding junior paddler was presented to Hannah Davis from South Australia.

The Canoe Innovation Most Outstanding Junior Paddler was presented to Dale Welsh of South Australia.

Results for the "Max Kayaks" K2 Winning Club awards are still being processed.  The winner will be announced as soon as results are available.

Australian Sprint Canoe/Kayak Team Announced

Borchert makes it seven in a row

Robinson Takes Record 25th Australian Title

Clint Robinson (QAS) has defeated Nathan Baggaley (NSWIS) in the K1 1000m Final at the Australian Sprint Canoe/Kayak Championships today. Clint's win was an astonishing 25th Australian title.

The pair sprinted together for most of the 1000m race with Robinson pulling away over the final few metres to take the title.

The K1 1000m was the subject of some controversy earlier in the week when both Robinson and Baggaley were disqualified for not paddling in the centre of their lane. Both athletes were subsequently reinstated following a marathon five-hour appeal hearing on Thursday evening.

Robinson and Baggaley will continue their battle at two World Cup regattas in Europe in June and July. Robinson will win the Australian spot at the World Championships to be held in Seville, Spain in August if he beats Baggaley in any one of the two World Cups. Baggaley will need to win both.

In the women's K1 1000m, 2001 World silver medallist Katrin Borchert (QAS) continued her domination of the event easily winning the title. Chantal Meek (NSWIS) finished in second place with Paula Harvey in third place.

Nathan Baggaley and Ken Wallace (QAS) have won the men’s K2 1000m in a time of 3:19.06. In second place were Glenn Singleton and Piers Christianson (3:20.24) with Luke Young and Glenn Pickering in third. Clint Robinson and David Kennedy finished towards the rear of the field.

Baggaley and Wallace, who were a boat length behind with 100m to go, surged through the field to win comfortably. Unfortunately their time was slower than the Australian Team automatic qualification mark and their selection to the team will be at the discretion of the Selection Panel. The Australian Senior and Junior Teams will be announced on Sunday afternoon.

Katrin Kieseler and Katrin Borchert easily won the K2 1000m in a time of 3:41.67. In second place was Lisa Oldenhoff (WAIS) and Chantal Meek (NSWIS) with Charlene Kelly (QAS) and Natalie Rayner (NSWIS) third. Oldenhoff and Meeks time was 3:46.35 with Kelly and Rayner a further 4 seconds back in third. Their time was 3:50.72.

The crew of Rodgers (NSWIS), Dean (NSWIS), Martin (QAS) and Rhodes (NSWIS) easily won the K4 1000m. The winners were more than a boat length ahead of the crew of Pickering (QAS), Morton (NSWIS), Crilly (QAS) and Murray. Following in third place was the crew consisting of Bird (WAIS), Aulert (QAS), Norton-Smith and Towns. The winning crew will now travel to Europe as part of the AIS National Squad to contest a series of World Cup regattas in June and July.

Australian Sprint Championships 200m Results

Australian Sprint Canoe Championship Results

Results of the first two days competition at the Australian 2002 Sprint Championships are now available.  Please find links below to all results from Day 1 and Day 2.

Day 1 - Wednesday April 3 - 1000m Heats

Day 2 - Thursday April 4 - 500m Heats

IOC honours Helen Brownlee

Former Australian Canoeing President, Life Member and one of Australia's leading female sports officials, Helen Brownlee, has been awarded the 2002 IOC Women & Sport Trophy for Oceania.

The award is in recognition of Ms Brownlee's outstanding contribution to the promotion of women in sport.

Ms Brownlee has held many senior positions in the sport of Canoeing. She has been an Olympic Judge in 1972 and served on the Jury for Canoeing at four Olympics in 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000. She is currently President of the Commonwealth Canoe Federation.

Ms Brownlee has also been a member of the Australian Olympic Committee's (AOC) Executive Board since 1991.

"Helen has made a major contribution to the success of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and to the organisation of Canoeing here in Australia and internationally" said AOC President John Coates.

He also praised Ms Brownlee's role in Olympic Education particularly in relation to school children.

"She is one of the driving forces behind the Pierre De Coubertin Awards which are awarded for fair play and excellence to students in schools throughout Australia" Coates said.

"Helen has led by example and provided encouragement, direction and support for the increased participation by women particularly in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games" he said.

The Sydney Games achieved the highest level of female participation ever, which was significant as it coincided with the 100th anniversary of women's participation in the Olympic Games.

Ms Brownlee will receive her award at a ceremony at IOC Headquarters in Lausanne Switzerland on April 26.
 

Robinson and Baggaley Appeal Upheld

Australian Canoeing late last night upheld appeals by 1992 Olympic Gold Medallist Clint Robinson and Olympian Nathan Baggaley against their disqualifications in the K1 1000m Semi-Finals on Wednesday.

Robinson and Baggaley were initially disqualified for breaching the international requirement to maintain a position in the centre of their lanes.

The Appeal tribunal after a marathon hearing resolved unanimously to reinstate the athletes.

