DESPITE the challenges of COVID-19 and a weed problem in Lake Weeroona, Bendigo Canoe Club paddlers persevered and worked hard to prepare for last weekend's Victorian sprint titles at Nagambie.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A small team with plenty of talent produced some great races at Nagambie, picking up 16 medals and many personal bests while contending with strong headwinds.
The standout paddler was Sophie Hughes.
Aged just 14, Hughes was in outstanding form, stamping herself as the fastest junior female by winning six gold medals, with four gold in the singles and two in the pairs.
She won gold in the women's 16-and-under 1000, 18-and-under K1 200, 16-and-under K1 2500, 16-and-under K1 500 and 16-and-under K2 500.
Hughes and Milla Tzaros are continuing to work hard in the K2 and paddled exceptionally to both win gold medals in the under-16 years.
Bendigo Canoe Club's Tony Misson said both girls were optimistic for future events.
Lyndell Willcocks, competing in the veteran 55 class, has worked tirelessly to improve her times and is close to getting back to her best times set 25 years ago.
She won all of her events at Nagambie and was faster than girls 20 years her junior.
Willcocks earned gold in the women's over-55 K1 500 and women's over 55 K1 2500.
A newcomer to the program, young Toby Sexton has continued to show great improvement, and picked up a silver and bronze medal in the under-14 K1.
James Humphry has been coaching the three under-18 boys, Sam Wardrop, Henry Livingstone and Govind Gobal, and all have shown plenty of improvement in the past three months.
They were paddling against Victoria's top juniors, who were preparing for the national titles.
Gobal and Livingstone, paddled well to finish midfield, while Wardrop produced a great race to finish with a bronze in his pet event, the 200m K1.
Jake Rienits was another big improver, making finals in the challenging open men's K1 and picking up two golds in the vet 35 K1.
The next big event for juniors will be the Victorian Schools Championships on March 20.
Misson said the event catered for all school students and the club hoped to reactivate its K4K Active Girls program to build a team for a fun event.
Hughes and Willcocks will focus on the state marathon titles on March 27 before heading to the national titles in April.
Students interested in the K4K Active Girls program should email the club at bcc@live.com.au or phone Tony Misson on 0411 605 239 for further details.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News