Kayaking: Paddler aims to rewrite record books

Lisa Carrington. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Lisa Carrington is focused on rewriting kayaking history in New Zealand and she wants to take some teammates along for the ride.

The promising woman paddler combined well with Teneale Hatton at the world champs last year, being the first NZ women to make an A final in this competition, and backed up that form with an impressive week at the Australian Grand Prix 2.

They collected the top two spots in the open women's K1 500m in times of 1m 54.03s and 1m 55.52s respectively, and joined by Rachael Dowell and Jaimee Lovett grabbed the silver in the K4 500m.

Carrington raced a sharp K1 200m just 0.38s behind Australian Alana Nicholls to take the silver.

Back home Carrington is excited about continuing that form on home water at the Oceania Championship.

She is focused on becoming only the second woman from New Zealand to go to the Olympics for kayaking after Luuka Jones competed in Canoe/Kayak-Slalom.

"There has only been one female go so far so it would be wicked to get there ... a dream come true," said the 21-year-old Carrington.

"I'd love to qualify for the Olympic team but not only go on my own but with a few of us because there is a good group of talented paddlers here on their way up."

Carrington takes confidence from her performance in the Australian Grand Prix 2 regatta in a young New Zealand team that is growing in belief.

"It was a good indication of where I am at and that the hard work is paying off," said Carrington who has been a senior New Zealand rep for the past two years.

She and Hatton are coached by New Zealand's canoeing great Paul MacDonald. "The combination I have with Teneale is coming on well and we really enjoy pushing each other and racing with the boys to try and lift another level."

The more competition that the New Zealand team can have with their Australian rivals, like Nicholls, the better.

"We believe we belong at this level and that we can compete with them so that is important.

"A lot of it is just knowing you are good enough and I think the results from the Aussie show that we are definitely good enough."

The raw talent of Carrington has been on the radar of Ian Ferguson since she was a 17-year-old in her first year of competitive kayaking.

"She has unbelievable talent," said four-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Ferguson back in 2007.

"She's still really young but she has incredible technique and a natural feel for the water. She's still a junior but is actually on pace with the top seniors.

"Lisa is certainly the biggest talent we've got at the moment."

Most recently Carrington impressed New Zealand teammate Steven Ferguson. "She is a great talent and it's great to see her fulfilling that promise," he said. "She is still pretty young so I think there is more to come from her."

Carrington, who is studying a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Maori, won't be changing her game-plan as she looks to build to New Zealand qualifying.

"What I am doing is working so if I can keep up the training and the top competition then that will help me succeed ... it is all about hard work. "