By John Moore, Columnist
Maskwa Aquatic Club, located on beautiful Kearney Lake, has won the 2024 National Sprint Canoe Kayak Championships in Welland Ontario. This is an amazing feat given it’s the second year in a row. The fact this was won far away from home makes this all the more special. These coaches, athletes, and parents travelled a great distance all at their own expense to make this happen.
There were over 100 athletes involved. This win also catapults Maskwa into a class of its own having now won 4 National championships since 2016. Head Coach Christian Hall and his staff are laser focused on producing the best paddlers in the country and possibly the world while making sure each paddler gets the attention and guidance they need. That fosters a great sense of team spirit and an attitude that anything is possible when you put your mind to it.
To top it off this win is even sweeter given it’s Maskwa’s 50th anniversary. I ‘m sure the founders of Maskwa and all those who have contributed over the years to make Maskwa the great organization it has become are delighted. The late great volunteer Gord Mcleod must be smiling from ear to ear.
Head coach Christian Hall puts it this way. “Maskwa won the 2024 Nationals with 1038 points over second place Rideau of Ottawa with 915 points. Maskwa was led by dominant war canoes winning 7 of 11 events. Maskwa won the Para, Paddle All, and U16, and Men individual burgees.
Stand out individual performers include Hayden Quillan who took 4 gold medals. Our U16 athletes, Gaelle Bousquet, Matt Brown, Emillee Vaters, and Victoria Tran, all won 5 plus medals. All these athletes, who are Olympic hopefuls, are heading to Hungary in September as part of the Canadian Team for the Olympic Hopes Regatta.
There were several Nationals records set by Matt Brown in the U16, C1, 1000m, Alex MacNeil in the U18, C1, 1000m, Emilee Vaters & Gaelle Bousquet in the U16, K2, 500m, and the open mixed C15, Captained by Head Coach Christian Hall. Overall Maskwa athletes won 26 gold, 30 silver and 16 bronze medals for a total of 72. Thank you Christian.
I would like to congratulate long time Maskwa paddler Anna Negulic on winning her 50th nationals medal at Welland. That is truly amazing.
Former Olympian and Maskwa Commodore Peter Giles had this to say about Maskwa’s performance at the Nationals,” The great performances in C15 are really special. I think it is so important for clubs to take C15 seriously. There is nothing that creates more value for more athletes! Our coaches and athletes at all levels should be proud of that success. Adding to that, “we had the top results of all clubs in both Paracanoe and Paddle All. So, we are growing and getting better in those important areas also.” Thank you, Peter.
I should mention there were 43 clubs and over 1000 athletes involved in these championships. Maybe someday the C15 races, which are extremely exciting to watch, will be an Olympic event.
I mentioned earlier about those who have contributed to Maskwa over the years. There have been many volunteers in our community who have given so much. There have been corporate sponsors and there have been our elected representatives from all levels of government who forgot about partisan politics and got what Maskwa was all about. A huge congratulations to all the coaches, paddlers, parents, and volunteers at Maskwa. You make us Nova Scotians proud! Thank you and God Bless. Happy September.!
