Seeking precious medals

SLICING THROUGH THE WATER: Poverty Bay Kayak Club's under-18 women's K4 500m crew of (from the back) Emma Brownlie, Genna Robertson, Seren Rogers and Nicki Graham on their way to first place at the Blue Lake 2 canoe racing regatta at the weekend. Pictures by Karlene Ward

Poverty Bay Kayak Club paddlers took home 20 medals — 14 of them gold — from the Blue Lake 2 canoe racing regatta at the weekend.

Gisborne-led boats tallied six gold medals; however, several racers combined with other clubs' crews to find the winning formula.

Gus Baker paddled his way to four gold medals, a silver and a bronze after joining forces with the under-16 Whanganui paddlers to make a K4 team.

Amber Dearness also had an impressive weekend in mixed-club teams, securing three golds, a silver and a bronze.

Alicia Hoskin had a weekend to remember as she raced to gold with the Canoe Racing New Zealand crew in the open women's K4 500 metres before winning the K2 500 with Olympian Lisa Carrington as paddling partner.

Poverty Bay Kayak Club coach Emily Willock said they had to fit in kayakers when and where they could if the club didn't have the numbers to form a team.

It was heartening to see the athletes rewarded after the hard work everyone had put in over the past four to six months, she said.

“Overseas travel can be the apple that keeps them motivated; and with that off the table, it was good to see them still motivated and that hard work pay off.”

Willock said it was a great way to round off the year as they looked towards the nationals at Lake Karapiro in February.