Paul Lewis: Carrington gives NZ a golden boost

Lisa Carrington. Photo / Getty Images

Canoeing's World Cup foray to Europe revealed that the previously strife-torn body has realistic Olympic medal chances next year - but maybe not totally where they expected.

Lisa Carrington's gold medal at the new K1 200m event in Germany has vaulted her into the top three in the world; something of a surprise although the diminutive Carrington has progressed so swiftly over the last two years that she is now clearly the leading New Zealand woman paddler.

However, there was less success for the much-vaunted K2 1000m pairing of Steven Ferguson and Darryl Fitzgerald. They had produced some world-class times before departure and hopes were high of a good World Cup showing.

However, they came eighth in the final after qualifying fourth-fastest. Disappointing perhaps, though coach Ian Ferguson felt there were some reasons for that.

"Unfortunately, Steve got a cold and then Darryl got the cold and they just didn't get a chance to do some really hard work; caning themselves at the right time. You have to do that to build up race toughness - feeling the pain, so you embrace the pain; so you are ready for it when it comes in a pressure situation.

"If you are not ready for it, then you can fall to pieces and that's what happened to them.

"Overall, I thought it was an average showing by the team at the World Cup - with Lisa's gold being the only real bright bit. She did fantastically well and looks like a medallist."

Carrington is coached by Gordon Walker, although she has had input from both Ferguson and former coach Paul MacDonald. Her combination in the K2 events with Teneale Hatton has also been shaping as a medal chance.

The pair won World Cup gold at Germany last year in the K2 1000m last year - but finished only eighth in the K2 500m final at the same venue this year. However, this year the K2 final was only 40 minutes after Carrington's gold medal. At the London Olympics next year, there will be a far longer break between the two events.

The team are now back in New Zealand and planning their campaign at the world championships to be held in Szeged, Hungary, in August. That global event is also an Olympic qualifier with Carrington needing to finish in the top 8 in Hungary, and the K2 boats in the top 6 - although there are some alternative avenues open for those who don't make the top 6.

Ferguson, who was coaching only for the World Cup campaign after being re-instituted following canoeing's highly public controversy when he and MacDonald were dumped last year, says his son Steven and Fitzgerald seem certain to be selected for the world championship. "I'm their coach so I'd assume I'll be selected too," he said.