World Cup Kayak Cross: Great Britain’s Joe Clark wins gold

Great Britain’s Joe Clarke won his first World Cup gold medal of the season by claiming victory in the kayak cross final in Germany.

The 33-year-old benefited from the misfortune of compatriot Ben Haylett, who crossed the line ahead of the pack in his first World Cup final, but was penalized for a fault and dropped to fourth.

“It was hard earned, there was a lot of scraping,” said Clark, whose success moved him to second in the overall World Cup Kayak Cross standings – one point behind the leader, teenager Ziga Lin Hocevar of Slovenia.

He claimed his first World Cup medal in Augsburg 12 years ago and won the second of his four kayak cross world titles at the same venue in 2022.

Clarke added: “It wasn’t the usual style I go for to win, ‘flying off the blocks and staying in front’, but to be on the start line with Ben was special.

“I’m hungry for more in Oklahoma (at the world championships). I know everyone will raise their level, so the next few weeks are about refining our processes and hopefully the results will take care of themselves.”

Fellow Briton Adam Burgess won a silver medal in the men’s canoe slalom in Augsburg, beaten by Italian Raffaello Ivaldi by just 0.07 seconds.