Mallory Franklin (Windsor), Kimberley Woods (Rugby), Adam Burgess (Stafford and Stone) and Ryan Westley (Lower Wharfe) all secured automatic progression as the British team enjoyed another fine day at the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships on home waters at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.
After a gold, silver and bronze on the opening day in London, day two was all about heats and qualification for the semi-finals of the individual women's and men's events for six British athletes – Franklin, Woods, Burgess and Westley as well as Ellis Miller (Lee Valley) and James Kettle (Lee Valley).
New world women's canoe team champions Franklin and Woods picked up where they left off to advance automatically to Friday's semi-final in second and fourth overall respectively – the former recording a time of 96.10 seconds while her teammate was only a further 0.62 back with an effort of 96.72 on a windy morning.
Burgess and Westley, silver medallists in the team event on day one, followed in the men's canoe heats and navigated the increasingly challenging conditions superbly to qualify automatically in fourth and tenth respectively in times of 85.59 and 87.05. Unfortunately for Miller and Kettle they did not advance following runs in both heats one and two.
After the golden glow of the morning of day one, all of the new British world women's canoe team champions – Woods, Franklin and Miller – were back out for the heats of the individual women's canoe competition.
Olympic silver medallist and world champion in the event from 2017, Franklin was the last of the trio to go and, after battling through the early gates, would paddle more and more smoothly as the course went on.
Franklin cruised clean through all 23 gates to clock a time of 96.10 – only bettered by Andrea Herzog of Germany, who was the very next athlete to go in the first of the heats, as the Brit booked an automatic place in Friday's semi-finals.
Mallory Franklin said: “It definitely didn't start as I would like. It was a bit wobbly and off plan [gate] one and two and I actually nearly fell in upstream on gate three. It was a little bit of a fight and until I got down to main wave and gate 11 and settled a bit, it was a bit scrappy.
“I am pleased with the time and I didn't really want to win so I am quite happy I didn't. I definitely didn't think I was super safe after the top and I was really happy with the rest of the run, it was really solid and clean. All in all, I am happy.”
Woods took to the course three positions before Franklin and made up some incredible time to book her own immediate advancement – the top 20 was required – to the women's canoe semi-finals in two days time.
Over a second down on the leader at the time of her run – Ana Satila of Brazil – through the first 11 gates, Woods' second half was so clean and smooth that she would finish just 0.29 behind the South American with zero penalties.
With Herzog and Franklin also going quicker – the latter leading with a time of 95.11 – Woods' run of 96.72 was the fourth fastest overall, nearly two seconds ahead of fifth, for an automatic place in the semi-final.
Kimberley Woods said: “It was really tough conditions out there. I felt like I was just trying to avoid the polls and anticipate the wind a bit which was really rough. I tripped on my blade going through gate one so I had to stay calm. It's a good start and good to be in the top four.
“Going into that bottom section I heard all the screaming kids and it gives you that little burst of energy to really push to the finish. I knew it was a solid enough run and I didn't need to push too hard, it was about being calm and staying in the moment.”
Miller, who was part of that women's canoe trio that won a brilliant team gold on day one, had the honour of being the first British athlete to compete on day two as the individual women's canoe event began with heats one and two.
A late replacement for the injured Sophie Ogilvie in order to make her world debut, Miller recovered well from incurring a two-second time penalty at the very first gate of heat one, to clock 106.37.
That ranked her 31st overall from the first heat meaning she required a second, which went off as the heavens opened at Lee Valley. Miller battled the toughest conditions of the day so far with high winds and heavy rain to clock a time of 105.80 after two time penalties. That placed her 18th in heat two with the top ten required to advance.
Much like the women, the full men's canoe team that won silver on day one – Burgess, Westley and Kettle – were back out at the Lee Valley White Water Centre for the individual men's canoe event.
Burgess and Westley were drawn one after each other, wearing bib 11 and ten respectively, and both navigated increasingly windy conditions to automatically advance out of the first heat and into Friday's semi-finals.
Burgess got off to an extremely solid start at the top of the course and, at that point, was the quickest paddler through the first 11 gates – building a 0.22 advantage – before working to stay clean at the stagger in the middle section.
