Sweet victory to kayakers

Kim Thompson raises a fist in delight as she and Poverty Bay crewmates Courtney Hoskin, Jamie Gedye and Britney Ford win the K4 women’s 200 metres final at the Blue Lakes 2 canoe racing regatta in Rotorua over the weekend. Picture by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

THE PB crew finished half a second ahead of a composite Waitara crew. Poverty Bay ended the regatta with a medal tally of 16 gold, seven silver and 14 bronze through the age groups, although had to settle for second club overall, as Arawa won 20 gold, 21 silver and 10 bronze.

The regatta was also the first summer hit-out for Olympic Games champion Lisa Carrington, who won the K1 200 and 500m double and was impressed with the standard of her K1 competition including Thompson and Ford.

The regatta, which is also the first national selection event of the season, featured record numbers as paddlers build towards the national canoe spring championships in February.