WOW 8 (April 5) - Australian Canoeing

2012 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships
Manly’s Naomi Flood & Avoca Beach paddler Lachlan Tame led
the flatwater charge with some outstanding results in tough
conditions at Kurrawa Beach over the weekend.
Flood continued her fine start to 2012 with the 2009
Australian Ironwoman champion winning an impressive five
from five events, powering her Manly club to third overall
behind Queensland powerhouse Northcliffe.
The highlight for Flood came in the Taplin Relay final where
she combined with fellow team members Candice Falzon and
Devon Halligan to make it back to back titles following victory
in the same event last year.
Although stoked with the title, Flood was happy to just be back
racing on the beach.
“Its great to be back on the beach with all of your friends and
so many familiar faces, as well as being at the beach,” said
Flood.
23 year old Avoca beach paddler Lachlan Tame won a hotly
contested men’s single ski final, defending his 2011 crown to
finish ahead of two-time Olympian Peter Scott and Western
Australia’s Reece Backer.
In a family affair, Tugun siblings Ken and Bernadette Wallace
(pictured) won bronze in the mixed double ski final behind
Manly ace Flood and her partner Blake Ballard, while Victorian
U23 sprint paddler Cat McArthur partnered Thomas Penney to
win a silver for Anglesea.
SASI sprint paddler Matt Goble and Luke Morrison won the men’s Double Ski championship for Moana ahead of Tame and
fellow Avoca paddler Ben Hamilton, while Tasmanian brothers Sam and Tom Norton finished 8th.
QAS sprint stars Tate Smith and Joel Simpson combined with fellow Northcliffe athlete and five-time Australian Ironman
champion Shannon Eckstein to win the men’s single ski relay final.
The win was extra special for the trio as they were disqualified at the start of last year’s final after Simpson jumped off the
start line.
The National Elite Development Program (NEDP) appears to be working a treat with three U23 sprint paddlers; Kirsty
Higgison (Warilla), Coco Howcroft (Mooloolaba) and Allison Bryant (Manly) finishing 2th, 3rd and 4th respectively in the
women’s U19 Single Ski final, with Howcroft winning an additional bronze in the U19 Taplin Relay final.
18 year old Burnie paddler Tom Norton finished second behind Northcliffe’s Daniel Booth in the men’s U19 Single Ski Final,
with fellow sprint young guns Mark Stowe (Redhead) and Bill Bain (Mooloolaba) also featuring in the top 6.
Finally in the U17 events, Bayswater’s Shannon Reynolds continued her hot start to 2012 winning silver in the women’s U17
Single Ski final after dominating at last months National Championships in Penrith, NSW.
Fellow 2012 junior sprint team paddler Deeandra Godoy (Sydney Northern Beaches) also showed her adaptability in both
surf and flatwater boats with an impressive 5th place finish in the same event.
For latest Aussies 2012 news and all the RESULTS click here.