At the next time check, Burges was 1.42 down but produced a strong finish to remain clean and reduce that deficit to 1.19 – his clean run and overall time of 85.59 placing him second overall at the time before eventually ranking him fourth at the completion of heat one.
Adam Burgess said: “It is always nice to be up there and the mix. We always set out to do well in the rounds regardless – it is an advantage to have a slightly later start in the semi-finals and also it builds confidence. I feel right in touch with the lead at the moment.
“I was relaxed pretty much up to this run and then the nerves hit. Sometimes it is about getting that first run in, you feel much better. I have shown that I have got pace and I can really start to believe and get excited for Friday.
“I quite like that feeling [his nerves]. While it is uncomfortable, it shows me that this is important, that I care about it and that I am ready for it.”
Westley, who claimed European Games gold back in July, meanwhile paddled to ensure that automatic progression to the semi-final was always going to be the case as the windy conditions presented challenges at Lee Valley.
He was composed and in control throughout with his completely clean run giving him a time of 87.05, which placed him sixth upon immediately crossing the line and kept him in the top ten in tenth after all 74 paddlers had gone.
Ryan Westley said: “It was very windy – the gates were moving around a lot – and I really didn't want to have to do a second run. I want to try and minimise the amount of effort I have got to put in throughout the week so the plan was to go out there and do the job. I'm happy to get through and I'm looking forward to Friday.”
Wearing bib 36 Lee Valley paddler Kettle unfortunately incurred two time penalties during his run which meant he placed 49th in 96.56 and had to compete in heat two, where the wind and rain had slightly eased.
Kettle got off to a great start in pursuit of a time to put him in the top ten to advance out of heat two and into the semi-finals. The slightest of touches at gate 16 would hit his chances however as he clocked 89.12 for 14th overall.
James Kettle said: “It has been really good to be racing here. The environment – I could hear everyone on the bank – has been amazing. I would have liked a lot more [from heat two] but it is a very strong start line.
“I remember years ago when I was in division two or three, looking up at those in division one and thinking ‘that's amazing'. To be at a higher level than that – that is really cool.”
British team medal tally:
Gold (1): Women's canoe team
Silver (1): Men's canoe team
Bronze (1): Women's kayak team
How to follow?
Recast – 19 – 21 September
Recast will be available in the UK for the first three days of racing as the team events and canoe slalom heats take place.
From Friday onwards, Recast will be Geoblocked as the coverage transfers across to the BBC.
The International Canoe Federation announced this season they will be moving the live broadcasting of all major events exclusively to Recast, an innovative platform which will enable the ICF to further develop paddle sports into the future.
Recast is a live and on-demand streaming platform which will provide fans with the option to secure access to live coverage and events using credits obtained by engaging with content and products on the Recast platform.
Just by signing up to Recast viewers will gain credits providing direct access to the live action.
Fans can gain additional credit in the Recast platform by watching adverts, enhancing their profile, sharing content and inviting friends. In addition there is the opportunity to purchase credits directly.
Check out their FAQs here to find out more
BBC – 22 – 24 September
The canoe slalom semi-finals and finals and the kayak cross action will be live on the BBC Red Button and iPlayer.
FRIDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER
C1 semi-finals 1000-1210 BST
C1 finals 1330-1515 BST (not Red Button)
SATURDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER
K1 semi-finals 1000-1230 BST
K1 finals 1330-1515 BST
SUNDAY 24th SEPTEMBER
Kayak Cross finals 1330-1515 BST
Tickets
And of course, there's no better way to catch all the action than live at the venue.
Get your tickets now for the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships at the iconic Lee Valley White Water Centre from 19-24 September.
From as little as £1, join us and experience the thrill of the action as GB's top stars, including Mallory Franklin and Joe Clarke MBE, take on the best in the world on home turf.
British quota places for the Paris 2024 Olympics are up for grabs too.
Buy them here NOW >>
You can also keep up to date with the action on the British Canoeing channels, as well as start-lists and live results here from the Planet Canoe website