Jake Morris & Bailey Clues Kayak News

Here are two recent stories by The Daily Telegraph on 24 February 2022

Surf Life Saving Mates Create a Splash

Six weeks ago Jake Morris decided he wanted to have a crack at paddling with a mate from his Newport Surf Life Saving Club.

Now the 17-year-olds have a major title under his belt.

Morris and Clues, part of Newport’s Australian under 17 Taplin winning team, won the U18 K2 500 at the canoe sprint HP at Penrith on Friday.

It was a result that surprised even Morris who was inspired to give kayaking a go by his love of surf ski paddling and the gold medal won by Tom Green and Jean Van de Westhuyzen at the Tokyo Olympics last year.

“I saw my mate do it and wanted to give it a go as well,’’ said Morris, who was a standout young gun at the Australian Surf Life Saving titles last year with twin brother Mitch and whose older brother Zach recently competed on the Nutri-Grain Ironman surf series.

“This has surprised us. I didn’t expect anything much.” Morris, who attends Narrabeen Sports High, said he has found the transition to kayaking from ski paddling a little tricky but has loved the new challenge.

The northern beaches pair beat Callum Elliott from Illawarra and Sean Ryce from Manly Warringah for the K2 title with Adelaide pair Maguire Reid (SA) and Oliver Tucker (West Lakes) third.

The Australian Junior team will be selected following the national championships at Penrith in April.

Plumbing apprentice creates splash at Canoe Sprint GP

When Bailey Clues was approached to give kayaking a go after multiple successes in events at the Australian Surf Life Saving championships last year he thought “why not?”. Eight months on the northern beaches schoolboy and apprentice plumber has two major wins to his name and the prospect of cracking his first Australian kayaking team on the horizon. The 17-year-old who attends Narrabeen Sports High and also works, won the Under 18 K1 1000m event at the Paddle Australian canoe sprint GP at Penrith on the weekend. He beat his K2 partner and Newport Surf Club teammate, Jake Morris, for the title. The pair had earlier in the regatta won the K2 U18 crown together.

“I jumped at the chance,’’ said Clues of being approached to try his hand at kayaking after winning the U17 ski titles at the Aussies. “Then a couple of months later I asked Jake if he wanted to jump in the K2 with me and it’s gone from there. “People said I might have some potential so I just put my head down and went for it.’’ His dedication has paid big dividends with the teenager now chasing Australia selection at the upcoming Australian championships, also being raced at Penrith.