National Sprint trials and team announcement

SA Sprint Team

Men: Shaun Rubenstein, Michael Arthur, Cam Schoeman, Ant Stott, Nic Burden, Nick Stubbs, Stuart Waterworth, Brett Bartho, Len Jenkins, Grant Van der Walt, Greg Louw.

Woman: Bridgitte Hartley, Jen Hodson, Carol Joyce.

This years sprint trials as promised did not fail to disappoint. The standard of racing even in the B finals was at an amazingly competitive level. It was great to have so much depth in the event allowing the selectors so much choice with regards to this year’s team selection.
The top 3 spots in all three selection events were as follows:
K1 1000m- 1st Rubenstein, 2nd Schoeman, 3rd Arthur
K1 500m- 1st Rubenstein, 2nd Arthur, 3rd Schoeman
K1 200m- 1st Arthur, 2nd Rubenstein, 3rd Louw

As far as my own results went there was not too much to get excited about… I have been battling with a neck injury for the past few weeks and am struggling to find the form that I experienced earlier on in the season.
Saturdays racing thankfully went well and I made it through to all three of the A finals.
On the Sunday of the finals I picked up 4th in the 1000m and then a disappointing 8th in the 500m. In the 200m I snuck 8th which I suppose for me was not at all bad.

National Sprint Trials

This weekend Nagle Dam will be hosting the South African sprint trials for this years senior sprint team. Canoeing South Africa has finally received some decent funding to carry the athletes all the way through to the London Olympics in 2012. As a result the field should be strong with virtually all of the country’s top paddlers lining up in the heats starting tomorrow morning. Olympian Shaun Rubenstein is looking sure to retain his K1 1000m and 500m slot for the upcoming World Cups and World Championships. Shaun will need to give his all though as he is sure to face strong challenges from a number of tough competitors. This year the selection event will be in K1’s only so it will be interesting to see what combinations the selectors put together for the crew boats.