The New Zealand women's kayak team won three gold medals at a World Cup event in Germany at the weekend. Photo / File
The New Zealand women's kayak team won three gold medals at a World Cup event in Germany at the weekend. Photo / File
Lisa Carrington and the New Zealand women's kayak team have paddled their way to three gold medals at a World Cup regatta in Germany.
On Saturday night Carrington and Caitlin Ryan won a convincing gold medal in the K2 500m. The pair, who are racing internationally together for the firsttime since their World Championship victory in 2017, won by a solid two-second margin.
"We had a few nerves, so we just wanted to put together a good performance, and I think we managed to do that," Carrington said.
"The K2 was where my first World Championship gold medal came from, so it's something I really enjoy. It's a challenge, it's doing it as a team, and I really enjoy that team aspect," Ryan said.
The team added another two gold medals on Sunday night. A change of personnel in the K4 500m made no difference to the outcome for New Zealand.
Rebecca Cole replaced regular Kayla Imrie in the fourth seat, and helped Carrington, Ryan and Aimee Fisher win gold in a thrilling finish.
New Zealand were pushed hard all the way by the Polish quartet, winning in 1m 31.652s, just .340s ahead of the Poles, with Russia a further .627s back in third. It was the toughest challenge any of the senior New Zealand crews have had on their two-regatta European trip.
"Poland had a fantastic charge through to the finish, and they definitely pushed us through to the end," Carrington said.
"It's so important for us to keep learning about our race in the K4. I think it is something we will be taking a lot from, so it's so important to have a race like today where we are pushed all the way."
She also won gold with Fisher in the K2 200m.
Fisher said the race was "awesome".
"I think one of the coolest things about it was I just enjoyed it so much. On the start line my heart rate was going pretty wild, which I just haven't felt for a long time now, so it's cool to feel like I'm back," she said.
The team will fly back to New Zealand to continue training until the World Championships.
