Great Britain’s Ottilie Robinson-Shaw and Sam Wilson issued big statements of intent on the opening day of competition at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Plattling, Germany.
Four-time world champion Robinson-Shaw launched her quest for glory with dominant displays in both the women’s kayak and women’s squirt preliminaries, while Wilson delivered his best-ever showing in the men’s squirt to lead the way.
Ireland’s Eoghan Kelly also starred on day one as he qualified for the open canoe final in first position.
Click here for startlists and live results from Plattling
Nerves might have kept Robinson-Shaw up at night but they only elevated her performance on the Isar Wave as she got her campaign off to a flier.
Robinson-Shaw was a class above in the women’s kayak as she posted a brilliant score of 1,608.33 points.
The 2022 world champion in the event was the only paddler to go into four figures, earning a score of 1,038.33 for her stunning first run before adding 570 in the next.
Her total was almost double the amount of her nearest challenger.
Germany’s Anne Sommerauer, who is a member of the ICF Canoe Freestyle Committee, ranked second with 871.67, largely thanks to a second-run score of 741.67.
Poland’s Agata Sobieraj Jakubiec was the third highest-scoring qualifier with 815.00, followed by Ireland’s Beibhin Butler with 733.34 and Germany’s Merle Hauser with 690.00.
There was a big surprise in the preliminaries as Emily Jackson, a double world champion in the event, failed to advance.
The US star, who won the world title in 2009 and 2013 and claimed bronze in 2023, scored 190.00 to rank 23rd.
With the water levels deemed too low to complete the men’s kayak, attention then turned to the squirt.
Robinson-Shaw rose to the task again, racking up a sensational tally of 4,500.00 as she backed up a first-run score of 2,380.00 with a 2,120.00.
Tamsyn McConnchie ensured a British one-two in the preliminaries, earning 1,964.66 from the judges.
Anna Bruno of the United States registered 1,431.33 for third spot, while compatriot and defending champion Rose Wall placed fourth with 1,393.33.
But they will need to find something special to get the better of Robinson-Shaw if the British paddler continues her excellent form.
“I always feel a bit nervous in the prelims and I never sleep very well the night before but I do it and think that wasn’t too bad. I just have to paddle like I normally do,” said Robinson-Shaw.
“I have worked really hard for almost a decade now and I think it just makes competing easier as you can fall back on your skills.
“I was definitely not at my full potential in squirt boating but I am very proud of my rides and just showing up and laying down some big scores.”
There were also impressive performances from Great Britain in the men’s squirt as Wilson and Alex Edwards took the top two spots.
Wilson was on fire as he put together runs of 2,793.33 and 2,160.00 to finish on a whopping 4,953.33.
It was a day to remember for Wilson who said his previous best score for a single run was 1,700.
“I am feeling really excited for the next rounds,” said Wilson.
“It’s really cool to be out in the boat and having fun.
“I am super critical of myself so I am always going to find something to improve and there were a couple of little things I was not happy with.
“I don’t want to get carried away.
“I came third at the 2019 World Championships but I only got just under 1,000 points so it’s really exciting to see that improvement of my paddling.”
The day ended with the open canoe preliminaries as Kelly secured his place in the final with the highest score in the event.
Kelly picked up 53.33 and 33.33 to total 86.66 and overtake Germany’s Jordan Poffenberger who ranked second with 70.00.
Great Britain’s Harvey Harwood scored 61.67 for third spot, while Canada’s Zachary Zwanenburg and Germany’s Sebastian Kurt Rudolf Nelle also made it through with tallies of 58.33 and 56.67, respectively.
“It feels really nice to get to the top and now excited for the final,” said Kelly.
“It’s quite tactical at this point, so I didn’t go too crazy yet, just executed what I needed to get into the final and get that top spot.
“I have been very ill all winter and at one point I didn’t think I would even be here so to be here now and into the final is awesome.”
Pictures by Peter Holcombe
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