New Zealand’s Garth Spencer secured two silvers at the 2026 Canoe Marathon Masters World Championships in Argentina this week, in the K1 and K2 events including a dramatic K1 finish decided by just 2.29 seconds.
Spencer’s men’s 50–54 K1 race featured a 41-strong starting group on a swollen river, with technical challenges adding to the excitement.
“The swollen river that made for some exciting age-group racing and I managed to hang on to the lead before being ‘burgled’ in the final seconds by my old rival Tomas Jezek,” Spencer explained.
Ježek, who also defeated Spencer in Croatia last year, won in 1:27:38.26, with the New Zealander finishing just 2.29 seconds behind in 1:27:40.55.
Spencer’s K1 silver was particularly meaningful because South Africa’s Graeme Solomon, an old school friend, finished third in 1:28:00.52.
“Was a pretty special feeling to stand on the podium with Graeme who has had a serious health scare in 2024,” Spencer said.
“He is an absolute legend from back home and this was a highlight for me. It’s the reconnection with old friends that make these so special.”
The pair then joined forces in the men’s 50–54 K2 competition finishing second in 1:22:47.14, just 9.96 seconds behind winners Vadim Lawrence and Tomáš Ježek.
Liam Lace finished 15th in the Senior Men’s long course marathon world championship race, returning to the canoe marathon discipline after 3 years away. In the short course racing, Liam placed 14th in his heat.
Unfortunately illness prevented Liam and Garth from racing in the Senior Men’s K2 marathon as planned.
The pair will return home just in time for the 2026 New Zealand Canoe Marathon National Championships in Auckland. Garth hopes more New Zealand paddlers will consider marathon paddling and future world championships, believing international canoe marathon racing is less daunting than familiar domestic events such as King and Queen of the Harbour or the Waimak Classic.
Well done to Garth and Liam for representing Aotearoa New Zealand proudly on the world stage.
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