GB's Dickson & Franklin win World Cup golds

Great Britain enjoyed its most successful day of kayak cross racing at a World Cup, with four medals in Ivrea, including golds for Mallory Franklin and Jonny Dickson.

Dickson won the men's event following a late charge at the Italian venue, while fellow GB canoeist Sam Leaver finished third and Britain's Olympic silver medallist Joe Clarke was fourth.

Franklin edged out team-mate Kimberley Woods, who claimed silver in the women's final, pushing Australia's Olympic champion Noemie Fox into third.

"It was a real battle with Kim [Woods] - I had to fight," said Franklin, 30, who was overall World Cup kayak cross champion in 2022.

"It is pretty tough [racing Woods] because I want her to do well as well, but to get ahead was really nice and to come away winning it is obviously amazing."

Woods, who also claimed canoe slalom (C1) silver on Saturday, moved top of the women's overall standings in kayak cross with one round of the World Cup series remaining.

Dickson looked to be out of contention in the men's final but capitalised after a coming together between GB team-mate Leaver and France's Gael Adisson, who ended up with silver.

"I think in that final I knew I had a pretty good chance because anything can happen - I went from third to first in the last gate," he said.