Saturday, 3 October, LIUZHOU (China): Fifty-one competitors representing 16 countries churned up the waters of the River Liu in this morning’s two official practice sessions, with official qualifying for heats 1 and 2 of the Grand Prix of China taking place this afternoon.

Ski Ladies world championship leader Emma-Nellie Ortendahl showed no signs of the illness that cut short her summer race programme, posting best times in both sessions, 1:38.49s her best. Jonna Borgstrom made it a one-two for Sweden with 1:39.94, New Zealander Kyllie Ellmers benefitting from having her technical guru Les Cooke alongside going third quickest in 1:42.47s.

Nacho Armillas, second in the championship points table with Mickael Poret and six off leader Jeremy Poret, set the pace in Ski with a 1:38.48s lap in the second session and seems intent on carrying the fight to them, with Norway’s Stian Schetlein second quickest with 1:3386s.

In Runabout 2.75 seconds split a trio of Middle East riders, Youssef Al Abdulrazzaq out pacing Mohamed Al Heidus and Thamer Al Darwish, posting 1:31.00s.

(official qualifying 15:00hrs local – timing live on aquabike.net)