Canoeing: NZ paddler star of solid day's results

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Ben Fouhy wasted no time in showing he means business and remains on course for a medal at next year's Olympic Games.

He posted the fastest time for the glamour K1 1000m on the opening day of the world championships in Atlanta yesterday.

Fouhy's winning time, 3m 29.79s, was more than 3s faster than reigning world champion Nathan Baggaley (Australia) and 2000 Sydney Olympic finalist Javier Correa (Argentina).

Fouhy, who in June paddled the second-fastest time ever (3m 27.3s in winning a World Cup race in Poland), has attracted plenty of international interest at the regatta which is being contested on the Lake Lanier course used for the 1996 Olympics.

He was due back on the water this morning for the semifinals.

Fouhy later teamed with Steven Ferguson to qualify in the K2 1000m. Their 3m 16.02s for third place in the fastest of the four heats gave hope they would lift in the semifinals in the hope of winning through to tomorrow's final.

Like the K2, the K4 combination of Dave Kennedy, Owen Hughes, Ferguson and Mike Walker finished third but with the feeling they had something in reserve after struggling to pace themselves through the 2m 56.37s paddle.

The sole female New Zealand team member, Katie Pocock, finished fourth in her favoured, but non-Olympic, K1 1000m heat and returned later to qualify for the K1 500m semifinals.

The day's hard-luck story was with Peter Longdill.

Contesting the super-competitive K1 500m, Longdill drew the toughest heat and paddled into a strong headwind.

Israeli Michael Kolganov won in 1m 40.14s. Longdill recorded 1m 44.46s but missed out, whereas the sole Iranian went through from another heat in a time of 1m 52s.

The championships double as an Olympic qualifier.