MAKE A SPLASH CAIRNS THUNDER JUNIORS SEEK HIGHER HONOURS
Sixers win but Baynes’ Celtics still lead series Tully River rapids to test the best in world champs ‘dress rehearsal’
RAFTING ATHLETES from Australia and abroad will test the waters in Tully this week for the “pre-worlds” ahead of the 2019 World Rafting Championships and the sport’s top official doesn’t expect it to run smoothly.
Members of the International Rafting Federation (IRF) and local organisers will watch Australia’s best go through their selection process and gain feedback from visiting teams, including Japan, eager to tame the Tully River.
IRF president Joseph Willis Jones hit the water yesterday for his first look since approving Tully for the 2019 titles and said he was more of an “independent observer” this week looking out for the interests of the 54 countries attending next year.
“It’s a great river, really challenging white water, which is always what we’re looking for and a really beautiful course in the World Heritage rainforest. We can’t ask for anything better,” he said.
“The pre-worlds is more or less a dress rehearsal event. It allows us to shake everything out in a less-pressure environment for more of a friendly competition.
“I’m not expecting everything to work perfectly. It rarely does the preworlds, but that’s the reason we do it.”
IRF 2019 World Rafting Championships event director and former world champion Graham Maifredi said it was an exciting part of the countdown to the main event where teams of six will vie for the title of world champion. CONTINUED PAGE 43