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Oceania Canoe Sprint Championships, Australia MK1 1000 New Zealand entered three men in the MK1 1000m with four of the others concentrating on K2 events. Ben Fouhy stormed home in his heat winning by a clear margin and progressing direct to the final while the others moved through the semi finals. Steven Armstrong in his first New Zealand team regatta finished 2nd in the B final while Jasper Bats finished an impressive 4th in the A final. Fouhy, 32 secured New Zealand's Olympic berth by winning his heat by 7 seconds. Fouhy was 3rd in the final - and then disqualified for a technical infringement - but neither setback has a bearing on his selection in the individual event. K2 1000 Ben Fouhy and Fred Teear had some unexpected success in the final K2 1000 selection trial for London 2012 finishing 2nd behind Australians Ken Wallace and Murray Stewart. Steve Ferguson and Darryl Fitzgerald were seventh almost 12 seconds behind Fouhy and Teear, who were chased home by the third New Zealand combination of Troy Burbidge and Liam O'Loughlin. This was the third trial following races on the Blue Lake in Rotorua and last month's national championships - the score between the pairs was one win apiece but more success for Fouhy and Teear does not resolve the issue because Ferguson and Fitzgerald are considered the more experienced combination. The three-man selection panel of Steven Richards, John MacDonald and Terry Newlands have until June to submit their team to the New Zealand Olympic Committee for rubberstamping. CRNZ head coach Gordon Walker also has input in the decision making process. Women In the women's programme Lisa Carrington and Erin Taylor combined to win the K2 500 final as their preparations for London intensified. Carrington, the K1 200 world champion, pipped Alana Nicholls in her specialist event though her Australian rival squared their ledger in the K1 500. Teneale Hatton secured New Zealand Olympic qualification in the K1 500 by winning her heat but was no certainty to go to London. Hatton was fifth at the New Zealand championships; Marianne Archer and Rachael Dodwell are among others eyeing the Olympic berth.
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