British hopes for a medal were high on day three of the Sprint World Championships having qualified three boats into the 1000m finals. The conditions were warm and calm as the first finals of the Championships got underway.
After only five months back in a boat since winning his Olympic gold in Beijing, Dr Tim Brabants took the silver medal in the MK1 1000m. After successfully qualifying for both the 1000m and 500m finals and demonstrating to the canoeing world that he is back on form and ready to start taking medals, Tim took to the start line ready to race In what was going to be a tough final, Tim got off to a flying start etching out a boat length lead by the 500m mark. Brabants was paddling with focus and force as he continued to lead the pack into the last 100m, with 50m to go the reigning World Champion Max Hoff from Germany put in a final surge to just jump in front, taking the gold and retaining his title.
Olympic Champion Dr Tim Brabants comments on his silver medal:
“I am really really pleased with that, and even enjoyed it. I thought I had the race for a while but Max is always going to be tough to beat as he has been so consistent, but I think next year I will be back up there. When I started to tire in the last 200m I just thought about all really tough session my coach Eric has had me doing.”
Eric Farrell, Tim Brabants coach comments on the silver medal:
“It was so special for him, he absolutely loves racing and it’s fantastic to see him back out there with the best in the world. He took it out from the start and just let the others chase him down. It is a phenomenal result with only a standing start from February, he was desperate to be back on the rostrum and it’s just going to inspire him more on the road to London 2012.”
Unbeaten this year in the 1000m the European Champion Rachel Cawthorn was ready and raring to race in pursuit of adding another title to her belt in the WK1 1000m final. With a quick start Cawthorn got her boat up and running settling into a rhythm, sitting in third with 300m to go Cawthorn began to be reined in by Sofia Paldanius from Sweden, who edged in front snatching the bronze medal. Germany’s Franziska took the gold ahead of the Katalin Kovacs.
In their first K2 final the new crew of Jenna Hawkey and Angela Hannah who first got in a boat two years ago, showed really potential for the future as they pushed hard to stay in amongst the pack crossing the line in 7th place.
Brendan Purcell Head Coach comments on the teams performances:
“Tim’s performance was awe inspiring he went out and told everyone to chase him. It is amazing and has really lifted and inspired the team. Rachel fought really hard to be in there and did us a proud against a really tough field, and the WK2 performance lines out the potential we have in the girl’s squad at the moment.”
Mens K1 1000M
1. Max Hoff – GER – 3.29.544
2. Tim Brabants – GBR – 3.30.040
3. Aleh Yurenia – BLR – 3.30.128
Womens K1 1000M
1. Franziska Weber – GER – 3.57.544
2. Katalin Kovacs – HUN – 4.00.124
3. Sofia Paldanius – SWE – 4.00.280
4. Rachel Cawthorn – GBR – 4.02.384
Womens K2 1000M
1. Szabo & Csipes – HUN – 3.34.306
2. Leonhardt & Hoermann – GER – 3.37.426
3. Salakhova & Sergeeva – RUS – 3.37.554
7. Hawkey & Hannah – GBR – 3.47.706
More information, startlists and results can be found at the official event website -
http://www.kayak2010.com