Dougal Allan praises coach Gordon Walker for Coast to Coast longest day win BRENDON EGAN1 NEWSAllan picked up his maiden title after finishing runner-up three times in the race from Kumara to New Brighton. Walker, a three-time Coast to Coast men's longest day champion and the coach of two-time canoeing Olympic gold medallist Lisa Carrington, was pivotal in Dougal Allan's drought-breaking triumph. After so many near misses, Allan enlisted Walker to be his coach, and repaid his mentor with an overdue longest day title. "In his last race at the finish line, [Walker] said, 'Dougal Allan has got what it takes and he'll win this race one day'," Allan said on Saturday. Allan labelled the longest day victory a career highlight and confirmed he'd love to return in 2020 to defend his title.

Source: Stuff February 10, 2019 02:42 UTC