Kiwi Girls Generate Some Heat on the Water

CANOE RACING NEW ZEALAND INC.

Kiwi Girls Generate Some Heat on the Water

6 August 2012

It was the women’s turn to create some heat on the water today with young South Islander Teneale Hatton first up in the Women’s K1 500m. This was the only heat that required dropping a competitor with all other heats going through to the semi, requiring Teneale to beat the Iranian paddler to qualify for the semis. Her game plan was to finish 6th in order to paddle lane 8 in the final, the favoured side of the course today. She did this easily and lined up for the semi an hour later.

The semi-final was another matter altogether with only the top two and next two fastest third-placed paddlers through to the A final. An explosive start placed Teneale well for the first 250m and she gave it all she had to keep up with the pack – a gutsy paddle earning her 5th in a time of 1:54.504 and qualifying her for the B final. For this young paddler in her first Olympics this is a pleasing result and certainly one to store away in the ‘experience bank’. She is rightly “thrilled” with her result and looking forward to racing the B final in two days time.

The K2 500 heats featuring Lisa Carrington and Erin Taylor lacked a bit of intensity with all paddlers going straight through to the semis. The kiwis wisely cruised the latter stages of this race to save their energy for the semi.

They drew the toughest of the semis but started steadily and the duo remained mid-pack for the first 250m. The second half of the race required a big push as they fended off the Belarussian crew to earn 4th in a creditable time of 1:42.764 and a place in the A final.

Grant Restall, Canoe Racing NZ High Performance Manager, says “The girls drew the short straw in the semis and had to work hard for their top 4 placing. It was sheer control and pain that got them through in this one … they certainly know they’ve raced an Olympic semifinal! Gordy (Coach, Gordon Walker) has a smile to match the girls. They’re looking forward to a day off racing tomorrow and will come back fighting for Thursday’s final”.

Tomorrow’s final of the Men’s K2 1000m features Steven Ferguson and young team mate Darryl Fitzgerald who will be all business and will no doubt once again have us on the edge of our seats. Ben Fouhy will also feature in the B final of the K1 1000m where he will be gunning for a top placing.

Below is the team’s race timetable for the duration of the Olympics.

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CANOE SPRINT RACING TIMETABLE
Date Race Athletes UK Time NZ Time Progressions SKY coverage from (NZ time) Wed 8 August Mens K1 1000m Final Mens K2 1000m Final Ben Fouhy Steven Ferguson & Darryl Fitzgerald 9.30am 10.16am 8.30pm 9.16pm B final A final 8.25pm SkySport 5 Thurs 9 August Womens K1 500m Final Womens K2 500m Final Teneale Hatton Lisa Carrington & Erin Taylor 10.08am 10.35am 9.08pm 9.35pm A & B finals A & B finals 8.25pm SkySport 7 Fri 10 August Womens K1 200m - Heat 1 (lane 5) - Semis Lisa Carrington 10.19am 11.30am 9.19pm 10.30pm 1-5 + best time 6th 1-4 to A, 5-8 to B 8.25pm SkySport 7 Sat 11 August Womens K1 200m Final Lisa Carrington 10.14am 9.14pm A & B finals 8.25pm SkySport 7

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