By reader Loh Wee Hong
SAJC beat HCI by a boat length in the C2 1000m event. (Photo 1 courtesy of Loh Wee Hong)
Bedok Reservoir, Friday, April 9, 2010 – It was on the azure waters of Bedok Reservoir where the much anticipated battles for the National Inter-School Canoeing Championships were fought out by determined athletes in their sleek sprint boats. After their fantastic showing at the National Junior Canoeing Championships in March, St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) were aiming for the gold, especially with the championship being held on their home ground in Bedok.
Nevertheless, the once much-heralded Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) Canoeing team was also set on bringing back the title after losing out by just one point to National Junior College (NJC) in 2005.
Traditional powerhouses National Junior College (NJC) and Anglo-Chinese Independent (ACSI) were also present to fight for the coveted trophy and the stage was set for an epic clash for the A Division title.
The day kicked off with the C1 1000m event, where three out of the six finalists were from the national squad and it ended in a photo finish which saw Justin Tang of NJC claiming the gold with ACS(I) and ACJC trailing behind in second and third respectively.
After more races that saw the muscular canoeists from the various schools speeding for the finishing line, the first upset of the day took place in the C2 1000m event. Veterans Cao Zhehou and Daniel Soo of HCI, a gold medalist pair in the B and C Divisions since 2006, failed to nail a hat-trick as they lost by a boat length to SAJC’s Sean Koh and Ang Yu Kai. The disappointment was further duplicated in the C2 500m event, where SAJC crossed the line ahead of HCI once more.
The K2 and K4 events were also hotly fought because schools needed to gain crucial points to win the championship. This was especially evident in the K2 events, where the placings were determined by mere centimeters between boats as they all shot across the finishing line.
Ultimately however, it was the boys’ individual kayak (K1) events where the championship title was determined. With three national team members in the finals, the races proved to be one-sided affairs for HCI. Star paddler Mervyn Toh opened up a big lead on his opponents to win resoundingly while contributing over a quarter of HCI’s total points with his double wins in both events.
The championships concluded with an HCI triumph over their closest rivals SAJC and ACS(I), who finished second and third respectively. More importantly, the HCI team finally brought back the coveted trophy after nearly a decade-long quest to herald a new era.
The incredibly close finish in the K2 1000m event. (Photo 2 courtesy of Loh Wee Hong)
Mervyn Toh of HCI leading the K1 pack by a huge margin. (Photo 3 courtesy of Loh Wee Hong)
The winning HCI Canoeing team. (Photo 4 courtesy of Loh Wee Hong)
who won C and B div boys?
There are some errors in this article.
1) Cao Zhehou and Daniel Soo, the ‘veterans’, were not partners since 2006. The information given above is incorrect.
2) “With three national team members in the finals, the races proved to be one-sided affairs for HCI.”
With 3 national team members in the finals, how is the race a “one-sided affair” for HCI, with zero national team paddlers in the event?
because hci dominated the event with mervyn despite their lack of nat team ppl?
hey the third placing for C1 1000m event is from ACJC not SAJC. thanks (:
YAY HINYANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!woot woot woot
what about the other divisions?
the third placing for the C1 1000m event is ACJC not SAJC.
The photo caption is wrong. it is nt c1 event but c2
Thanks for pointing out the error.