The last two boats for the provisional Great Britain slalom team to be nominated to the British Olympic Association for ratification for next summer’s Rio Olympic Games were decided today after two gripping kayak races at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, London.
Day three of competition came down two head to head races in the K1 with Joe Clarke taking the men’s slot whilst Beijing 2008 Olympian Fiona Pennie won the women’s.
Twenty two-year-old Clarke has improved dramatically since his third place in Saturday’s opening. He was unbeaten yesterday and was fastest again in today’s first run, stopping the clock at 88.17 seconds.
But that time was beaten by Bradley Forbes-Cryans in run two, the young Scot’s time of 87.39 including two penalty points.
Clarke replied with a run of 86.84, whilst the last-to-go overnight leader, Huw Swetnam’s time of 89.72 put him out of the challenge.
But the drama did not end there after a dispute by Forbes-Cryan’s over his penalty points was upheld. It moved him into top spot in the final race, putting Clarke on level points with Swetnam.
However, Clarke emerged from the tie break, a countback of points from race one, as the selections trials winner having held a slim margin over just two points over Swetnam.
“I really can’t put into words how I feel right now,” said a delighted Joe Clarke after his race
“It was a three day event which came right down to the wires on the last race of the last day.
“I didn’t exactly start off the best this weekend, having finished third on day one, so to come through really meant so much and it took a lot of mental strength.
“I won back to back yesterday with fantastic runs in both runs yesterday.
“I came today with a similar plan to put one down in the first and I did that. I knew it was beatable and we saw that with Bradley on his second run; he took the time so I thought I’ve got to do this again and took a few seconds again and fortunately that was enough for the win today.”
Second place Swetnam takes the provisional reserve slot on the Olympic team and, subject to ratification, he will compete on the Great Britain senior team along with Clarke and Forbes-Cryans in 2016.
Four years ago at the London 2012 selection trials it was Lizzie Neave who beat Fiona Pennie to take the sole K1W berth. But today, in the last run of the final race, Pennie turned the tables to beat Neave.
Pennie had put down the fastest run of 102.78 seconds in the first race of the day. On her second run she picked up 58 seconds in penalties, leaving her at the mercy of Neave who was last to come down the course. Neave set a blistering pace, her time of 102.60 seconds good enough to win the race, but she missed a gate and with it the win went to Pennie.
“It’s a massive relief and it was all down to how Lizzie performed on that final run because I messed up on the second and was relying on my first,” said Pennie.
“The minute 2012 was over I remember standing at the back gate here and saying that now we start for 2016.
“Ever since then I have put in three years of hard work and have had some medals along the way and now it’s come good.
“Since 2012 I’m a much better paddler. Since Beijing the sport has changed massively and I’ve grown with it; I’m a much better both in the head and on the water physically too.
The provisional Great Britain canoe slalom team for the Rio Games is David Florence (C1M), David Florence & Richard Hounslow (C2M), Joe Clarke (K1M) and Fiona Pennie (K1W).
The team bound for the Rio Games will be confirmed by the British Canoeing International Panel and nominated to the British Olympic Association for ratification and selection to Team GB, which will be announced on Wednesday 4 November.
Whilst the athletes for the Olympic team in C1M and C2 were provisionally decided on Saturday, the contest continued today for the senior team in the 2016 European Championships and the ICF World Cup Series.
Adam Burgess won the battle for third slot in the C1M having beaten his rival Tom Quinn today.
“I loved that run and I knew I was in a good position after the first run,” said Burgess afterwards.
“It’s been such a long season and it’s been quite hard to refocus from the Worlds to come back here so I’m really happy I’ve managed to do enough to make the team for next season.”
The competition to find who will take the C2M Olympic reserve spot was decided today with Mark Proctor and Olympic Champion, Etienne Stott beating Rhys Davies and Matthew Lister on the final race.
“It was an extremely tough weekend and we hoped to push it further down the line than we did on Saturday,” said Stott.
“We really wanted to race hard across six races and we did and I’m pleased to have got a win there. Credit to David (Florence) and Rich (Hounslow) and also to Matt and Rhys who showed their true quality especially in the way they pushed David and Richard.
“I’m just really proud of the C2 category for being so strong, I’m really glad to have been a part of it and I’m grateful to Mark and the support staff because we wouldn’t have been here without everyone.”
In the non-Olympic C1W Eilidh Gibson emerged as selection series winner. Joining her in the provisional senior team for the 2016 World Cup circuit are Kimberley Woods, Mallory Franklin Jasmine Royle. Gibson, Woods and Franklin are the provisional team for the European Championships.
Day 3 results (top three):
K1M: 1st Bradley Forbes-Cryans (CR Cats), Joe Clarke (Stafford & Stone), 3rd Tom Brady (Stafford & Stone)
K1W: 1st Fiona Pennie (CR Cats), 2nd Mallory Franklin (Windsor & District), Lizzie Neave (Stafford & Stone)
C1M: 1st Ryan Westley (Lower Wharfe), 2nd Adam Burgess (Stafford & Stone), 3rd Tom Quinn (Lower Wharfe)
C2M: 1st Mark Proctor (Stafford & Stone) / Etienne Stott (Viking), 2nd Rhys Davies (Bala) / Matthew Lister (White Rose), 3rd Ryan Westley (Lower Wharfe) / Zach Franklin (Windsor & District)
C1W: 1st Eilidh Gibson (Strathallan), 2nd Jasmine Royle (Stafford & Stone), 3rd Sophie Ogilvie (CR Cats)
For full results: Click Here
