News

Heats for junior and U23 paddlers in kayak events opened the 2024 ECA Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom European Championships which takes place this week in Krakow. In the first event of the day - men's U23 kayak heats - Anatole Delassus produced the fastest time of the day and will start as last in semifinal. French kayaker picked up two penalty seconds on his way, but was still fast enough for the first position after the first stage of the race. Czech paddler Jakub Krejci was 0.71 seconds behind to finish second, while Manel Contreras from Spain finished third in heats. He was 1.84 seconds behind Delassus.

 

In women's kayak U23 heats German representative Paulina Pirro also picked up two penalty seconds on her way, but was so fast none of her opponents managed to beat her today. Pirro who had a lot of success at Junior championships, now continues successfully also in the U23 age group. Italian Agata Spagnol had a clean run and finished second, 0.43 seconds behind Pirro, while Czech Lucie Nesnidalova, the defending champion from last year, finished third in Thursday's heats (+0.88).

 

The best two junior paddlers of last seasons, Ziga Lin Hocevar (SLO) and Martin Cornu (FRA) were first and second respectively in men's junior kayak heats. Young competitors were 0.24 seconds apart and we can expect another tough fight on Saturday, when semifinal and final runs are on the programme. Third place in heats was occupied by Czech kayaker Jachym Burger (+0.34).

 

In the last individual heats of the day - women's junior kayak heats - British paddler Zoe Blythe Shields produced the fastest and penalty free run to take the win of the day (110.75). Second and third place of the day went to Czechia with Bara Galuskova (+1.73) and Marketa Hojdova (+1.83).

 

 

 

 

On Friday, we will follow canoe heats in Junior and U23 age groups, canoe team events and kayak cross individual race.