Double Olympian Jones was too strong in the women's K1 division, posting an 8sec winning margin over top Dutch extreme paddler Martina Wegman. Jones' 107.54sec time included just one 2sec time penalty for touching a gate, illustrating the work she has been doing with new full-time coach Campbell Walsh. Wegman finished in 115.66, with Cook Islands Olympian Ella Nicholas third in 118..63.
Gibb, meanwhile, had a great battle with Czech paddler Jan Havlicek in the men's C1 (canoe) division, finishing just 0.18secs behind. Gibb had the fastest raw time - a 104.24sec effort - but a single touch dropped him behind Havlicek, who finished in 106.06.
Poland's Grzegorz Polaczyk headed a strong international field in the men's K1, clocking 96.77 to edge Great Britain's Joe Morley (97.47) and French paddler Antoine Launay (100.51). Tauranga teenager Callum Gilbert was the fastest Kiwi, finishing fourth in 113.56, although London Olympian Mike Dawson had the fastest raw time - an impressive 94.34 - but missed a gate and copped a 50sec time penalty which dropped him back to eighth.
Czech Republic's former world champion Katerina Hoscova showed her class in the women's C1, holding off countrywoman Anna Kasparova, with Kiwi Haylee Dangen third.
Results from the New Zealand Open canoe slalom championships from the Mangahao Whitewater Centre near Palmerston North over the weekend:
Men: C1 (canoe): Jan Havlicek (Czech) 106.06sec 1, Ben Gibb (NZ) 106.24 2, Patrick Washer (NZ) 109.11 3, Callum Gilbert (NZ) 113.56 4, Tommy McDowell (NZ) 117.10 5.
K1 (kayak): Grzegorz Polaczyk (Poland) 96.77 1, Joe Morley (Great Britain) 97.47 2, Antoine Launay (France) 100.51 4, Callum Gilbert (NZ) 101.34 4, Alex Hawthorne (NZ) 107.80 5.
Women: C1: Katerina Hoskova (Czech) 122.39 1, Anna Kasparova (Czech) 139.34 2, Haylee Dangen (NZ) 166.91 3, Jane Nicholas (NZ) 193.64 4, Kelly Travers (NZ) 206.41 5.
K1: Luuka Jones (NZ) 107.54 1, Martina Wegman (Netherlands) 115..66 2, Ella Nicholas (Cook Islands) 118.61 3, Jane Nicholas (NZ) 121.19 4, Haylee Dangen (NZ) 128.10 5.
Last Modified on 14/01/2014 10:21