Five members of Stafford and Stone Canoe Club based at Westbridge Park competed for Team GB in the world championships in the United States last weekend.
Twenty-five years after the club’s Richard Fox won gold at Savage River in 1989, the cream of world canoe slalom returned to Maryland to compete on the new Deep Creek course for the 2014 World Championships.
Stafford and Stone members making up the 15 GB Team athletes were Joe Clarke (K1M), Tom Brady (K1M), Greg Pitt and Adam Burgess (C2M) and Jasmine Royle (C1W).
The heats rounds started on Thursday and in the Canoe Women category, Jasmine had a fast time down the difficult course but, had a total of 7 gate touches which placed her in 16th. With 20 boats going through to semi finals that might not have been enough. On the second run, things didn’t go to plan and although Jasmine hit far fewer gates only part of her head went through gate 7 earning her a 50 second penalty. The first run had to count and it was just enough with her finishing the heats in 19th place.
Then it was the Kayak Men’s chance and Tom Brady was the first S&S paddler to go. Again, a good fast time but three touches would make it tough to get through to the 40 boat final. Joe Clarke followed and put in a really good time and no penalties which put him into 8th place after first runs. Second runs started and Tom was slower but cleaner. His first run time and second run penalties would have been enough, but he ended in 48th, three seconds off making the cut. On his second run, Joe Clarke tried hard to push the limits of the course, but didn’t convince the judges, and was given two 50 second penalties for missing gates. Fortunately, his first run was enough to take him through in 19th place.
With Lizzie Neave injured, S&S had no representatives in Kayak Women, but in Canoe Doubles it was the turn of Adam burgess an Greg Pitt to compete on Friday. Their first run was superb with no penalties and a time which put them in 6th place. However, they couldn’t repeat the time or the clear run but still qualified comfortably in 10th.
The course at Deep Creek is completely artificial and is built at the top of a ski resort to attract summer tourists. Although it uses electricity to pump the water like the London Olympic course, there is no way to just the obstacles. This means that the course cannot be optimised and the water can be difficult and unpredictable.
Joe’s semi final was on Friday evening and he was able to put together a run less than one second off the eventual winner but, unfortunately 2 touches and a close call from the judges on the penultimate gate ruled him out of the final.
Jasmine’s semifinal was on Saturday and she executed a very aggressive run which gave her a competitive time but again lots of gate touches. There was no certainty she would pass through to the finals. Video review showed she had been given a touch in error which moved her up two places but a protest from the French moved her back a place into 11th. After the runs were finished, another protest and video review showed the Spanish girl had also missed a gate and Jasmine moved to 10th and into the final. In the final, Jasmine did her best to stay off the poles but was slightly slower and finished 7th with Richard Fox’s daughter, paddling for Australia, finishing World Champion.
In the C2M, Greg and Adam finished 11th with only one touch on a course which was particularly difficult for the Canoe Doubles class.
In the team runs, Tom and Joe along with Richard Hounslow were able to win a bronze medal in Kayak Men’s Team and Jasmine took 2nd place with her team mates in Canoe Women.
Jess Fox won Kayak Women and Canoe Women becoming an unprecedented double World Champion in both these classes.
After the racing, Jasmine said: “I’m super pleased with making the final and finishing 7th at my first World Championships. I’m so happy with my paddling and really felt like myself out there. Huge thanks to Richard and all at FMS car and truck for all their support.”
