News

The international canoe slalom season 2017 kicked off in New Zealand. Many European paddlers who are now in the Southern Hemisphere for their winter training camps took an opportunity and competed in the first major international canoe slalom event of the year 2017 – Oceania Championships, which was organised in Auckland.

European paddlers did great in the finals of the Oceania Championships, picking up five medals. Briton Ryan Westley produced an excellent run in men’s C1 final, which ensured him a win ahead of Olympic medallist Matej Benuš (SVK) and Frenchman Martin Thomas. Two more French representatives finished the race in the top 10 – Pierre-Antoine Tillard was fourth and Edern Le Ruyet seventh.

Their compatriot Nouria Newman (FRA) picked up a silver medal in women’s K1 final, finishing the race in-between two Australian paddlers Jessica Fox and Kate Eckhardt. Camille Prigent (FRA) finished fourth, Jasmin Schornberg (GER) fifth, Veronika Vojtova (CZE) sixth and Amber Maslen (GBR) eighth.

Olympic Champion from Rio Joe Clarke (GBR) crossed the finish line with the second time of the men’s K1 final. Michal Smolen (USA) was the fastest with the time 86.17, while Clarke was 1,83 seconds behind him. Lucien Delfour (AUS) was third. Three more European kayakers paddled in the final. Mathieu Biazizzo (FRA) was fifth, Martin Dougoud (SUI) seventh and Quentin Burgi (FRA) ninth.

Australian paddlers Jessica Fox, Rosalyn Lawrence and Kate Eckhardt took all three medals in women’s C1 final. The best European paddler in the final was Sona Stanovska from Slovakia who finished fifth. Claire Jacquet (FRA) was tenth.

RESULTS - FINAL
C1M
1. Ryan Westley GBR
2. Matej Benuš SVK
3. Martin Thomas FRA
K1W
1. Jessica Fox AUS
2. Nouria Newman FRA
3. Kate Eckhardt AUS
C1W
1. Jessica Fox AUS
2. Rosalyn Lawrence AUS
3. Kate Eckhardt AUS
K1M
1. Michal Smolen USA
2. Joe Clarke GBR
3. Lucien Delfour AUS

Full results: http://siwihome.azurewebsites.net/canoe123/live?SessionKey=csnz.20170127