The wait is over. The Canadian World Championship Canoe/Kayak team has been finalized and 11 Nova Scotians will be racing in front of the hometown crowd at Canoe ‘09 next month.
This past weekend’s National Team Trials 3 determined the Canadian team and now their sights are set on Canoe ‘09 August 12-16 at the Bell Aliant Racing Centre on Lake Banook.
Richard Dalton, Ben Russell, Jillian D’Alessio, Una Lounder, Genevieve Orton, Mark de Jonge and Ryan Cochrane will join fellow Nova Scotians Karen Furneaux and Andrew Russell on the Canadian team, making this Nova Scotia contingent the largest since the Worlds were hosted here in 1997.
“This is a historical moment, and proves that Nova Scotia is the hot bed of canoe/kayak in Canada,” said Canoe ’09 Chair Chris Keevill. “It’s a huge milestone to achieve, when the Worlds are hosted here, and I’m sure the local crowd will be there to cheer them on.”
The previous largest team was the 1997 World Championships team which had eight Nova Scotia athletes represented.
Jenna Marks and Maria Halaverzos will represent Canada on the Women’s Canoe team, and marks a turning point in the sport of canoe/kayak. Four exhibition races will take place at Canoe ‘09 and next year in Poland, the Women’s C-1 200m will become a full medal, full point event.
Other members of the team named this weekend include Adam van Koeverden, Andrew Willows, Richard Dober Jr., Antonio Flores, Hughes Fournel, Rhys Hill, Steven Jorens, Etienne Morneau, Angus Mortimer, Christopher Pellini, Brady Reardon, Gabriel Beauchesne-Sevigny, Thomas Hall, Kyle Jeffery, Wayne MacDonald, Ian Mortimer, Mark Oldershaw, Aaron Rublee, Mylanie Barre, Genevieve Beauchesne-Sevingy, Tamlyn Bohm, Kia Byers, Emilie Fournel, Christine Gauthier, Kristin Gauthier, Emily Raymond, Adrienne Skinner, Nicole Haywood and Victoria Tuttle.
-30-
For more information contact:
Stacey Jones-Oxner
Communications Chair
902-424-4163
soxner@canoe09.ca
Go Andrew!!!! We are rooting for you back here in Gan.!