There appears to be no stopping Great Britain in its mission for squirt supremacy after dominating the semi-finals at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Plattling, Germany. 

Ottilie Robinson-Shaw and Sam Wilson are hot favourites to take the titles tomorrow after topping the standings again today. 

It was a British one-two in both the women’s and men’s semi-finals with Tamsyn McConchie placing second behind Robinson-Shaw and Alex Edwards pushing Wilson for top spot. 

Robinson-Shaw has sealed first place in every round of the three categories she has entered so far as she remains on course for a glorious week. 

Today, Robinson-Shaw booked her place in the final of the women’s squirt after earning a stunning 2,473.33 points. 

McConchie ranked second with 1,190.00, followed by the United States trio of Rose Wall, Sera Janson Zegre and Anna Bruno. 

Robinson-Shaw is aiming to win the squirt for the second time after coming out on top in 2022 and two-time world champion Wall admits it will be hard to stop the British star. 

“Otti is amazing,” said Wall.  

“I watch her freestyle routines, and I am like ‘How are you making these movements?’  

“She’s unreal, she’s so good.  

“I think it’s going to be a tough one (for anyone else to win it) but if someone like Anna or Tamsyn drops 20-second mysteries with their freestyle routines then they could get close.” 

Wall triumphed in the women’s squirt in 2019 and 2023, but she insists she is just happy to be in the final. 

“To win is going to be really tough this year,” said Wall. 

“I am super stoked to be in the finals and paddle again. I was certainly not counting on it so I’m pleasantly surprised.” 

Great Britain will also be confident of picking up gold in the men’s squirt as Wilson continued his fantastic form. 

After scoring 2,586.67 in the first run, Wilson went even better in the second, amassing an incredible 2,940.00. 

Edwards, a three-time silver medallist in the event, was second best with 2,230.00, as US duo Taft Sibley and Brian Knight and Germany’s Finn Krossig also reached the final. 

Defending champion Sibley pulled out all the tricks, swapping his paddle for his hand paddles before submerging for a second time as he went under water for a combined time of 43 seconds. 

But it was not enough to knock Wilson off his perch as Sibley earned 2,116.67 for third spot. 

“It was a bold move, but it did not work as I anticipated,” said Sibley. 

“I lost one of my hand paddles at the last moment, had to shark in for the mystery move, took the risk and it kind of paid off as I still managed to work it out a little, but it was not the right strategy. 

“The British guys are incredible. It is wonderful watching these guys with their flatwater routines, it is inspiring. 

“I am hoping for a podium.”  

Earlier in the day, Germany’s Sebastian Kurt Rudolf Nelle scored 776.67 and 320.00 for a total of 1,096.67 to lead the men’s canoe preliminaries. 

His score was over 200 points more than his closest challenger with France’s Abel Thevenet second with 870.00 and Great Britain’s Matthew Stephensen third with 706.67. 

“I did what I wanted to do and it worked,” said Nelle. 

“I want to get to the final but if I’m happy with my score and other people paddled better then it is what it is. 

“This is a home event for me, I live only three hours from this place and I train a lot here, so we will see.” 

Great Britain’s Harry Price responded from the disappointment of his early exit in the men’s kayak to progress in the C1. 

Price was expected to advance in the K1 having clinched silver in 2022 and won gold at last year’s ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup in Plattling. 

But the British paddler missed out on a place in the top 20, finishing in 27th in the preliminary round. 

“I was really thankful to have the C1 as another opportunity to get on the water,” said Price, who secured a spot in the men’s C1 semi-finals with a score of 503.33 for seventh place 

“I was pretty disappointed with my myself yesterday as I know I can paddle a lot better but that happens. 

“It was nice to have something else to focus on so I’m not dwelling on the K1. 

“The K1 will still bug me for a little while but I can learn from that and put that into my C1.” 

Other paddlers to advance to the C1 semi-finals were reigning champion Seth Chapelle and 2013 gold medallist Jordan Poffenberger, both of the US. 

Pictures by Peter Holcombe

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