Top New Zealand white water slalom kayaker Mike Dawson made the most of his first run at the venue for next year's Olympics, qualifying for the semifinals at an invitation event at the Lee Valley course in London.

Mike Dawson.

Dawson, who hopes to qualify for the games at September's world championships, ended the first day in eighth spot with a 90.50sec time in his second run, comfortably inside the top-21 who went through.

He's just 1.95secs behind leader Danielle Momenti (Italy), the current world and Olympic champion, with current Olympic champion Alex Grimm (Germany) second 0.37secs behind and France's Fabien Lefevre third in 89.35secs.

The 24-year-old Tauranga paddler had the third-fastest time in his first run, but picked up two 2sec time penalties, dropping him back to 13^th, but his second run was clean.

'That was a pretty satisfying day, especially as I struggled with illness at the last World Cup in Germany and wasn't sure how I'd perform,” says Mike.

'The course is pretty brutal on the body, hard technically and physically demanding and it's definitely a good test.”

Kiwi C1 paddlers Ben Gibb and Shaun Higgins had tougher runs, with Higgins 32nd after his two runs, 25.75secs behind leader Stanislav Jezek (Czech Republic) and Gibb missing a gate and picking up a 50sec time penalty, dropping him to 35th.

Beijing Olympian Luuka Jones and Otaki's Louise Jull and Luuka Jones will try to qualify in women's K1 at the venue tonight.

Thirty nations are competing in the venue's first international competition and the event differs from the recent World Cups by emulating the Olympic programme, with 21 kayakers qualifying in men's and women's K1, 16 in men's C1 canoeing and 12 in men's C2 double canoeing.