Lisa Carrington overcame top-class opposition at the Blue Lake 2 regatta and conditions she described as 'incredibly challenging” to triumph in the open women's K1 200m A Final at a windswept Lake Tikitapu yesterday.

The double Olympic champion competing in her first competition for ten months because of the global pandemic showed she has lost none of her sharpness to take victory by just under a second in the marquee event of the day.

Competing in rough water generated by fierce winds, Lisa made her trademark quick start and established early control of the race under pressure from national silver medallist Aimee Fisher from Hawkes Bay.

Despite the choppy conditions, the seven-time world K1 200m champion sliced through the water to record 37.89 to finish 0.91 clear of Aimee who also executed a fine paddle.

Three-time World Championship medallist Kayla Imrie also impressed to take third in 39.58 – 0.03 ahead of Caitlin Ryan from North Shore, the 2020 national bronze medallist in this event.

Lisa went on to complete a perfect day by going on to clinch a hat-trick of titles in Rotorua. Pairing up with Kayla Imrie, the duo completed a convincing win in the open women's K2 200m final. Stopping the clock in 35.29 the gold medal duo finished 1.07 clear of Aimee and Olivia Brett with Caitlin and former world K1 1000m champion Teneale Hatton in bronze (36.65).

Lisa banked a third gold medal in the K4 200m as part of a powerhouse quartet also comprising Caitlin, Teneale and Kayla in 33.48.

The four-time Halberg Sportswoman of the Year then concluded a successful day by earning a direct route through to the open women's K1 500m final by banking top spot in heat three (1:52.25). Kayla topped the qualifiers for tomorrow's final with a narrow 0.63 second victory in heat one from Teneale Hatton in 1:51.43.

'It was nice to be back competing again and feeling those competition nerves again,” says Lisa.

'The conditions were incredibly challenging. It is tough and you have to be very flexible in your approach.

'Today was just about making the most of my physicality, coping as best I could with the conditions and getting a good hit out. I've been training well over the past few months and it was nice to have been able to have trusted in that and been able to execute.”

King of speed Taris Harker backed up his open men's K1 200m victory at Blue Lake 1 with yet another impressive race win in Rotorua.

The powerhouse Karapiro Kayak Racing Club paddler edged a tight final from Ben Duffy from Arawa by just 0.11 seconds to once again prove the master over the 200m distance, recording 35.00.

Kurtis Imrie from Mana matched his sister, Kayla, as a senior open 200m bronze medallist today, crossing the line in 35.61 to round out the podium.

But once again Taris proved the master over the 200m distance.

'It was windy conditions today but training as I do at Lake Karapiro, these are not uncommon conditions,” says Taris.

'It wasn't the best start, but I had to quickly put that behind me and focus on what I needed to do. As I crossed the line I wasn't sure whether Duff [Ben Duffy] or I had got it. I was happy to hear I'd got it, but I know there is plenty of stuff I need to work on.”

Taris added his second gold medal of the day as the Karapiro Kayak Racing Club claimed an emphatic 1.50 victory in the open men's K4 200m final from Arawa.

Paddling alongside Ethan Moore, Liam Lace and Tim Waller the quartet were never headed and produced an eye-catching display.

In a highly competitive open men's K2 200m final, Kurtis and Ashton Reiser unleashed a fluid performance to grab gold by a 0.46 margin from Hamish Legarth and Ben Duffy in 31.21. Taris Harker picked up yet another medal with bronze alongside Ethan Moore (31.92).

In the concluding event of the day, the open men's K1 1000m heats, Max Brown, who had withdrawn from the earlier K1 200m event after a bout of food poisoning the previous day, impressed by topping the qualifiers for tomorrow's final.

The Wanganui paddler and 2019 World Championships K2 1000m representative stopped the clock in a swift 3:34.33 to finish 2.26 clear of national champion for the distance Zach Ferkins. Two-time K1 1000m World Championships representative Quaid Thompson from Poverty Bay also impressed winning in heat three in 3:37.17). Veteran Fred Teear from Arawa clinched top spot in heat two (3:38.51) to advance to Sunday's A final.

The day two action at the Blue Lake 2 regatta starts on Sunday at 7.45am. Highlights include the open men's K1 1000m A final at 9.37am and the open women's K1 500m A Final at 10.01am.

To follow all the live results go to www.liveresults.co.nz or download the Canoe Racing NZ app. Canoe Racing NZ will also offer daily updates via the website and regular updates through their social channels.