CANOE/KAYAK - SLALOM: The 2013 canoe slalom Oceania Championships have come to a conclusion on the mighty Mangahao River in New Zealand on Sunday following two days of action packed whitewater paddling.

Australia dominated the event winning three gold medals thanks to some dominant paddling from NSWIS pair Jessica Fox and Lucien Delfour.

Fresh off the back of her silver medal display at the London Olympics last year, Fox proved a class above completing the double with victories in the women’s C1 and K1 finals.

After topping the timesheet following the qualification runs on Saturday, Fox set a blistering time of 102.85 to win the women’s K1 gold ahead of fellow NSWIS paddler Ros Lawrence and local favourite Luuka Jones. Top Czech junior Karolina Galuskova and Victorian Sarah Grant rounded out the top five.

The youngest Fox, Noemie joined big sister Jessica on the podium in the women’s C1 final after a clean sweep for the Australians with Old Bonalbo’s Ros Lawrence slotting in between the sisters on the time sheet.

Lucien Delfour upstaged former German World Champion Fabian Doerfler to claim victory in the men’s K1 final. Delfour was the only man to break the 90 second mark, powering his way down the course producing a clean fast time of 89.05, two seconds clear of Doerfler with Kiwi Aaron Osborne rounding off the podium.

The men’s C1 concluded the weekend’s racing in New Zealand with Frenchman Thibaud Vielliard edging Western Australian Robin Jeffery by 0.14 seconds to claim the victory, with NSWIS canoeist Ian Borrows finishing in third.

Australian Canoeing