Photos by
Antony Edmonds
AEphotos is the official photographer of the GB Canoeing team at National, European & World Canoe Championships
https://aephotos.co.uk
ICF canoe slalom World Cup
From Lee Valley, London
Three gold, two silver and a bronze in canoe slalom and a further gold in extreme slalom, highlighted GB’s best ever result at a World Cup and demonstrated the country’s growing dominance in slalom.
Mallory Franklin (Windsor & District) led the way with double gold in the women’s single kayak (K1) and canoe single (C1). She was followed home in silver position by teammate Kimberley Woods (Rugby) with Australia’s Jessica Fox in third.
A delighted Mallory said, “I was aware of what Kim did, hearing it when I warmed up, but I knew there were bits in my semi that meant I could get a quicker time out. I was just happy to put that run down and come out on top.” She continued, “Double gold is truly insane! When you go off last in the final you have that knowledge instantly of how it has ended up, but you don’t really have the time to take it in. I has been a crazy weekend but I have really enjoyed it.”
Kimberley, who narrowly missed out on the K1 bronze medal added, “I am thrilled, although it’s a bit bitter sweet losing out on Olympic points to Mallory, but it’s been two years since I have been on a World Cup podium with a few fourths since then. So to come out with a really good run when I wasn’t really feeling it this morning and make it through to the final and get through those emotions in the two hours in between makes me really proud of myself and my team for helping me through that.”
Scotland’s Sophie Ogilvie (CR Cats) also rose to the occasion qualifying for her second senior final in two weeks to finish tenth.
Mallory’s gold in the single kayak was matched in the men’s by teammate, Olympic champion, Joe Clarke (Stafford & Stone). He swept home in the last run of the day saying, “This is fantastic! I got into a bit of trouble round the oval section but that home crowd behind me all the way really pushed me to the finish. I felt pressure on the final run, off last and you know you are on good form and you expect things of yourself. I got good headspace on the start line and went out there and performed.”
It was nearly another one-two for GB as Chris Bowers (Stafford & Stone) but a touch on gate nine meant he had to settle for fourth in his first ever World Cup final. The event was also vital for Olympic selection for Tokyo 2020. Points for selection will go all the way through to the World Championships at the end of September and therefore Clarke and Franklin have established them selves as strong contenders from the start.
In contrast there was disappointment for Bradley Forbes-Cryans (CR Cats) who missed out on the K1 final saying, “I am absolutely gutted to be out the final. The run didn’t even need to be that special and from my qualification run I knew I was capable of doing that, but then little bits started falling apart.”
In the C1, Adam Burgess was delighted with his silver and best ever individual performance at a World Cup who, said: “I’m buzzing, it was a really intense final. We knew it was going to be exciting today, and up against two of the British lads in there with selection points decided on this one. I knew I had to see boats come down ahead of me but I was up for the challenge today.”
Somerset’s Ryan Westley, still recovering from shoulder surgery, completed the C1 podium with a bronze and it was disappointment for three-time Olympic medallist David Florence, who finished in sixth place in the final.
Etienne Chappell claimed Great Britain’s first international Extreme Slalom medal, winning gold in the Men’s K1 in the final event of the day.
Mark Ratcliffe, Canoe Slalom Head Coach reflected on a fabulous weekend of racing saying, “We want to get to Tokyo with athletes in every class who are capable of winning. We are not quite there yet but we are certainly moving in the right direction and we will now look to move things on again for the World Championships.”
