Australian Grand Prix 2

Fantastic Form Continues Across the Board

 Day Three - Final Day

Full Results

 The New Zealand team added to outstanding performances at the regatta with great results across the age groups in the 200m events on the final day of GP2.  

Outstanding wins from the age groups as follows:

- Jordan Pearse and Kayla Imrie in the Final of the U23 WK1 200m.

 - Aimee Fisher in the A Final U16 WK1 200m

- Karina Radley and Aimee Fisher in the Final U18 WK2 200m

- Sam Wilson and Simon Trotter in the Final U23 MK2 200m

 Tom Yule and Jasper Bats followed a close second to Sam and Simon in the above event. Ryan Quickenden teamed up with Aaron Murphy from the Gold Coast to follow closely in 4th. Other Age group results include a 3rd for Karina Radley in the A Final U 18 WK1 200m, Tom Yule also 3rd in the Final U23 MK1 200m, and Kayla Imrie 2nd and Jordan Pearse 4th in the Final U23 WK1 200m.

Onto the Open Womens and Lisa Carrington continued her blistering form to be narrowly beaten in the A Final WK1 200m in .41.92 only .38 behind the winner. Rachael Dodwell and Jaimee Lovett teamed up for 2nd in the Final of the WK2 200m.

The Open Men saw Steve Ferguson take 3rd in the A Final MK1 200m in 37.51 only .14 off the winner. The competition was close in the A Final of MK2 200m and the combo of Chris Nutsford and Scott Bicknell were 5th heading off Steve Ferguson and Darryl Fitzgerald in 6th.

The day finished jubilantly with the team taking a swim in the sweltering 33 degree heat before heading back to the accomodation for a celebratory team dinner. Huge thanks to Tour Manager John Trotter, Junior Tour Manager Pip Pearse, CRNZ Coaches Gordon Walker and Andrew Towns, Mens Coach Grant Restall, U23/Junior Coach Leigh Barker and Selector Terry Newlands who all worked together to ensure the tour was a success and a great learning experience for our development athletes.

Ladies Shine on Day Two of GP2

Lisa Carrington continued her recent form to secure a stunning win in the A Final WK1 500m in 1.54.03 with Teneale Hatton a close second in 1.55.52. Lisa and Teneale were joined by Rachael Dodwell and Jaimee Lovett in the Final Open WK4 500m to bring the boat home in second.

The Open women have been fantastic role models for the U23 and Junior women who then showed the great potential our up and coming women have. Kayla Imrie paddled her way to 2nd in the Final U23 WK1 500m followed by Jordan Pearse in 6th. Teamed up they had another great race and finished 2nd in the Final of the U23 WK2 500m.

The Junior ladies flew down the course with Aimee Fisher 3rd in the A Final U16 WK1 500m and Julie Sweetman 8th in the A Final U18 WK1 500m. Together these young ladies raced to 4th in the Final U18 WK2 500m followed closely by Karina Radley and Jennyfer Fidow in 6th. Aimee, Karina, Julie and Jennyfer teamed up for 3rd in the Final U18 WK4 500m. Not to be outdone the guys had another good day.

The Open men set the pace with a 3rd by Steve Ferguson in the A Final MK1 500m followed by Liam O'loughlin in close 5th. Steve teamed up with Darryl Fitzgerald to fly into 2nd in the A Final of the MK2 500m just beating the next NZ boat of Scott Bicknell and Troy Burbidge by a whisker. Chris Nutsford and Liam O'Loughlin followed closely at 6th. This set the tone and the U23 and Junior men went out hard with Sam Wilson 3rd and Jasper Bats 4th in the Final U23 MK1 500m. Jasper teamed up with Tom Yule to bolt into 1st place in the Final U23 MK2 500m just beating Sam and Simon Trotter in 2nd. The Final U18 MK2 500m was hotly contested however Zac Quickenden and Andrew Roy got home for 3rd followed by Alex Fort and Jack Wilson in 8th. The regatta is a great learning experience for all these young athletes who can now see the pathway they need to follow to become an open athlete.

U23 Men Steal Day One

An outstanding result for our up and coming U23 men who took the first five places in the final of the U23 MK1 1000. The U23 MK1 1000 was won by Jasper Bats, with Sam Wilson in 2nd, Tom Yule 3rd followed by Simon Trotter and Ryan Quickenden. 

The programme saw all the 1000m events raced today, the 500m races tomorrow and the 200m races on the last day. Other than New Zealand teams from Great Britain, Italy, France and Samoa are competing against the large Aussie contingent.

The Open MK1 1000 was hotly contested with seven heats and three semis before Steve Ferguson finished 4th in the A final ahead of Darryl Fitzgerald in 6th and Troy Burbidge in 7th.

However the outstanding Open Mens event for the day was the K2 which saw an extremely close A final with two New Zealand crews taking 2nd and 3rd. Steve Ferguson and Darryl Fitzgerald missed 1st place by .05 of a second followed by Liam O'Loughlin and Scott Bicknell only .78 of a second behind them. 

The last race rounded out the day with the NZ crew of  Fred Teear, Mike Walker, Zac Franich, and Ben Keys third in the Open MK4 1000.

MK2 1000

David Smith & Jacob Clear, Australia, took a narrow victory in the men's K2 1000m final this afternoon.

Troy Burbridge & Mike Walker of New Zealand snatched the win in the B final of the men's K2 1000m less than 0.4 seconds ahead of Alagich (QLD) & Rypp (SA).

It was even tighter in the major final, with David Smith (QLD) and Jacob Clear (QLD) edging out Kiwi pair Ferguson & Fitzgerald by 0.05 of a second in a photo finish.

Liam O'Loughlin and Steve Bicknell, also of New Zealand were 3rd.

The race was tight from the beginning, and it was only in a photo finish that the winner was determined. 

MK4 1000

Murray Stewart, Jacob Clear, Matt Urquhart & Tate Smith, have finished more than 3 seconds ahead of the field to claim the K4 win in the final race of the day.

The QLD crew finished strongly to claim the 1000m K4 win ahead of the mixed crew of Luke Morrison (SA), Thomas Hide (GBR), David Smith & Reece Baker (WA).

The NZ crew of Teear, Walker, Franich & Keys were 3rd.

MK1 1000

Ken Wallace and Steve Ferguson have ensured a berth in the K1 1000m men's A final.

Following the Men's K1 1000m semi-finals, Aussies Ken Wallace (QLD), Murray Stewart (NSW) and Jacob Clear (QLD) have secured their place in the Men's 1000m A Final.

The internationals have featured strongly with a strong New Zealand presence to contest the final including Steve Ferguson (NZ), Darryl Fitzgerald and Troy Burbridge.

Full results can be viewed on http://regattas.canoe.org.au/?races=1069+results