CanoeKayak Canada announces strong team for world championships - July 19th, 2010

OTTAWA – Three-time Olympic medallist Adam Van Koeverden of Oakville, Ont., Mark Oldershaw of Burlington, Ont., and Émilie Fournel of Montreal were among 30 athletes named to Canada’s team for the world canoe and kayak championships August 19-22 in Poznan, Poland.

The team was finalized this past weekend at the second national team trials in Montreal.

Van Koeverden has enjoyed a solid start to the 2010 season earning five World Cup medals in May and June in Europe.  He is scheduled to compete in the men’s K-1 (kayak singles) 500 and 1,000 metres in Poland. 

Also racing in men’s kayak events are Angus Mortimer, Rhys Hill and Corey Hamilton, all of Ottawa,  Richard Dober Jr of Trois-Rivieres, Que., Ryan Cochrane of Windsor, N.S., Hughes Fournel of Dorval, Que., Christopher Mehak of Toronto, Andrew Willows of Gananoque, Ont., Brady Reardon of Burlington, Ont., Connor Taras of Waverley, N.S., and Steve Jorens of Candiac, Que.

‘’The worlds could be Steve’s last big race and I really want to do well over there,” said Mortimer who earned a berth with Jorens in the K-2 1,000 on Saturday.  “We feel we’ve taken a first step towards that goal.”

The men’s canoe squad features Mark Oldershaw of Burlington, Ont., and Richard Dalton of Halifax in the solo events along with crewboat members Andrew Russell of Dartmouth, N.S., Gabriel Beauchesne-Sévigny of Trois-Rivieres, Que., Jonathan Pike of Waverley, and Thomas Hall of Pointe-Claire, Que.

‘’The field in Canada is so deep that it is really excellent to come through with a spot,’’ said Russell, who’ll team up with Beauchesne-Sévigny in the C-2.  ‘’Gabriel and I have a great partnership.  We’ve had a few ups and downs but that’s what has made us so strong the last few years.’’

In women’s kayak, Émilie Fournel of Montreal and Kia Byers of Regina earned the solo spots at this past weekend’s trials and they are joined by Genevieve Orton of Lake Echo, N.S., Kristin Gauthier of Ottawa, Kathleen Fraser of Mississauga, Ont., and Mylanie Barré of Lac-Beauport, Que.

‘’It’s a huge moment for me to be on the world team,’’ said Byers, 22.  ‘’I feel very lucky to represent Canada on the world stage and I’m really excited about the quality of our women’s team.’’

In women’s canoe, Laurence Vincent-Lapointe and Trois-Rivieres, Que., and Mallorie Nicholson of Oakville, Ont., are the Canadian entries.

“We have a good mix of veterans and younsgters,” said Graham Barton, the sprint high performance director for CanoeKayak Canada.  “Adam and Mark will be our biggest medal threats but the times and performances this season have shown we are going in with a very competitive team.”

For the first time at the world championships Paracanoe races for athletes with a disability will be official events.  The Canadian entries are Chris Pearson and Christine Selinger of Regina, Christine Gauthier of  Pointe-Claire, Que., and Tony Flores, St. Albert, Alta.

The Canadian paddling team is coming off its strongest overall showing at the world championships last summer in Halifax.  Canada placed a best-ever third overall in the nation standings earning one gold and three bronze medals.

Canadian team for the world canoe and kayak championships August 19-22 in Poznan, Poland.

Men’s kayak

Adam Van Koeverden, Oakville, Ont.

Andrew Willows, Gananoque, Ont.

Angus Mortimer, Ottawa

Brady Reardon, Burlington, Ont.

Christopher Mehak, Toronto

Connor Taras, Waverley, N.S.

Corey Hamilton, Ottawa

Hugues Fournel, Dorval, Que.

Rhys Hill, Ottawa

Richard Dober Jr., Trois-Rivieres, Que.

Ryan Cochrane, Windsor, N.S.

Steven Jorens, Candiac, Que.

Men’s Canoe

Andrew Russell, Dartmouth, N.S.

Gabriel Beauchesne-Sevigny, Trois-Rivieres, Que.

Jon Pike, Waverley, N.S.

Mark Oldershaw, Burlington, Ont.

Richard Dalton, Halifax

Thomas Hall, Pointe-Claire, Que.

Women’s Kayak

Emilie Fournel, Montreal

Genevieve Orton, Lake Echo, N.S.

Kristin Gauthier, Ottawa

Kathleen Fraser, Mississauga, Ont.

Kia Byers, Regina

Mylanie Barré, Lac-Beauport, Que.

Women’s Canoe

Laurence Vincent-Lapointe, Trois-Rivieres, Que.

Mallorie Nicholson, Oakville, Ont.

Paracanoe

Chris Pearson, Regina

Christine Gauthier, Pointe-Claire, Que.

Christine Selinger, Regina

Tony Flores, St. Albert, Alta.

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