SLCC paddlers compete throughout Ontario and Canada

Sydenham Lake Canoe Club | Aug 24, 2016

A good paddler knows that consistency breeds success. This summer, it seemed, that even Mother Nature knew that. The unrelenting hot dry drought conditions, though detrimental for farmers and well owners, has been conducive to paddling, allowing our sprint paddlers to train daily in sunny conditions.

Five athletes from SLCC competed in the Eastern Ontario Division regatta in Ottawa last weekend. Local paddler SLCC’s Parker Friendship and Gia Venter, a seasoned young paddler, who arrived here from the Wascana Canoe Club in Regina, Saskatchewan in early July, competed in K2 (two person kayak) races for the first time this summer in the U11 Division. Twins Mathieu and Nicholas Symons, paddled together in the K1 (one person kayak) & K2 U14 Division. Enthusiastic young Keira Wilson (not in photo) competed in U8 Division in K1. Coach Sebastien L’Abbe (not in photo) competed for the Eastern Ontario Division in the individual and team kayaking events at the Ontario Summer Games in Mississauga Ontario.

Rhiannon Murphy, our Head Coach, has qualified in the C1 (one person canoe) 200m race at Nationals. Rhiannon is a very versatile athlete and paddles both K1 & C1. Coach George Willes has qualified for the K1 200m competition at Nationals in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. As it is his first year in Nationals, his whole family of six will be heading down to Halifax next week to cheer him on and enjoy some east coast family time!

The club will be offering fall training for age 6-adult new and experienced paddlers who would like to compete in next summer’s regattas. For more information, go to www.sydenhamlakecanoe club.com

Results: Kiera Wilson, Silver and Parker Friendship, Bronze (K1 100m). Gia Venter and Parker Friendship, Bronze (K2 200m); Nicholas Symons, Bronze (K2 500m), Gold (K1 100m); Mathieu Symons, Bronze (C15), Bronze (K2 500m),  Silver (K1 100m).