Final Wildwater World Cup Race A Spectator Bonanza

Cataract Gorge - World Cup Race 6 Photograph:Rick Eaves

An estimated one to two thousand spectators were treated to world‐class paddling action as Cataract Gorge, Launceston turned on a spectacular spring day as the backdrop to the wrap up for the World Cup series.

 

The four winners of the 2009 Wildwater World Cup were finally established after today’s final race with the World Cup trophies going to Jessica Oughton of Britain taking out the Women’s K1 class on here 21st birthday, Slovenians Nejc Znidarcic of taking the Men’s K1 and Jost Zakrajsek taking the Men’s C1. The final trophy went to Knippling and Schmitz of Germany who rounded off a successful World Cup series campaign in the Men’s C2 event.
 

Race six winners today in the Womens’s K1 were led by Britain’s Hannah Brown who enjoyed a narrow win over compatriot and race favourite, Jessica Oughton with German, Sabine Fusser in third position. Best placed of the Australians was Susie Wharton who was finally able to compete today following injury and who delighted the local crowd to take ninth position.
 

In the Men’s K1, Austrian, Gerhard Schmid finally tasted success by winning his first race of the series, with Jon Schofield of Britain taking the silver and Nejc Znidarcic of Slovenia taking third spot. Repeating team mate Wharton’s performance, Australian Dan Hall took ninth position in today’s final race.
 

Znidarcic’s countryman, Yost Zakrajsek took the gold medal in the Men’s C1 class, with only the finest of winning margins separating him from second‐place getter, Czech, Lukas Novosad and bronze medalist, Yann Claude Pierre of France.
 

The Men’s C2 results for race six saw success go to German team, Knippling and Schmitz to help seal their claim on the World Cup trophy with second place going to British team, Wright and Christie with Czechs, Lukas Uncajtik and Marek Rygel taking third.
 

Organisers of the 2009 Hydro Tasmania ICF Wildwater World Cup, Canoe Tasmania, are very pleased with the way the overall series has unfolded and were grateful for the endorsements provided by both the Australian Canoeing and the International Canoe Federations (ICF).
 

Race Director and Chair of Canoe Tasmania, John Borojevic said that the ICF have been extremely pleased with the way the World Cup series has been run in Tasmania and were very supportive of future World class events being run here.
 

“We are very grateful for the ICF’s terrific feedback. We might take a rest for now and think about the options sometime in the future.
 

“We do owe a great debt of thanks to our naming‐rights sponsor, Hydro Tasmania for their help and support throughout the series. Forestry Tasmania have also provided great support along with so many other sponsors and volunteers. We couldn’t have done it without them.”