Kiwi K4 u23 crew through to A Final

DAY’S TOP NZ PERFORMANCE: New Zealand’s under-23 K4 500-metres crew of Briar McLeely, Danielle Watson, Alicia Hoskin and Britney Ford were third in their heat and will race in the A Final at age-group world championships in Romania tomorrow morning. Picture supplied

Two kayaking paddlers from the Poverty Bay club will be part of a Kiwi team of four competing in an A Final at the junior and under-23 canoe sprint world championships tomorrow morning.

Alicia Hoskin and Britney Ford will team up with Danielle Watson (Mana) and Briar McLeely (North Shore) in the K4 women’s 500-metre race at 2.40am (NZ time).

New Zealand advanced all six boats from heats on Day 1 of the championships in Pitesti, Romania.

The most eye-catching performance was delivered by the Kiwi women’s u23 K4 crew, who placed third in their heat, qualifying automatically for the A Final.

Sam Ferkins, also from Poverty Bay, earned safe passage to the semifinals of the junior men’s K1 1000m with a solid performance.

The Gisborne-based paddler will take to the water today in the semifinals.

New Zealand’s Olivia Brett (Arawa) cruised into the semifinals of the junior women’s K1 200m with an assured display on the Buseasa Dam venue on the Arges River.

The Kiwi junior women’s K4 500m team also advanced to the semifinals.

Kurtis Imrie (Mana) progressed to the semifinals in the u23 K1 1000m.

The Kiwi combination of Jack Clifton (Whanganui) and Fletcher Moles (Waitara) also booked a spot in the semifinals in the junior K2 1000m event.

Day 2 starts at 6pm NZT today and can be followed on: www.canoeicf.com