Joe Clarke MBE kicked off his 2024 World Cup campaign with a commanding performance as all six kayak Brits progressed to the semi-finals on the opening day of the slalom in Augsburg, Germany.
World Champion and Paris 2024 bound Joe Clarke (Stafford & Stone) set the standard during the men's kayak heats as his incredible pace topped the order.
Ranked third going into this season's series, Clarke was half a second quicker than the field at the first split, before his final clean time of 93.35 was 0.75 ahead of local favourite Hannes Aigner.
With Giovanni De Genarro (Italy) and Vit Prindis (Czechia) unable to match the Rio 2016 Olympic Champions pace, Clarke heads into tomorrow's semi-finals as the fastest qualifier of the day.
On the course he won World Cup silver last season, Clarke said:
“It's always difficult to be smooth in Augsburg but that was the plan. I did a very good job of that in what was quite a tricky course of qualifications. I really enjoy paddling here, got into quite a good groove and put down a good run.
“These World Cups are important for me to try and put good runs to build the confidence and consistency before the Olympics.
“Qualifications are really important for that too, so great to bank another good run to go alongside good runs from the European Championships in Tacen.
“I started the World Cup season here with a silver. It would be great to replicate that or go one better this season. I'll take it one run at a time and hopefully I can deliver a great semi-final and another in the final.”
He will be joined by clubmate Chris Bowers (Stafford & Stone) who had set the pace midway through the round after posting an impressive, clean run of 98.73.
Knowing he was instantly through to the semi-finals, Bowers was well within the top 30 needed, easing through in ninth overall.
Jonny Dickson (CR Cats) made it a full house for the men's kayak trio in tomorrow's semi-finals.
A World Cup silver medallist in Paris last season, Dickson's pace absorbed the two second penalty he picked up on gate 19 to finish 22nd in 101.90.
A bronze medallist at the European Championships a fortnight ago, Mallory Franklin (Windsor & District) qualified for tomorrow's women's kayak semi-finals on the first attempt.
A tricky course with penalties across the field, Franklin progressed nicely through in 14th, despite two touches, posting a final time of 112.95.
Missing out on the initial 20 required to qualify, Kimberley Woods (Rugby) and Lois Leaver (Edinburgh Schools) had to go again to ensure all six Brits would be racing again tomorrow afternoon.
Four penalties took Paris 2024 bound Woods out of the running in the first heat, but she more than made up for it on her next attempt.
Looking fast and composed, Woods stormed the second heat post a clean run of 105.02, the second quickest time of the day in the women's kayak.
A full senior team debutant this season, Leaver also missed out on the first attempt after finishing just outside the top 20.
Despite eight seconds worth of penalties during her second run, the Scottish paddler's impressive raw pace saw her secure a semi-final place in 115.19.
All six will be back in action for semi-finals tomorrow afternoon, whilst the morning session will see the canoe heats on course.
You can follow all the results here and see the schedule for the final three days of racing
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