There was more on offer at the 2023 Paddle Australia (PA) Canoe Sprint Championships than just national titles, with the Junior and U23 Australian teams, and Asia Pacific Cup team announced at Champion Lakes today.
PA National Performance Pathways Lead (Sprint) Kenny Wallace OAM OLY was on hand to announce the 14-strong Junior team, 12-strong U23 team and 36 athletes selected in the Asia Pacific Cup team.
The Junior and U23 Australian team will compete at the 2023 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Auronzo, Italy from 5-9 July 2023.
The Asia Pacific Cup will be raced at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand from 21-24 April 2023.
Wallace said he was impressed with the performances on the water this week, and excited to provisionally announce the national pathways teams.
“On behalf of Paddle Australia, I’d like to congratulate all the athletes selected to our Junior, U23 and Asia Pacific teams for 2023.
“The talent on display on the water this week at the 2023 PA Canoe Sprint Championships has been fantastic.
“Last year at the U23 World Championships, we had Olympic gold medalist Tom Green racing in our Australian team and this year have more Senior National team members in Noah Havard, Pierre van der Westhuyen, Fletcher Armstrong and Kailey Harlen in our U23 team, and Natalia Drobot and Claudia Bailey in the Junior team.
“What that shows us is the depth and high calibre of talent in our pathway programs which is exciting not just for this Olympic cycle, but as we continue to build towards the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
“The talent among our pathways athletes is a reflection of the quality in the national network … SIS/SAS coaches and performance support staff, clubs, families and support groups – thank you to our entire community for supporting the development of these athletes – it takes a village!
“It’s going to be another exciting year for our National Pathways teams, and I look forward to seeing what our athletes can achieve,” he said.
JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
Claudia Bailey – Currumbin Creek, QLD
Alyssa Bailey – Currumbin Creek, QLD
Natalia Drobot – Avoca, NSW
Michael Dunbar – Manly Warringah, NSW
Max Gandziuk – West Lakes, SA
Charlie Heaton-Armstrong – Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW
Chelsea Jentz – QLD
Samantha Lourey – Bayswater, WA
Ziah Peisker – QLD
Jasmine Rayward – Currumbin Creek, QLD
Sean Ryce – Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW
Emerson Simone – West Lakes, SA
Mitch Tamblin – Bayswater, WA
Ziko Vesely – Manly Warringah, NSW
U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
Fletcher Armstrong – Avoca, NSW
Demi Bates – West Lakes, SA
Kailey Harlen – Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW
Noah Havard – National Centre of Excellence, QLD
Tinus Koekemoer – Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW
Jasmine Locke – Illawarra, NSW
Jenaya Massie – QLD
Maguire Reid – Onkaparinga, SA
Charli Smyth – West Lakes, SA
Harrison Taurins – Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW
Pierre van der Westhuyzen – National Centre of Excellence, QLD
Caitlin Webber – West Lakes, SA
ASIA PACIFIC CUP TEAM – U16
Charlie Cornwell – Patterson Lakes, VIC
Mate Eles – Manly Warringah, NSW
Christian Ireland – Makai Paddlers Society, NSW
Connor Jacob – Canning River, WA
Julian Glew – Avoca, NSW
Byron Dieckmann – Sunshine Coast, QLD
Taya Cassidy – Ascot, WA
Stella Dark – Ascot, WA
Claudia Ketteringham – Bayswater, WA
Albee McInnes – Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW
Zoe Moore – Bayswater, WA
Eden Sakora – Makai Paddlers Society, NSW
ASIA PACIFIC CUP TEAM – U18
Claudia Bailey – Currumbin Creek, QLD
Alyssa Bailey – Currumbin Creek, QLD
Natalia Drobot – Avoca, NSW
Michael Dunbar – Manly Warringah, NSW
Charlie Heaton-Armstrong – Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW
Chelsea Jentz – QLD
Samantha Lourey – Bayswater, WA
Belle Mc Bennett – Bayswater, WA
Ziah Peisker – QLD
Jasmine Rayward – Currumbin Creek, QLD
Sean Ryce – Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW
Emerson Simone – West Lakes, SA
Mitch Tamblin – Bayswater, WA
Ziko Vesely – Manly Warringah, NSW
ASIA PACIFIC CUP TEAM – U21
Demi Bates – West Lakes, SA
Luke Egger – Canning River, WA
Will Spencer – Holdfast Bay, SA
Harrison Taurins – Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW
Bailey Clues – Sydney Northern Beaches, NSW
Jasmine Locke – Illawarra, NSW
Jenaya Massie – QLD
Jake Morris – QLD
Charli Smyth – West Lakes, SA
Phoebe Wills-Grace – Sunshine Coast, QLD
