In the men's C2, Florence and Richard Hounslow (pictured above, right and left) edged Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott – however, both boats qualified for the Olympics after Florence and Hounslow won their individual C1 and K1 classes.

Hounslow was particularly impressive as he stunned Athens 2004 silver medallist Campbell Walsh to take the K1 spot.

It means Florence and Hounslow will be the first canoe slalom competitors to bid for multiple medals in the same Games, with both winning all their races this weekend.

Florence said: "I am not sure it has sunk in yet and that I will be going to the London Olympic Games.

"I knew I was capable of it, but you can never assume that you have got the place in the bag with so many other good contenders."

Hounslow commented: "I just had to put down the best run I could.

"I had a great run apart from the last upstream and I did not think I had done enough.

"I am delighted for myself, but devastated for the guys who missed out.

"I was in that position in 2008 so I know hard it is."

Lizzie Neave (pictured below) was also impressive as she claimed the K1 honours in style, winning all three races during the three-day trials event.


"I cannot quite believe it and I think it will take some time to sink in," she said.

"It did not all go quite according to plan, but I held it together, had a plan B at the bottom and did not panic.

"There was only ever going to be one of us making the team and I am just pleased it's me."

There was disappointment, however, for Walsh, who missed out on the chance to make history as the first British competitor to take part in the canoe slalom at three successive Olympic Games.

John Anderson, GB Canoeing performance director, said: "We have seen some outstanding performances at Lee Valley this weekend and it has certainly been a rollercoaster ride.

"I firmly believe that we have nominated five outstanding athletes, possibly our strongest canoe slalom team ever for an Olympic Games, all with the potential to challenge for the podium.

"It is also great to see young athletes coming into the senior team and that we have been able to select a full team in each of the five classes at Under-23 level which is impressive."

Elsewhere, world silver medallists Liam Heath, Jon Schofield and Ed McKeever also secured their Olympic places at the National Sprint Kayak Regatta at the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont in Nottingham.

McKeever will participate at London in the K1 200m event, with Schofield and Heath due to compete in the K2 200 metres.

Beijing 2008 Gold medal-winning sprint kayaker Tim Brabants also moved closer to a place at London 2012 with victory over Paul Wycherley in a K1 1,000m race.

"It was important to get a good race done and thankfully I got the right result," said Brabants.

"It's always difficult coming out for the first regatta of the year.

"The last four years have gone surprisingly quickly; it's been up and down, and very different to the last Olympic cycle, but hopefully I'm on the right side of it now."

The British Olympic Association still has to ratify the nominations, which it is expected to do on April 25.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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