Spanish canoe sprint season kicked off with a traditional Spanish winter championships in Seville. Over 1000 athletes from more than 100 Spanish clubs took part in this competition on the Guadalquivir River. Familiar names from European Championships celebrated their first titles in 2019.
The competition weekend in the historic city of Seville was composed from 2000 metres time trials (top 70 athletes in time trials then advanced to the final) and Sunday’s 5000 metres finals with mass start. Athletes in senior, U23, junior and master categories as well as paracanoeists showed their form over two days.
Member of a Spanish national team, multiple Canoe Sprint European and World Championships medallist, Francisco Cubelos dominated the men’s K1 races on both competition days to celebrate the 5000 metres title in front of Ivan Alonso, canoe marathon European Championships medallist, and Javier Hernanz, last year’s bronze medallist at World championships in the 5000 metres event.
In men’s canoe event Manuel Antonio Campos, reigning European Champion in canoe marathon, crossed the finish line in first place. Diego Romero was second and Manuel Garrido third. The title in women’s K1 went to Eva Barrios, canoe sprint and canoe marathon European Championships medallist of previous seasons. Laura Pedruelo picked up silver medal and Miriam Vega bronze medal. The winner of senior women’s C1 event was Maria Corbera. Patricia Coco and Jenifer Casal joined her on the winner’s podium.
The titles in U23 category went to Iago Monteagudo (K1M), David Barreiro (C1M), Estefania Fernandez (K1W) and Ana Barea (C1W). The fastest paddlers in junior events were Carolina Gonzalez (C1W), Lucia Zamora del Rio (K1W), Alberto Llera (K1M) and Manuel Fontan (C1M).
Javier Reja Munoz (KL2M), Juan Antonio Valle (KL3M), Ines Felipe Vidigal (KL3W), Ramon Fernandez (KS1 special) and ElenaAyuso Ledesma (K1 special) were winners in the paracanoeing part of the Spanish Winter Championships.
19.3.2019