Head coach John Sumegi says the decision clears the way for both paddlers to win selection in the team for the World Championships in Seville later this year.

"There's an Olympic gold medalist in Clint and Nathan Baggeley from last year's World Championships is a fifth place getter, so you know there both very talented and capable athletes, they're certainly a key to future success," he said.

The Men's K1 1000m Final will be held at 9.00am on Saturday 6th April 2002.

IOC Nutritional Supplements Study Points to Need for Greater Quality Control

Sports Minister launches 2002 AIS/National Canoe Slalom squad

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, officially launched the 2002 AIS/National Canoe Slalom Squad at the Australian Institute of Sport today.

Senator Kemp said the primary focus of the 14-strong squad would be to prepare for the world championships in France in August.

'The campaign begins with World Cup competition in China next month, and will be followed by an AIS training camp in Germany and four world cup races in Europe,' the Minister said.

Canoe Slalom became an AIS sport in January 2001 to capitalise on the legacy of the Sydney Olympics. Institute Director Michael Scott says since then the program has experienced some very good results.

'Robin Bell (C1)-who is ranked sixth in the world-is the current world championship silver medallist,' Mr Scott said. 'He also won a silver medal at the Augsburg and Prague World Cups in 2001. Kai Swoboda and Andrew Farrance (C2) finished eighth in a world cup final in 2001, while Louise Natoli and John Wilkie were the overall leading performers in the men's and women's kayak events with top-14 and top-16 placings respectively at world cup events.'

Head Coach of the program, five-time world champion Richard Fox says the AIS camp in Canberra is for strength and fitness testing and to plan the team's international campaign.

'We have a strong team in all classes and are looking forward to a busy season of world cups and world championship competition,' Mr Fox said.

The program-which is funded by the Federal Government through the Australian Sports Commission-is based in Sydney and utilises the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, venue for the slalom events at the Sydney 2000 Games.

Media note: a list of the men's and women's squads is attached.

Sprint Championships Day 2

Rain did not dampen the afternoon's competition at the Australian Sprint Canoeing Championships today at Sydney International Regatta Center today.

In the only final of the day the Women's K4 500 meter race was comfortably won by the crew of Paula Harvey (QAS/AIS), Chantal Meek (NSWIS), Amanda Rankin (QAS/AIS) and Lisa Oldenhof (WAIS/AIS).

National icon, former World Champion and Former Olympic Medallist Clint Robinson will provide stiff competition for 2000 Sydney Olympian Nathan Baggaley in the Men's K1 500m to be held on Sunday morning, both paddling strongly today to progress from today's semi-finals.

A strong field have progressed to Sunday's finals in the Men's K2 500m.  Current Australian champions Glenn Singleton (VIS/AIS) and Piers Christienson (VIS/AIS) will have their work cut out for them against crews such as Ken Wallace (QAS and winner of the Australian Junior Canoeist of the Year Award announced this week) and Nathan Baggaley (NSWIS/AIS); and Clint Robinson (QAS) and Dave Kennedy (QAS/AIS).  Other crews to watch out for include David Rhodes (NSWIS/AIS) and Craig Rogers (NSWIS/ AIS); and Ben Sherry (QAS) and Dan Aulert (QAS).

A full set of today's results will be posted here as soon as it becomes available.

Bell takes Freestyle Crown

Rapid Action at Canoe 2002

Bell wins honour

Australian Canoeing has announced Robin Bell as the Australian Canoeist of the Year for 2001.

Robin's performances during the year included a silver medal at the World Freestyle Championships in Spain. This medal was the first by an Australian in the discipline of Canoeing. Robin is primarily a Slalom paddler and achieved two World Cup second placings during 2001. He was poised for a good result at the 2001 World Championships in the USA which were disappointedly cancelled due to the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre.

The winner of the Junior Canoeist of the year award was Ken Wallace. Ken was a finalist in the Junior category of the Australian Sportsman of the Year Awards last week and won the gold medal in the K1 1000m at the Junior World Sprint Championships in 2001. Ken also won nine out of nine U/18 events at the 2001 Australian Sprint Canoeing Championships. Jimmy Owen took out the Coach of the Year award. Jimmy was the Coach of Ken Wallace.

Katrin Borchert and Katrin Kieseler won the team of the year award for their second place result in the K2 1000m at the World Sprint Championships in Poznan, Poland. The Katrin's also placed 4th in the K2 500m at those Championships.

Bill Smith from Victoria was awarded the Service to Canoeing Award for his many years of service to Canoeing, particularly in Victoria.

E-news postponed due to technical problems

E-news will be postponed this week due to technical problems from our network server, Microsoft Central.

We apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused. E-news will be available next Tuesday, the 9th of April. Any questions about E-news please contact the AC Office on 02 9552 4500.

South Australia Dominate Polo

Chad Meek takes National Double

Slovakians and Czechs dominate Australian Canoe Slalom Championships

Australian Marathon Team Announced