THEY had never stepped into a canoe together before but will team up at this year's World Championships after a stunning performance at the Australian Canoe Marathon Titles in Victoria.
Manly-Warringah Kayak Club pair Sandra Burwood and Kristina Jenkins secured selection in Australia's team for the championships in Hungary later in the year after a top two finish at Nagambie, Victoria.
The duo only came together minutes before the gruelling 28.8km race and wasted no time "ironing out the wrinkles" to ensure their place in Australia's squad.
"We had never stepped into a boat together," Burwood revealed. "In the first lap of the race we had to iron out the wrinkles without letting onto the other boats that we were having problems "We got there in the end. "Unfortunately we got beaten by one second. "With a lot more training we can get a lot faster". Jenkins said she had planned on skipping the K2 to focus on her solo endeavours but changed her mind moments before the race started. "I wasn't going to compete in the K2 as I wanted to concentrate on the K1," she said. "I wanted to come first in the K1."Which she did to ensure her individual and K2 position for both the World Cup in June and the World Championships in Hungary. Burwood will represent both events at the World Cup and only the K2 at World Championships Kl race. "I had a very bad race," she said. "Four days before the race my rudder broke and I had to glue it back together. "It wasn't a good preparation." Burwood's elevation to the national squad is a particularly worthy effort having only returned to the sport over the past two-and-a-half years. She first started as a 16-year-ald,paddling the Hawkesbury Classic (111km) and the Murray Marathon 404km) with her uncle. "I didn't pick up a paddle for 16 years after that." she said. "I've had the fire in my belly " At 34, it's an opportunity to show other women that it's never too late to chase your dreams."
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