Kayaking: Fouhy in Australian champs final

New Zealand Olympian Ben Fouhy stamped his class in the Australian flatwater national championships in Sydney yesterday.

The Athens silver medallist powered into the final of the men's K1 1000, setting up a predicted showdown with double Olympic medallist Nathan Baggaley.

Fouhy heads a 10-strong Kiwi contingent at the nationals.

Fouhy was joined in the K1 1000 final by fellow Aucklander Troy Burbridge, who was second in his semifinal.

Fred Teear (Christchurch) was fourth and made the B final while Mike Walker (Auckland) was seventh and eliminated.

Walker and Teear progressed to the semifinals of the K2 1000 but Shaun O'Connor and Mike Tayler (both Gisborne) were eighth in their heat and failed to make the semis.

Tayler also missed out on the K1 1000 semis after placing seventh in his heat.

Erin Tayler (Auckland) moved into the final of the women's under-18 K1 1000 after a second in her heat while O'Connor won his heat of the under-18 K1 1000, however.

- NZPA