Canoeing titles

Press, 25 February 1980, Page 6

Canoeing titles

PA Auckland Combining tactical skills with an abundance of power, lan Ferguson, the former Palmerston North paddler now competing for North Shore, captured four titles at the New Zealand canoeing championships at Lake Pupuke over the week-end.

Showing more inclination to qualify in the heats than paddle a fast time, the 29-year-old accountant continued to take an early lead in the finals of the singles kayak 500 metres and 1000 metres then put in the fast bursts when required to ’ ensure victory. In the double racing kayak 500 m and 1000 m events, partnered by Paul MacDonald, one of. the most impressive newcomers to the sport, Ferguson again proved the master. Alan Thompson (Gisborne) was only a couple of seconds behind Ferguson in each of the singles races and partnered by Benny Hutchings, his pairs time

varied from one to th red seconds. The disappointment of the championships was Geoff Walker (Garden City, Christchurch) who did not perform as well as he did last year when he. won both the 500m-1000m single racing kayak double. In each of the events. Walker had to be content with third place this year and his double kayak 500 m title won with Darryl Neate (Garden City) last yeas was lost to the FergusonMacDonald combination. Apart from MacDonald, of the newcomers, Paul Duncan (Gisborne), the winner of the junior 500-1000-5000 metres single kayak triple will add to the depth of senior canoeing next year, and Duncan McKenzie (North Shore), a 16-year-old. thrice runner-up to Duncan has another year in junior class. Jenny Kell, aged 17, of North Shore, won nine titles in the senior women and junior women grades.