ECA Wildwater Canoeing European Cup season 2017 concluded with the last two races that were held in Česke Budejovice and Roudnice in Czech Republic. Paddlers from Czech Republic, France, Croatia, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, United States of America and Ireland took part in the events held this August.
The first two races of this year’s event series were organised in Skopje (MKD) and Banja Luka (BIH) while the last two attracted paddlers to Czech Republic. It was Czech team that had the most success in the two Wildwater Sprint Canoeing races. Ondrej Rolenc won both in Česke Budejovice and Roudnice. At the third ECA Cup of the year and the first in his home country Rolenc finished the race ahead of his compatriots Vaclav Kristek and Vladimir Slanina. In the second race of the week Rolenc, 2017 European Champion, beat Antonin Haleš in a very tight final only for 0.26 seconds and Vladimir Slanina was 0.35 seconds behind in third place (all CZE).
Klara Padourova (CZE) also celebrated a double win in the two ECA Wildwater Sprint Cups in women’s kayak final. In Česke Budejovice Barbora Dimovova picked up silver medal and Anežka Paloudova bronze, while in Roudnice Martina Satkova finished second ahead of her younger sister Gabriela Satkova (all CZE).
Simon Oven (SLO) produced the fastest final time in men’s kayak in Česke Budejovice. He was 0.35 seconds faster than Richard Hala (CZE) and another Slovenian Tim Novak finished the event in third place. Hala had more success in Roudnice. After second place in the first event he moved on to cross the finish line with the best time in a town close to Račice, which hosted Canoe Sprint World Championships in the same week. Anže Urankar was second with 0.27 seconds slower time, and Tim Novak third (both SLO).
Czech team also picked up gold medal in C1W events both in Budejovice and Roudnice. It was Anežka Paloudova who finished the race in front of Radka Valikova (both CZE) and Elsa Gaubert (FRA) in Česke Budejovice and Gabriela Satkova celebrated a win in Roudnice. Gaubert and Valikova joined her on the podium but switched places this time, so Gaubert was second and Valikova third.
Marek Rygel – Petr Vesely, Antonin Haleš – Martin Novak and Daniel Suchanek – Jan Jilek (all CZE) finished in the podium positions in men’s C2 final of the event in Česke Budejovice. In Roudnice Czech crews had to congratulate Croation duo Luka Obadić – Ivan Tolić on their win. Marek Rygel – Petr Vesely were second and Antonin Haleš – Martin Novak (both CZE) third.
In the overall standings of the 2017 ECA Wildwater canoeing European Cup Slovenia and Croatia celebrated a triple win. Slovenian paddlers Simon Oven and Anže Urankar shared first place in men’s K1 event with a total of 275 points and their team mate Tim Novak finished the season in third place with 267 points. In men’s canoe Luka Obadić won the series with a total of 134 points, Antonio Obadić was second with 120 points and Ivan Tolić finished third with 118 points (all CRO). In women’s K1 Klara Padourova (CZE) won in front of Sara Seprenyi (HUN) and Lisa Maenpaa (FIN). Alba Zoe Gržin (CRO), Olja Lazarević (SRB) and Radka Valikova (CZE) collected the most points in women’s canoe event. Luka Obadić and Ivan Tolić (CRO) celebrated a win in men’s C2 in front of their team mates Antonio Obadić and Jadran Zonjić, while Czech crew Marek Rygel – Petr Vesely finished in third place. In women’s C2 two crews collected 100 points: Milica Kostov and Kristina Petrović (SRB) as well as Marion Loheac and Charlotte Soucheyre (FRA). Marija Mičić and Olga Babić (BIH) were third.
OVERALL STANDINGS OF THE 2017 ECA WILDWATER CANOEING EUROPEAN CUP SERIES
K1M
1. Anže Urankar SLO 275 points
1. Simon Oven SLO 275 points
3. Tim Novak SLO 267 points
C1M
1. Luka Obadić CRO 134 points
2. Antonio Obadić CRO 120 points
3. Ivan Tolić CRO 118 points
K1W
1. Klara Padourova CZE 100 points
2. Sara Seprenyi HUN 93 points
3. Lisa Maenpaa FIN 89 points
C1W
1. Alba Zoe Gržin CRO 139 points
2. Olja Lazarević SRB 109 points
3. Radka Valikova CZE 89 points
C2M
1. Luka Obadić – Ivan Tolić CRO 150 points
2. Antonio Obadić – Jadran Zonjić CRO 120 points
3. Marek Rygel - Petr Vesely CZE 96 points
C2W
1. Marion Loheac – Charoltte Soucheyre FRA 100 points
1. Milica Kostov – Kristina Petrović SRV 100 points
3. Marija Mičić – Olga Babić BIH 46 points
FULL ECA Wildwater Canoeing European Cup 2017 standings.
Photo: kanoe.cz
30.8.2017
