Ironman: Fouhy qualifies for world championship

New Zealand kayaker Ben Fouhy has qualified for the Ironman world championship.

The former kayaking world champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist competed in the New Zealand Ironman in Taupo at the weekend after announcing last month that he was taking a break from flatwater kayaking.

The 29-year-old clocked 9 hours 41 minutes 10 seconds to finish ninth in the 30-34 years age group and pick up one of the 80 qualifying spots for the world championships in Hawaii in October.

He said today he would accept the qualifying spot and take a year out from kayaking to compete.

Fouhy won the K1 1000m world championship in 2003 and claimed his silver medal at the Athens Olympics a year later. He was fourth at last year's Olympics in Beijing.

Fouhy was one of 35 New Zealanders to pick up qualifying spots for Hawaii on Saturday.

Among others to qualify was marathon runner Craig Kirkwood, who won the men's 35-39 years division and was the fastest age grouper overall in an outstanding 9hr 9min 27sec in his Ironman debut.

Tiare Lund, a multi-world championship medallist, will be heading back to the world championships for the 17th time after winning the women's 60-64 years age group with a time of 12hr 42min 35sec.

Cameron Brown and Gina Ferguson, who won the men's and women's titles in Taupo, had previously qualified for the world champs.

- NZPA