LONDON 2012: Florence and Hounslow combine for second national selection title

By Sportsbeat staff

DAVID Florence and Richard Hounslow followed up on their individual success to claim a second title and Olympic qualifying place at the British Canoeing slalom selection trials.

Florence will look to upgrade his Beijing silver in the canoe single while Hounslow will look for gold in the kayak single event and together they will also combine in the canoe double, a discipline in which they claimed bronze at the World Championships in Slovenia two years ago.

They won the British trials at the Lee Valley White Water Centre but their earlier individual success meant the second place crew, Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott, will now also be put forward for Team GB selection.

“We would like to have beaten them, we came out for the win and it was a good chance to flex our muscles and go as fast as we could, however we made a few mistakes and just lost out. However we are delighted to be going to the Games," said Stott.

Meanwhile, Lizzie Neave, who locked up the women's kayak single selection yesterday, won again to underline her domestic dominance.

“We have seen some outstanding performances here this weekend and it has certainly been a rollercoaster ride," said GB Canoeing's performance director John Anderson.

"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."

© Sportsbeat 2012