Fast times on fast water

NSWIS athletes have dominated the shortened 2011 Australian Canoe Slalom Championships in Nymboida, coming away with a swag of medals after the recent floodwater forced the end of the championships a day early.

The Lawrence sisters have made a habit of recording outstanding results all over the world and made no exception at the national championships. Katrina claimed honours in the women’s K1 after finishing second behind visiting Austrian world champion Corinna Kuhnle, with rising star and fellow NSWIS athlete Jessica Fox in a close third.

Rosalyn finished fourth in the women’s K1 before being crowned national champion in the women’s C1. Katrina finished fifth in the women’s C1 while Fox again picked up the bronze.

Fox was clearly the best of the junior paddlers, winning gold in the junior women’s K1, while fellow NSWIS athlete Reilly Edwards took out the men’s C1.

Will Forsythe was on fire in his events in the men’s disciplines, winning gold in the men’s K1 and C2 as well as finishing fourth in the men’s C1. Fellow NSWIS athlete Sam Lyons finished fourth in the men’s K1.

The championships were cut short after the nearby Nymboida Power Station was closed to prevent flood damage. This cut the flow of water into the Goolang Creek, where the championships were being staged, forcing the event to close prematurely.