Junior paddlers taste national success

THE Bendigo Canoe Club has built on its reputation for junior success, with four paddlers claiming medals at the this year’s Paddle Australia National Sprint Championships in Adelaide from 18 to 22 May.

The Victorian team was the biggest in over 20 years, with Bendigo juniors Sophie and Alistair Hughes, Milla Tzaros, and Tobias Sexton selected to compete.

Tzaros and Sophie Hughes claimed bronze in the under-16 K4 200-metre sprint.

“It was a great experience and was lots of fun,” Sophie said. “It was a tough competition, but we enjoyed all aspects of the week.”

Alistair Hughes, competing in the under-12 races, won silver in the K4 200-metre and 500-metre races, as well as silver in the solo 200-metre and bronze in the solo 500-metre.

In the under-14s, Sexton came second in the K4 500-metres and third in the K4 200-metres.

Closing out the competition was a state against state K4 500-metre race for open and under-18 ages.

Hughes and Tzaros were selected to compete for Victoria in the girls’ under-18 race, with the team finishing fifth in a tough contest.

Bendigo Canoe Club secretary Tony Misson said the five-day regatta was a worthwhile experience for the young paddlers.

“Overall, the week was a great success and was an eye opener for the four Bendigo juniors,” he said.