New Zealanders were among the first to try out the white water kayaking venue which will be used during the Olympics next year. Luuka Jones and Louise Jull competed against athletes from 30 other countries that were invited to this test event at the Lee Valley White Water Centre as part of the London Prepares series. Jull was the first of the Kiwis to take on the demanding course and learnt a few lessons on her first run to improve for her second but unfortunately got caught in a powerful flow near gate six which kept her out of the running to make a final. Jones performed well in the top section on her first run but a 50 second penalty for missing a gate let her down and although she improved on her second run she also lucked out on making it to finals. In the K1 mens event New Zealander Mike Dawson qualified eighth to be able to participate in the finals where organisers tricked out the course even more too really put the athletes and the venue to the test. The 175 elite athletes including the three New Zealanders were part of a successful trial of the Lee Valley venue with organisers pleased at the overall results from the weekend. The venue was being tested for conditions of the water, the timing and how the scoring system would work. Dave Currie, New Zealand Olympic Team Chef de Mission will attend a number of test events designed to check venue functionality and give high performance teams an invaluable look at how systems and processes will work at the Olympic Games next year. Currie will join New Zealand athletes and support teams in August at the Junior World Rowing Championships on the Olympic course at Eton Dorney, the ITU World Series Triathlon test event in Hyde Park as well as the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta 2011.
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