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2005 Wildwater Nationals Report – The DCC Perspective

The Derwent Canoe Club came away with 15 Gold medals, 3 Silver medals and 4 Bronze medals in Australian Championship races as well as 10 Gold medals, 5 Silver medals and 5 Bronze medals in selection events and the Sea to Summit pre-Australians.

• Dan Hall won every race he entered to become the Australian MenÕs Wildwater Champion for the second year in a row, staving off stiff competition form Piers Christensen (2003 winner on the Mersey and 2004 Olympic hopeful). DanÕs classic time of 13:12.02 is probably a course record for the standard course at 850 cusecs flow.
• Matt Dalziel was less than 3 secs from 3^rd place (over 13.5 mins) in the menÕs open classic race.
• Andrew Maynard picked up gold in the 22yrs Aust Championships sprint race and 5 silver medals.
• Carol Hurst dominated the womenÕs event winning every event (5 gold) and being the only woman to brave the Bradys course in the DR event and retains her Australian WomenÕs Wildwater Champion crown.
• In the Teams event Dan Hall and Matt Dalziel won gold, with Andrew Maynard a Silver and Dave Gray and Swarz a Bronze in the open MenÕs teams
• Dave Gray and Chris Blackaby won their respective Australian Championships in Masters and Veterans.
• Swarz picked up a Bronze in the Gutbuster from strong WA Masters contenders.
• In the Juniors, Alexander Lewis achieved Australian Championships gold in the 14 Years events while TIS Talent Search athletes Alistair Stanny and Oliver Lovell won gold in 15 years Classic and Sprint events, with Doug Hagger picking up a bronze.

The event looks like it will make a profit, based on late entries and much, cost cutting after entry numbers were down by the cut-off date. There were no significant injuries though there were a number of rescues (some reaching the media) that were all executed successfully.

2005. The following documents have recently been updated:

1. Selection Criteria Supplement

2. Nomination Form – Junior B Team

3. Nomination Form – Junior A Team

4. Nomination Form – Senior Team

5. Expression of Interest Form – Coach and/or Manager

Information and links to these documents are available on the Australian Canoeing home page under ‘General News’: http://paddle.org.au and on the most informative wildwater site on the web, the AC Wildwater discipline page: http://paddle.org.au/default.aspMenuID=Disciplines/97/0,Wildwater/83/2268

NOTE THAT THE DUE DATE FOR RECEIVAL OF THE DOCUMENTS ABOVE IS 5 PM ON THE 19TH OF JANUARY, 2005. People you can send/give these completed forms to are detailed within the documents themselves.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE TO THE SELECTION CRITERIA, AND IT IS ADVISED THAT ATHLETES READ THE SELECTION CRITERIA SUPPLEMENT CAREFULLY PRIOR TO NOMINATING AND COMPETING IN SELECTION EVENTS.

For your interest and information, the full 2005 Selection Policy will be available online soon, as well as at the relevant selection events. Any queries about selection for Wildwater Teams in 2005 can be forwarded to Ben Maynard &ltbtma@deakin.edu.au&gt or asked of Wildwater Committee members Ben reitze (NSW), Ben Jones (NSW), Ben Maynard (TAS/VIC) or Paul Burke (WA) at the relevant selection events.

Feedback from international paddlers using the recently updated AC Wildwater discipline page:

‘Just done some surfin’ and found the link to Aussie Nationals in Tas. Is it easish to get there from NZ, as it looks like a good event. Keep me posted.’ – Richard Forbes, Great Britain Wildwater Team Member

‘Thanks for the link to Aussie WW site, which I really enjoyed. I’ve even printed out a few bits and pieces for use as reference in the reports I am writing for the Coaching course I’m doing with Swiss Olympic

Federation. So the site will be cited internationally! – Torsten Krebs, Coach of the Swiss Junior Wildwater Team