Kayaking: Ferguson 7th in 500m

Beijing Olympian Steven Ferguson wound up the New Zealand campaign at the world canoeing championships in Nova Scotia yesterday, finishing seventh in the K1 500m final.

Ferguson had earlier finished sixth in his more favoured K1 1000m, as the New Zealanders battled to contain some strong European opposition across the classes.

He was the only New Zealand paddler contesting an A final yesterday, although Erin Taylor finished strongly for second in her K1 500m B final for 11th overall. Earlier in the regatta, Taylor took sixth in the K1 1000m.

In other racing yesterday, the K2 500m combination of Lisa Carrington and Teneale Hatton were third in their B final to finish 13th overall. The pair finished seventh in the K2 1000m A final on Sunday.

Troy Burbidge and Scott Bicknell, who had earlier finished eighth in their K2 1000m A final, yesterday won their C final in the K2 500m.

New Zealand high performance manager Wayne Maher described the performances as a mixed bag.

The criteria for selection this year were based on the ability to make the top 16 at the world championships. But strong performances at World Cup regattas earlier in the year had raised expectations for the world champs.

Maher said it had confirmed that a marked improvement was required from the world cups through to the world champs.

- NZPA