Multisport: Fouhy and Docherty flourish in Australia

Triathlete Bevan Docherty finished sixth in the Oceania Championships near Melbourne yesterday.

The Olympic silver medallist completed the flat course in Geelong in 1h 54m 01s, with compatriot Shane Reed close behind in seventh place.

Earlier Athens Olympian Sam Warriner, the defending Oceania champion, finished fifth in the women's race, won by 2003 world champion Emma Snowsill from Queensland.

Australian Bryce Quirk won the men's race in 1h 52m 43s.

Docherty and Reed were out of the water with the leaders, and with the main pack that bunched together on the 40km cycle.

The 2003 world champion Peter Robertson cleared out on the run but was slowly reeled in by Quirk with 2km remaining.

"Both Bevan and Shane are in their big training phase right now. Their focus is much later in the year and so it was a useful workout for them both," manager Graham Park said.

"Both Bevan and Shane hung in there very well and beat home plenty of good names.

"It was much the same for Sam Warriner, who looked strong."

Meanwhile, New Zealand's world champion Ben Fouhy humbled Australia's best when winning the K1 500m title at the Australian kayak championships in Sydney.

Fouhy backed up his K1 1000 title on Friday with the K1 500 success on the 2000 Olympic Games watercourse to rekindle his hunger for international paddling following a self-imposed layoff after the Olympics.

In both finals, Fouhy, the Olympic K1 1000 silver medallist and 2003 world champion, had to contend with two-time world champion and former Olympic gold medallist, Nathan Baggley.

"Taking the 500 and 1000 double was hugely satisfying with a lot of Aussies showing me a good measure of respect," Fouhy said.

"They were impressed with the level of my performance, which is a compliment from them.

"The direction I have taken has been vindicated and shown we are taking the right path," he said.

"I had come to Australia to get a gauge of where I am and to win both titles has been hugely rewarding."

Fouhy controlled the K1 500 final.

"I had a bit more go in my arms and I didn't concede too much to Baggley," he said.

New Zealand manager Alan Thompson was hugely impressed with Fouhy's performances."The Australians respect him and they know what he is capable of."

Thompson was happy with New Zealand's junior paddlers throughout the Australian championships.

Shaun O'Connor, of Gisborne, finished second in the K1 1000, and third in the 500 and 200. Aucklander Erin Taylor was third in the under-18 1000m race and won the under-20 500.

- NZPA