"Under the Yarra" award

Con Toronis

Con wins this award for being a man of many disciplines and a man of many crafts.

Single and double outrigger canoe, kayak, ski, dragon boat.  He even had some slalom boats at his house which I think he salvaged from the river.  He is also a bit of a boat broker – buying and selling many craft.

Presidents award

Lisa Newton

Lisa Newton wins the President’s award for 2023.  Lisa is often out training. She competed internationally this year at the world championships in Vejen (Va-ín) Denmark.  She also competed in 2 Massive Murray Paddles this year, in one February and one in November.  Lisa is an inspirational paddler and, as our President says “very determined”.

Canoe Polo award

Jade Kerber

This is to acknowledge both the performance and club spirit of an FCC canoe polo player in local, national and international competition over the past 12 months

Jade has had extensive international Polo experience this year in both coaching and competing.

Coaching

• At the Junior International Polo Championships in Belfast Ireland Jade coached Australia and assisted in coaching Denmark.
• In the Czech Open Jade was a guest coach for the U21 Men and Women
• Head coach of U21 Women at the European Championship also in the Czech Republic.

Competing

• Jade completed internationally
  • In Denmark at the Skovshoved (Skoos hooel) Open
  • In Austria at the Vienna International
  • In Belgium at the Gekko International Tournament and at Ypres at the ‘De Paddle’ competition.

Jade is also a very active club member, coaching polo, running the FCC gym and organizing gym training sessions.

Coaches awards

Our kayak, canoe and polo coaches have put forward 5 people for coaches awards this year.

Polo

Edie Simpson

The polo coaches award goes to Edie Simpson.  Edie couldn’t be here today because of an important prior commitment – representing Australia at the Oceania polo Championships.

Edie has had an amazing year in polo.

• Third in the 2022/23 Victorian Interclubs Series
• A bronze medal at the 2023 Canoe Polo National Championships.

Edie has maintained an impressive training schedule, shown great development, assisted in coaching, worked toward a coaching qualification and assisted in working Bees and generally gone the extra mile for the sport.

Edie was part of the squad that travelled to the Junior International Championships in Belfast in July.

Junior Squad

Edward Bawden

Isaac Bawden

Edward and Isaac are our most regular Saturday afternoon paddlers, capable of paddling both K and C boats.  When returning from the Strathcona / FCC / Very Thoroughly Wetted race, they had fab grins “that was awesome!”

Junior Sprint Squad

Evla Basak

Evla worked very hard this year and has shown great progress and completed at many events.

• Victorian State Sprint Championships at Nagambie in January
• Victorian Schools Marathon Championships, March 2023 (2nd in U12 K1 overall)
• 2023 Canoe Sprint Championships in Perth 21 March
  • Women’s 12 and under K2 500 and 1000 and K1 200 m 500 m and 1000 m
• Oceania and Paddle Australia Canoe Marathon & SUP Championships (April)
  • 1st K/S W U12
• PV Marathon Yarra Doubles (7 May) 3rd U14 Doubles (with Axel Tan)
• Essendon City Singles 18 June (1st in U14 Singles)
• Marathon teams pursuit 16 July; 2nd Div 7b
• Bendigo Cup 24 September

Bradley Buissink

Bradley Buissink has also had a wonderful year, made great progress and has been a regular competitor including in the:

• Saltwater classic (5 February)
• Victorian schools championship (1^st in U16 K1, 2^nd U18 K1)
• Victorian Marathon Championships (March) (1^st U16 K1 M)
• Oceania and Paddle Australia Canoe Marathon & SUP Championships (April)
  • K1 MU16/U18 short course; TK2 X Junior Relay
  • 2^nd K1 M 16; 1^st K2 M U16; K2 X U18
• PV Marathon Yarra Doubles (7 May) 1^st in Div 5 doubles
• Essendon City Singles 18 June 1^st Div 3 singles
• Bendigo Cup 24 September

Victorian Marathon Races

On the FCC books, there are awards for “Winter Series” marathon races.  The Winter Series hasn’t recovered from COVID but there still a series of Victorian Races where FCC paddlers compete.

This year, we decided to give awards based on participation.  Points were award based on the number of races and the number of classes within races.

Aidan Han

Anna Wilson

Stephen Routley

Szigeti Medal

The Szigeti Medal is awarded in memory of Zoltan (Zoli) Szigeti - a great FCC paddler and coach - for competition at the highest level, generally international.  This year we have two fabulous young adult paddlers who have both had success at National and International levels:

Aidan Han

Aidan has completed at the highest National and International levels this year and also had great results at the state level.

Early in 2023, Aidan was the dominant paddler at the schools sprint championships coming:

1^st U18 K1 and K2 3,000 m

1^st U18 K1  and K2 200 m

Unfortunately he missed the Victorian Championships because of injury.

National: At the 2023 PA Canoe Nationals

A final in the 200 m K1

And finals in the K2 for 200, 500 and 1000 m.

He also completed in the 500 m State v State final K4.

In the 2023 PA Canoe Marathon National which were held in Geelong at Easter.

K1 U18 2^nd

K2 U18 2^nd

International: Selected to represent Australia at the 2023 ICF Junior Canoe World Championship at Vejen, Denmark, competed in K1 and K2.

Tom Ladson

Tom has also competed Nationally and Internationally this year.

He the current Victoria wildwater sprint champion in open age group.

He also came second at State level in the 3 km wildwater “Classic” race.

In March, Tom completed at the PA National Wildwater championship at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, coming 2^nd in U23 the Sprint race and 3^rd in the Classic race.

Tom was subsequently selected in the U23 Australian Wildwater team.

He had 3 months racing in Europe including:

European cup races

2023 ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Cup race in Mezzana Italy

2023 ICF U23 Wildwater Canoeing World Championship in Roudnice, Czechia