Strong start by PB club members

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Poverty Bay Kayak Club members have made a strong start to the Canoe Sprint Junior and Under-23 World Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, overnight.

Britney Ford and Kim Thompson are part of the New Zealand crew who advanced to the final of the u23 women’s K4 500 metres.

They were third in their heat in a time of one minute 36.471 seconds. The top three went straight to the final. The heat was won by Hungary in 1:32.837.

The final is scheduled for 2.41am (NZ time) tomorrow morning.

Thompson’s younger brother Quaid progressed to the semifinals of the u23 men’s K1 1000m. He was second in his heat in 3:33.663, pipped on the line by a Swedish competitor.

Alex Bermingham is a member of the Kiwi crew who were fifth in their junior women’s K4 500m heat and progressed to the semifinals.

Sam Ferkins was sixth in his junior men’s K1 1000m heat and advanced to the semis.

Alicia Hoskin is in junior women’s K1 500 and K2 500 action on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, Hawke’s Bay kayaker Aimee Fisher sent a warning to her u-23 K1 200m rivals with victory in her heat.