CANOE/KAYAK - SLALOM: Rosalyn Lawrence has won gold in in the C1W final at the third ICF canoe slalom World Cup in Prague.

It was Lawrence’s fourth C1 World Cup triumph of her career, her first since she won in 2012 at Cardiff and she was clearly delighted to be back on top.

“It has been two years so finally I have broken the drought,” Lawrence said.

The 25 year old bounced back after a disappointing opening day which saw her eliminated from the K1W competition in 43rd.

“I was pretty determined to do something better than in my K1 and it worked out reasonably well,” Lawrence said.

All the C1 women struggled across the semifinal and final today with not one paddler able to execute a clean run down the 22 gate course.

“It is a pretty difficult course, there are a lot of touches and a few 50s being given out. I struggled a bit under the bridge but I tried to keep it on track and it went reasonably well,” Lawrence said.

Despite losing some time on the lower section of the course Lawrence was pleased with her run in the final.

“I thought it was pretty good until the bottom half where I had a couple of difficulties but I was hoping I could hold it together and to be on the podium.”

Lawrence did exactly that, winning the final in a commanding time of 117.19 to finish more than seven seconds ahead of local favourite Katerina Hoskova of the Czech Republic.

Nanqin Cen of China edged German semifinal winner Lena Stoecklin for the bronze.

Tacen World Cup winner Jessica Fox finished eighth. Fox produced the quickest raw time in the final but was adjudged to have missed gate eight and incurred a 50 second penalty which all but ended her golden run of form.

Lawrence is hoping her victory will kick start a winning streak.

“It is pretty exciting, hopefully it will be a bit of a confidence booster and I can keep doing it in the future.”

Lawrence will contest the fourth ICF canoe slalom World Cup from 1-3 August in La Seu d’Urgell, Spain.

Final day update

The third ICF canoe slalom World Cup in Prague has come to a close following three days of racing on one of the world’s toughest courses.

Just two Australians featured on the final day with Jessica Fox and Sarah Grant contesting the K1W event.

Fox was the best performed of the two finishing fifth in the final behind German Ricarda Funk who won her maiden World Cup gold medal.

Funk spoiled the Czech party, winning the final in 99.38, 0.42 seconds ahead of local favourite Katerina Kudejova.

Six-time Olympian Stepanka Hilgertova continues to amaze winning the bronze medal in 103.20 which included a gate touch.

Fox missed out on a medal by just 0.75 seconds with a two second penalty for a touch on 17 ending her chance of a second K1 medal of the series.

Only Funk and Kudejova produced clean runs in the final.

Fox found it a ‘challenging course’.

“I had two costly mistakes that put me out of the medals,” Fox said.

“It is a solid result but I think there were really good parts to that run and unfortunately a penalty knocked me down the ranks.”

“I am learning from these and I am looking forward to racing in La Seu and then the World Championships.”

Grant finished 17th in the semifinal. The Melbourne canoe club paddler appeared to be on a good run before coming unstuck on the lower section with consecutive touches at 17, 18 and 19 ending her chances of advancing to the final.

The fourth ICF canoe slalom World Cup will be held in La Seu d’Urgell, Spain from the 1-3 August.

Australian Canoeing