Twenty five year old Hartely bagged another two bronze medals this passed weekend (22-24 May), this time in the K1 1000m and the K1 5000m races.

Hartley won her K1 1000m heat and semi-final, securing her lane five for Sunday morning’s A-Final. Although racing to her fastest time of the weekend, she was narrowly beaten by Great Britain’s Rachel Cawthorn and Denmark’s Henriette Engel-Hansen. But the bronze medal confirms Hartley’s position as one of the world’s top 1000m women paddlers, and must make Poland a favourite venue for her, following a K1 1000m gold at last year’s Poland World Cup.

In the Olympic distance K1 500m semi-final, Hartley took second place to again make it through to the A-Final, but had to settle for seventh place.

The 5000m races on Sunday were a welcome addition to the regatta, and are not usually included in the weekend racing. Hartley was able to stay within striking distance of the front women paddlers, but was unable to draw on her usually strong reserves for the final sprint and ended in third to win bronze.

Women K1 500m

1. Katrin Wagner-Augustin (GER) 1:54.444

2. Rachel Cawthorn (GBR) 1:55.652

3. Ana Roxana Lehaci (AUT) 1:55.732

7. Bridgitte Hartley (SA) 1:57.260

Women K1 1000m

1. Rachel Cawthorn (GBR) 3:55.570

2. Henriette Engel-Hansen (DEN) 3:56.222

3. Bridgitte Hartley (SA) 3:38.526

Women K1 5000m

1. Lani Belcher (GBR) 20:38.16

2. Louisa Sawers (GBR) 20:39.45

3. Bridgitte Hartley (SA) 20:46.65