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Spanish town Arcos de la Frontera in the province of Cadiz was the European Canoe Polo capital this weekend as the 2023 ECA Canoe Polo Clubs European Championships was celebrated here over two tournament days.

 

In women’s final the match started explosively. The French Canoe Club Avranches took the early 1-0 lead in their match against German club PSC Coburg. French managed to score in the first attack of the match, just 20 seconds into the game when Clotilde Le Masle scored a goal. This proved to be the winning goal for the tournament win and Clubs European Champion title. In the remaining of the match both teams tried to score goals, but all attempts failed, so the early goal brought gold medal to French ladies.

 

Avranches were second last year at the 2022 ECA Canoe Polo Clubs European Championships and now they took the highest podium position, while Germans had to settle with second place and silver medals.

 

In a bronze medal match ACC Hamburg (GER) beat Asociacion Deportiva Pinatarense (GER) 4-2. Spanish team was better in the first part of the match leading 2-1 thanks to the goals of Beatriz Carmone Quevedo and Sonia Martinez Garcia, while Caroline Sinsel scored for ACC Hamburg. The Germans showed better play in the second halve, turning the match in their favour after Nina Luginbuhl scored twice and Nina Hachenburg once.

 

Acigne (FRA) finished fifth in the tournament after 6-3 win against Neptun (DEN), and KV Keistad (NED) beat the defending champions Polisportiva Canottieri Catania ASD (ITA) with a final score 6-5 for seventh place. Thurgauer Wildwasser Fahrerrinen (SUI), Kingston Ladies (GBR), Wildwater Kayak Club (IRL) and Club Alaquas Kayak Polo (ESP) occupied 9^th – 12^th place.

 

In the men’s tournament, new champion was crowned, too. The defending champions ASD Pro Scogli Chiavari (ITA) finished fifth, and it was German club MKC Duisburg who took the glory in the last match of the tournament.

 

MKC Duisburg took an early lead, two minutes into the final game with British club FOA Liverpool, when Marco Hoppstock successfully concluded the German attack. This was the only goal of the first halve. The most exciting part of the match started less than three minutes before the end of the game time. Two minutes and 45 seconds before the end of the match, Erik Beukenbush brought Germans 2-0 lead.

 

Less than 40 seconds after the second German goal, Santanam McCutcheon brought FOA Liverpool back into the game, for the result 1-2. A minute and 23 seconds before the end time MKC Duisburg scored again for a 3-1 lead, but they were not tranquil for very long. Already in the next attack Andreas Iversen scored second goal for FOA Liverpool less than ten seconds after German third goal of the match. However, the Germans managed to defend their tight 3-2 lead until the end of the match and celebrated Clubs European Champion title.

 

KSVH Berlin (GER) finished third in the tournament and repeated their last year’s result. This time they beat Montpellier Mediteranne Metropole UC – CK (ITA) 4-2. The defending champions ASD Pro Scogli Chiavari (ITA) were fifth after their 6-2 win against Retiro (ESP).

 

Avranches (FRA) outplayed TKC Turnhout (BEL) for a seventh place (9-2), Kajakklubben Neptun (DEN) was ninth after their 4-3 win in a match with Canoa Club Napoli (ITA), Ulster Canoe Polo Club (IRL) was 11^th beating 7-5 Viking Venlo club (NED), Real Club Nautico Rodeira (ESP) was 13^th winning in a match with Kanupolo Zurich (SUI) 4-1, Polisportiva Canottieri Catania ASD (ITA) was 15^th, winning 4-2 in a match with Thurgauer Wildwasserfahrer (SUI), Belgian club Ieper won their match for 17^th place with CKB Oeiras (POR) 5-0, AKV Odysseus (NED) was 19^th after their 5-2 win against Kingston Kayak Club (GBR), Clube Fluvial de Coimbra (POR) finished the tournament in 21^st place after their 8-6 win in a match with Annalong Canoe&Kayak Club from Ireland.