Poll clash ‘Labor’s fault’: PM
WALLINGTON’S Seamus Spanner (pictured) has been crowned Australia’s canoeing champion, only 18 months after taking up the sport.
The 18-year-old was always an all-round sportsman, excelling in everything from cricket to football, and at 14 he became involved with the Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club, progressing quickly to ski paddling and going on to become part of the Victorian team, winning several competitions.
It was only last year Spanner made the switch to canoeing, and started training with Michael and Kate Leverett.
Mr Leverett was Australian Canoeing’s canoeist of the year in 2013.
After months of hard work and training, Panner started competing professionally this year. He won the Victorian under-18 championship at Geelong and was recently crowned the Australian champion, defeating competitors who have been in the sport for many years.
“I have had to wake up every day at five, train, go to school, come back and then train again. So, it’s definitely been tough at times. Also it’s an expensive sport and so that can be an issue,” he said.
Spanner is training for the marathon kayaking world championships in Portugal in September and dreams of representing Australia at the Olympics.
“I think Olympics is the ultimate dream for any and every sportsperson, so making the team and getting a medal would be the ultimate dream come true,” he said. MALCOLM Turnbull has rejected Opposition claims the date set for five upcoming by-elections was a partisan political ploy aimed at clashing with Labor’s national conference.
The ALP will change the date of its conference to avoid a clash with the July 28 by-elections, but the Prime Minister says it is Labor’s fault the polls will be held so late.
The polls in Longman, Braddon, Fremantle and Mayo were triggered by resignations of three Labor MPs and an independent this month due to their dual citizenship, while Perth Labor MP Tim Hammond resigned for family reasons. Mr Turnbull blamed Labor for denying for months the legal reality the High Court would rule its MPs ineligible.