Kayak great Clint Robinson has slammed the state of the weed-infested multi-million dollar Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) which has made a “shambles” out of sprint canoeing’s Olympic selection trials.
The five-time Olympian, who is resigned to failing in his bid for a Games swansong in London, unloaded on Wednesday on the SIRC at Penrith Lakes and called for it to be dropped as a selection venue.
The NSW Government-managed site is billed as a world-class rowing and paddling venue but Robinson said it had made Australian Canoeing’s cut-throat Olympic trials “a recipe for disaster”.
Robinson and fellow K1 gold medallist Ken Wallace were both severely disadvantaged in the K1 1000m final at the Oceania titles on the weekend by huge clumps of weed which tangled in their rudders as well as over the top of their kayaks.
Wallace unsuccessfully protested the state of the course after finishing third, almost six seconds behind rising Manly paddler Murray Stewart. But Robinson, who was seventh, said the excessive weed problem affected at least 75 per cent of all races over the three days and made for “an uneven playing field”.
“As far as I’m concerned, the trials were a joke,” he told AAP. “The (K1 1000) final was an absolute shambles and the women’s K2 500 was a shambles.
“People just aren’t able to perform at their best when they have large clumps of weed around the nose of their boat or rudder and other people haven’t.
“Australian Canoeing (AC) has to have a serious look at using the venue if it’s going to be in that state because it’s a big problem.
“How can you have three-quarters of your selection events for your national team selected with an unknown quantity involved? For a professional sport with that much money spent, it’s just not good enough.”
Robinson, who paid credit to Stewart’s dominance over the entire regatta, said the venue – built for the 2000 Sydney Olympics – had been plagued by weed since AC held their first trials in 1997.
“You can’t have this hanging over your selections all the time,” the 39-year-old said.
He feared that skewed results could see the wrong paddlers selected and ultimately jeopardise funding for the sport, which relies on medal success at the Olympics and world championships.
Australian Canoeing have confirmed the second and final flatwater Olympic selection trials will go ahead at the SIRC despite the problems when the national titles kick off next Wednesday (March 14).
But national performance director Richard Fox admitted AC, which rents the Penrith Lakes course, would look at all their options for future events.
Fox said recent flooding in the local catchment area and afternoon wind changes over the weekend had exacerbated the already-challenging conditions.
He admitted the site, which sports world-class timing and starting facilities, was in far better shape during cooler months of the year but canoeing’s international calendar meant national trialling had to be scheduled in February-March.
Robinson suspects the course wasn’t built deep enough in the 1990s, allowing the weed to grow quickly, which now put it at risk of becoming a white elephant.
SIRC venue manager Kevin Flynn was unavailable for comment.
In a statement, the NSW Department of Community, Sport and Recreation said SIRC was working with Rowing Australia and Australian Canoeing officials to manage the annual February-April outbreak of ribbonweed, which also plays a role in filtering the water and limiting algae growth.
SIRC will contract additional staff to prepare and maintain the course for the national flatwater titles, and continue to operate an industrial compressor and pipeline to aerate the lake.
The Department also said an International Canoe Federation delegate deemed the course suitable for competition before the Oceania titles.
