Britain's world-leading paracanoe team went head-to-head at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham as day one of Paralympic selection brought nail-biting finishes.
The ten Brits in action had to battle strong headwinds as they took on two rounds of racing, with a third race available if they couldn't be split between the first two.
Tokyo bronze medallist Rob Oliver put himself in a strong position for the Paralympics after winning both races of the men's KL3.
It was too close to call, as 0.18 seconds separated him and 2023 World silver medallist Jonny Young in the first of two thrilling contests.
The duo returned two hours later, with Oliver taking his second win of the day 0.5 seconds ahead of Young.
Oliver said:
“I'm over the moon with my racing today. I wasn't too nervous this morning. I was nervous all week until today, but I got myself into a headspace where I was paddling a boat really fast and just having good fun.
“Upwards now from here. I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of the summer brings.”
Jon Tarrant (Royal Leamington Spa) also battled hard as he finished third on both occasions, only a second behind the leading pair
Tokyo Paralympic Champion Charlotte Henshaw engaged in two great battles against three-time Paralympic medallist Emma Wiggs MBE in the women's KL2 event.
Pushing each other all the way, it was Henshaw who secured race wins on both accounts to put herself in strong contention for Paralympic selection, with less than a second separating the pair during race two.
Delighted with her racing, Henshaw said:
“I'm really happy with those races. I knew it was going to be tough as it always is against Emma.
“We saw the conditions and we knew it was going to be a slog, but that's the sport. The big thing was to put myself in contention for the Games team and I've done that.
“I'm looking forward to racing the VL3 tomorrow. We showed at the World Championships how tight that event is and it will be a good test again against Hope tomorrow.”
Wiggs will now turn her attention to the women's VL2 tomorrow morning, the event she won the World title in just three weeks ago.
Henshaw will also race VL3W selection, with the event making its Paralympic debut in Paris this summer.
Winning gold and silver respectively at the World Championships in Szeged three weeks ago, Laura Sugar and Hope Gordon were in women's KL3 action.
It was Sugar who got both race wins, with 0.8 second between the duo on the first occasion, before an incredible battle in race two meant they could hardly be separated, as 0.09 was the difference.
Sugar said:
“I'm really happy to get that job done. Games selection is always tough and Great Britain is always a tough squad to get in.
“It was nice to get some good races in as I haven't raced the 200m since the World Championships. It was great to have lots of support cheering us all the way too.
“We race the best in the world day in day out in training. We will have a really strong team going to Paris so an exciting summer ahead.”
A world silver medallist in the event, Gordon will now refocus for the women's VL3 rounds tomorrow as she lines up against teammate Henshaw.
In the final event of the day, Jack Eyers too has put himself in good contention to represent ParalympicsGB for the first time as he won both men's VL3 races.
Going head-to-head with Tokyo bronze medallist Stuart Wood, Eyers powered through the strong headwinds on the first occasion to take the win 0.9 seconds ahead of Wood.
Eyers then went on to better his time in race two, posting 52.96 to win both rounds.
“It's been a tough start to the season. I broke my boat at the World Championships in the B Final which isn't the way I wanted to set up momentum into this selection race.
“But I felt really ready this morning. The conditions were tough and challenging but I'm extremely happy with how I've performed.
“This time of year is when I start to peak and get into my zone. I've had to work really hard to win these races.”
Aiming to go to her eighth Paralympic Games, Jeanette Chippington OBE put in two strong runs in the women's KL1.
Putting down a 1:05.40, Chippington came back two hours later to knock two seconds off her time in 1:03.64.
She said:
“I'm feeling really good after that. The second run was much better for me. The wind changed and I was able to get a better run and dig in deeper so all was really good for me.
“I've had to put in a lot of work this winter. It still feels as if I'm trying to get to my first Paralympic Games. It's as exciting as ever and I'm extremely proud that this would be my eighth Games if I can earn selection.”
She will now race against Emma Wiggs tomorrow in the women's VL2.
A full list of results and times from today can be found here