Australia’s long tradition of winning canoe slalom world championship team medals continued on Tuesday with a bronze medal for the women’s U23 C1 team at the junior and U23 titles in Krakow, Poland.
There were several other strong performances by Australian team members alongside the medal-winning exploits of Noemie Fox, Kate Eckhardt and Demelza Wall, which has set a platform for a strong showing by the team from down under this week.
The C1 bronze medal was the only non-European medal on an opening day dominated by France and Italy. For Wall, it was also her first ever world championship podium.
“It feels pretty good,” Wall said. “I was really nervous. I just kept telling myself in my head to have fun and focus on my paddling. I slept ok last night, but I can’t eat during the day.
“It was nice to put down a good run, and it’s nice to share it with Noemie and Kate, it’s fun to paddle with them.”
Fox said the European teams have an advantage over the non-European countries because they all competed at their continental championships earlier this month.
But she said the trio are already looking forward to next year.
“We don’t have the European championships to practice at,” she said.
“It’s our first team medal together, and we have another year of U23 to come as well.
“We had a pretty strong plan, but obviously with teams you have to be able to adapt and be flexible. But we were confident and supporting each other.”
Fox and Eckhardt also competed alongside Georgina Collin in the K1 team event in the morning, finishing sixth. Eckhardt said it helped for their C1 preparation.
“I think we learnt from our mistakes,” she said. “There was one little tricky bit on the course where we made a mistake in the kayak, so I think that really helped our plan setting for the C1.
“Obviously there are differences, because you only have one blade in the C1. And also it does make you a bit tired.”
The Australian men’s U23 K1 team of Steven Lowther, Tristan Carter and Brodie Crawford finished seventh in their event, picking up six seconds in penalties for gate touches. Their raw time was the quickest on the course.
“It felt really good, our timing was really good, it was really smooth,” Crawford said.
“There were just a couple of touches which unfortunately cost us a medal.”
The Australian junior men’s C1 team of Jack Choate, Mark Crosbeeand Daniel Shamieh also finished sixth, while the K1 junior men’s team of Choate, Bradley McLaughin and Joshua Montalto also posted a quick raw time, but picked up a 50-second penalty to drop down to 19th.
“Overall we had pretty good speed, and we felt pretty good and comfortable together as a team,” Choate said.
“It was just a small mistake in the middle which cost us.”
The junior and U23 world championships continue on Wednesday, with U23 men’s and women’s K1 and C1 heat runs.
See the Australian race times below and the schedule HERE.
Follow results here: https://www.canoeicf.com/canoe-slalom-world-championships/krakow-2019/results
Watch racing live via www.canoeicf.com or via youtube HERE.
WC1 U23 Team Result:
Rank Name NAT P Total Behind Q
1 Czech Republic CZE 0 108.52 0.00
2 France FRA 4 112.06 +3.54
3 Australia AUS 6 119.54 +11.02
TEAM AUS RESULTS
WC1 – Women’s U23 Canoe Team (Noemie Fox, Kate Eckhardt, Demelza Wall): 3rd
MC1 – Men’s U23 Canoe Team (Steven Lowther, Tristan Carter, Brodie Crawford): 7th
MC1 – Men’s Junior Canoe Team (Jack Choate, Mark Crosbee, Daniel Shamieh): 6th
WK1 – Women’s U23 Kayak Team (Noemie Fox, Kate Eckhardt, Georgina Collin): 6th
MK1 – Men’s Junior Kayak Team (Jack Choate, Bradley McLaughlan, Joshua Montalto): 19th
Team Australia – 2019 ICF JUNIOR & U23 CANOE SLALOM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, Krakow, Poland
U23 TEAM
C1M: Steven Lowther (WA), Tristan Carter (VIC), Brodie Crawford (WA)
K1W: Noemie Fox (NSW), Kate Eckhardt (TAS), Georgina Collin (WA)
C1W: Noemie Fox (NSW), Kate Eckhardt (TAS), Demelza Wall (WA/TAS)
K1M: Angus Thompson (NSW)
JUNIOR TEAM
C1M: Jack Choate (WA), Mark Crosbee (VIC), Daniel Shamieh (VIC)
K1M: Jack Choate (WA), Brad McLaughlan (VIC), Josh Montalto (VIC)
K1W: Alexandria Choate (WA), Sophie Wilson (NSW)
C1W: Alexandria Choate (WA)
AUS RACE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, 17 July – U23 Heats
MC1 – Men’s U23 Canoe
9:24 (17:24 AEST) Tristan Carter
9:26 (17:26 AEST) Steven Lowther
9:35 (17:35 AEST) Brodie Crawford
WK1 – Women’s U23 Kayak
10:19 (18:19 AEST) Georgina Collin
10:36 (18:36 AEST) Noemie Fox
10:42 (18:42 AEST) Kate Eckhardt
WC1 – Women’s U23 Canoe
14:21 (22:21 AEST) Demelza Wall
14:32 (22:32 AEST) Kate Eckhardt
14:42 (22:42 AEST) Noemie Fox
MK1 – Men’s U23 Kayak
15:37 (23:37 AEST) Angus Thompson
