Tauranga kayaker Claudia Paterson secured a top-20 finish at canoe slalom's under-23 and junior world championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, overnight.
The 18-year-old Bethlehem College paddler bowed out in the semifinals of the junior K1 division, with a flurry of gate touches ending her hopes of progressing to the top-10 final.
But she wasn't alone, as the Cunovo Water Sports Centre bared its teeth. Paterson's 137.90sec run - including 10secs' worth of penalties - was still good enough for 19th in the 30-boat semifinals.
"I definitely wish I gave myself a little more room in the gates today," she lamented.
"The course was tricky, and that was seen in the number of girls making big mistakes on the river - I didn't have an amazing run today, but overall I'm pretty happy with a top-20 finish. For my first time at a big competition, and therefore my first time with real pressure, I'm proud of the runs I laid down."