CANOEING: Nationals joy for Bradford
2:00pm Saturday 1st September 2012 in Latest Sport News
FRESH from celebrating club member Ed McKeever’s Olympic gold medal, Bradford on Avon Canoe and Rowing Club had more to shout about last weekend as their members tasted glory at the National Marathon Kayaking Championships in Norwich.
On Sunday, St Laurence School student James Missen and partner Tim Escott capitalised on the mistakes of other crews to lead the last lap and paddle unchallenged in the final run as they clinched the gold medal in the u16s K2.
The Bradford youngsters took the national title in 56:11, narrowly ahead of Longrige duo Luke Harding and Magnus Gregory (57:13) while Simeon English and Matthew Johnson were third.
It was a turnaround in fortunes for Missen who, on Saturday, looked certain for a podium place in the u16s K1 race before a tussle from another competitor left him with a flooded boat on the last portage, which saw him finish in fifth place with a time of 01:01:16.
John Escott, who lives in Melksham, also took the bronze medal in K1 the over 54 class (32:00) while Luke Escott paddled to eighth place in his first year in the K1 u18s race (01:42:42).
On Sunday, Bradford’s James Escott teamed up with Michael Southey, of Cornwall’s Fowey Kayak Club, and battled torrential rain and windy conditions to claim the silver medal in the K2 u23s race in a time of 02:01:13.
Home club racers Oliver Rix and Sam Willis took the gold medal in 02:01:11 while Maidstone’s Aaron Jordan and Tonbridge’s William Hardiman were third in 02:07:41.
