National glory for club

The largest Whanganui Kayak Club squad to ever attack the nationals returned from Blue Lake in Rotorua at the weekend with 53 medals after three days of racing.

The deeds of talented young paddler Toby Brooke and his teammates last year have propelled the Whanganui Kayak Club into the national limelight.

Sixteen-year-old Brooke was named Junior Athlete of the Year at the annual Canoe Racing New Zealand awards following the national championships at Blue Lake in Rotorua last weekend, while his club was voted Club of the Year.

Brooke claimed the national Under-18 K2 1000m title last weekend when teaming with Wanganui teammate Lachie Cromar to win the final by 4.5 seconds from their nearest rivals. Brooke then paddled to victory in the national U18 K1 5000m final beating Curtis Imrie from the Mana club who was ranked 14 in world standings last year.

However, last weekend's results were not considered in the decision to name Brooke Junior Athlete of the Year. That award was based on his performances last season, including winning all three of his races in the U16 grade at the Oceania Championships in Australia.

Brooke won the 1000m, 500m and 200m events and his winning time in the K1 1000m was 11.36 seconds ahead of the nearest Australian. Unfortunately, Kiwis are unable to contest the Australian nationals held two weeks later last year and a paddler Brooke convincingly defeated at the Oceania Championships went on to claim the Australian national U16 K1 1000 title.

Last weekend's national regatta in Rotorua was an important lead up for Brooke as he prepares to represent New Zealand in the U18 division at this year's Oceania Championships in Penrith, Sydney, in a fortnight.

The Club of the Year award caps off an outstanding year for the Whanganui Kayak Club (a division of the Whanganui Multisport Club) and its individual athletes. It was also named regional winner at the Trust Power Community Awards in the sports and leisure section, for its "outstanding contribution to the Whanganui Community".

The club is young in terms of New Zealand kayak racing, but has been recognised for its club spirit and the work being done to develop athletes from recreational paddlers to the point where they are stepping up to national and international competition.

Last weekend's championships was a selection regatta with Wanganui athletes looking for places in the Junior and U23 World Championships to be held in Hungary in July this year.

Brooke's coach Brian Scott said his young charge was eagerly awaiting selection for the worlds and he would be surprised if he wasn't included when the announcement of the junior team was made in a few weeks.

The U23 team for the worlds will be announced some time in May.

For the club's other young athletes, Max Brown and Aiden Nossiter, who represented New Zealand at the Czech Republic National Championships and the Junior World Championships in Welland Canada last year, the national championships were a step into uncertain territory as they moved into the U23 and Open racing divisions.

Nossiter, sidelined by a broken wrist, had to sit and watch his teammates compete.

Brown rose to the challenge winning gold in the U23 K2 1000m after teaming up (in the absence of Nossiter) with North Shore paddler, William Wilkins.

The club had its largest ever contingent at the national championships, ranging from novice paddlers through to masters, and the team was rewarded with a haul of 53 medals from three days of racing.