Domestic bliss for perfect Carrington
Lisa Carrington produced six of the best in a perfect start to her domestic paddling season.
The three-time Olympic medallist won all six of her events at the Blue Lake 2 regatta last weekend in Rotorua.
In the most eagerly anticipated race of the regatta, Carrington secured a close-fought win in a world-class open women’s K1 500m final.
Her winning time of 1min 54:60secs put her a second ahead of Caitlin Ryan, who set a world-best time for the distance in Hungary in May, while Aimee Fisher was another second back in third.
Carrington teamed up with rising teenage star Alicia Hoskin in the open women’s K2 500m and the Poverty Bay combination pipped the North Shore duo of Ryan and Briar McLeely by just 0.20s, with Fisher and Lucy Matehaere (Otago) third.
Her perfect showing was completed when combining with Fisher, Rebecca Cole and Matehaere to win the K4 500.
‘‘The K1 500m is always a weight on the shoulders and everyone gets quite nervous for that race because we all want to perform,’’ Carrington said after also sweeping the 200m events the previous day.
‘‘Overall, I’ve still got a bit to work on to gain more confidence. It is always nice to expose yourself to these situations physically and mentally.’’
Quaid Thompson , who is coached by his father Alan, the two-time 1984 Olympic gold medallist, was the dominant elite male kayaker on Lake Tikitapu, claiming an eye-catching K1 1000m and 5km double.