Canoeing: Ferguson dismisses criticism over son

1.00pm

New Zealand canoeing coach and Olympic legend Ian Ferguson has rejected criticism over son Steve's "go-slow" in the K1 500m and his selection policies for the Athens Olympics.

Owen Hughes, who finished 31st in the whitewater kayak event at the Atlanta Games and was in New Zealand's K4 crew who failed to qualify for Athens, launched a scathing attack against the Fergusons today.

Hughes, watching the event on television from his base on Queensland's Gold Coast, told the Manawatu Standard this morning he was furious the New Zealand team virtually defaulted a spot for which it had legitimately qualified.

"This is just not on. It's crazy, and it's what is going on in New Zealand kayaking," Hughes said.

"It's an embarrassment to us, to New Zealand sport in general and to kayaking."

He said he had seen a pathetic display of sportsmanship and called it "un-New Zealand".

Ferguson did not try in last night's race because he has a back injury and wanted to save himself for the next K2 1000m race with Ben Fouhy. Had Ferguson withdrawn from the K1 500m, he would have been disqualified from the regatta.

Hughes, the current New Zealand K1 500m champion, said his outrage was not to do with his non-selection.

But Ian Ferguson accused Hughes of being "bitter" he did not get selected for Athens.

"He wasn't good enough so I don't intend to make any comments on his points because it's just his imagination," Ferguson told Radio Sport.

Hughes, Ferguson, Fouhy and Dave Kennedy failed to qualify the K4 for Athens after finishing seventh at the European championships in Poland.

Ian Ferguson said Hughes' latest outburst was merely a case of sour grapes.

"You don't get selected so you make a whole pile of noise."

Ian Ferguson -- a four time Olympic gold medallist -- said they decided Steve would paddle slowly in his K1 500m heat because their best medal chance was in the K2 1000m.

"We've got a really good chance at the K2 1000. We're in the final and that's what we qualified for," he said.

"The officials told us to paddle down so he makes it through, so that was the easiest way of pulling out.

"Steven didn't enjoy it and felt really bad about it but that's the way it went.

"It was the smartest thing to do to try and get a medal. That's what it's all about."

Ian Ferguson also dismissed a suggestion the attack would distract them from Friday's final.

"We're going to race and do our best. For Owen back in Australia, who couldn't make the team, he can do what he likes."

Hughes said the whole time the New Zealand team were in Europe this year, Steven Ferguson had injuries to his shoulder, back and neck which caused him to pull out of races.

"It's just a shame it's come to this -- that he has to paddle so slow he gets last. You have to line up in races. We had a third spot there; why didn't we send somebody?

"Five other guys would have given their left arm to be in the race.

"He has a history of doing this in races. All the (New Zealand squad) guys share my point of view. They can't believe they gave a spot back."

Hughes said Ian Ferguson should have stood down from selections because he had a conflict of interest, with his son in the squad.

"How can he not have a biased view?

"Steve is an outstanding paddler, but it was not uncommon for me to beat him. That was one of the major reasons Ian didn't want anyone to race off against Steve.

"He didn't want someone taking the limelight off his son."

- NZPA