teams to travel overseas in coming months.

All four have taken up the sport

since the Penrith Whitewater Stadium was built for the 2000 Olympics and

have had to master the exciting and dangerous sport of whitewater slalom

kayaking.

For 17-year-old Craig Borrows of Lapstone and 15-year-old Emmie Barratt of

Glenbrook there is the prospect of taking on the best junior paddlers in the

world at the pre-World Junior Championships at Lofer, Austria in July.

The two younger 14-year-old paddlers, Ian Borrows of Lapstone and Ben Jones of

Faulconbridge, will be travelling to the South Island of New Zealand. They are part of the Australian Junior Development team heading out in April to take on the Kiwis' best in their nationals and schools

championships.

All four students are members of the Western Sydney Academy of Sport program that began three years ago at Penrith. The four young athletes train at least four times a week and have had to compete in a series of

races against the best juniors in Australia in order to gain selection.

Craig finished second qualified boat in Under 18 Men's Canoe after only a short apprenticeship in this type of boat while Emmie was third boat in Under 18 Women's Kayak behind the experienced Ashley Flowers of Mount Riverview who will be making her third trip to the Junior Worlds.

Ben and Ian qualified through excellent performances at the Australian schools and national championships held at Eildon Victoria in January. Both boys display tremendous promise and enthusiasm for their sport and will be aiming at the full Australian junior team in years to come.

All are now seeking sponsors to assist with the costs associated with representing their country. Sponsors can expect great value from these very likeable and disciplined athletes, who are destined for big things in years to come.