Over 260 paddlers from across the country started their quest for national honours at Champion Lakes Regatta Centre in Western Australia, with day one of the 2026 Canoe Sprint National Championships done and dusted.
It was a massive start to the five day program, featuring heats, semis and the first round of finals from 8am-5:30pm AWST. Among the finals of the day, Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medalist Dylan Littlehales continues his great form to win the Paracanoe Men’s K1 200m Open Multi-Class event.
“I felt good which gives me confidence in adaptability, especially in these conditions out here. It’s another box ticked for another year – good to finish off the domestic season in style and hopefully have another good international season,” he said.
The Olympians and Paralympians in the sport competed alongside their paddling community with up-and-coming juniors and U23 paddlers.
Avoca Kayak Club juniors and sisters, Ashleigh and Elle Pegrum, said it’s been a great opportunity to come to Perth, race on a different course and make new friends with the bigger competition of WA paddlers.
“The conditions are definitely different. It sort of changes up the racing and makes it exciting so I enjoy it,” Ella Pegrum said.
“It’s a really good experience. We don’t get competitions this big, especially racing against the WA people so it’s really good to come here and have a wide pool of girls to race against.”
Perth product Luke Egger, who represented Australia at the U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships last year, said it’s great to be back paddling on his home course in front of his loved ones and with his home paddling group.
“I have a lot of family and friends coming out to watch me race and at this level, that’s not something I normally have so it’s really cool. Hopefully that will give me a bit more in the last 100m.
“We have such a big paddling community here in Western Australia. For a lot of them, they might not compete in their sort of events but having it here in Perth means they have the opportunity to. Seeing a lot of familiar faces around the regatta centre, saying hello to a lot of people so it’s really cool to be a part of that,” Egger said.
As the senior athletes near towards selection and trial different combinations, brothers Jean and Pierre van der Westhuyzen paddled together in the men’s K2 boat for the first time.
It’s a good opportunity to come out here and have a hit out on the course and put the training into practice. It’s cool to be in the team boat with Jean – first time we’re racing together in the sprint so it’s pretty exciting,” Pierre van der Westhuyzen said.
The 2026 Canoe Sprint National Championships will continue through to Sunday 15 March with medals to be awarded daily across all age groups.
For the schedule and results of the 2026 Canoe Sprint National Championships, click here.
Watch all the action of the 2026 Canoe Sprint National Championships on the Paddle Australia YouTube here.