Second day of the 2019 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships in Pau, France, brought the first medallists. In the afternoon the team events brought much joy to France, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Great Britain.
The first team race of the day was men's canoe event where one of the main contenders for the medal, team of Slovenia, celebrated European Champion title in a tight and exciting race. Benjamin Savšek, Anže Berčič and Luka Božič were only 0.16 seconds faster than second placed French team with Denis Gargaud Chanut, Martin Thomas and Cedric Joly. Russian paddlers Dmitrii Khramtsov, Kirill Setkin and Pavel Kotov were third. To much surprise Slovak team with legend Michal Martikan, 2016 Rio Olympic medallist Matej Benuš and Marko Mirgorodsky finished the race just outside the medals in fourth place.
The host nation listened to national anthem in women's kayak final. French kayakers Marie-Zelia Lafont, Lucie Baudu and Camille Prigent produced the best run to win the gold medal in front of a home crowd. German representatives Ricarda Funk, Jasmin Schornberg and Elena Apel were second, while Austrians Corinna Kuhnle, Viktoria Wolffhardt and Nina Weratschnig picked up bronze medal.
The next team race was men's kayak event. Czech stars Jiri Prskavec, Vit Prindiš and Vavrinec Hradilek jumped to the highest podium position. They were more than four seconds faster than Slovenian kayakers Peter Kauzer, Niko Testen and Martin Srabotnik who were second. German team with Hannes Aigner, Sebastian Schubert and Stefan Hengst was third.
In the last team race of the championships British paddlers Mallory Franklin, Kimberley Woods and Sophie Ogilvie won gold medal in women's canoe event. They were 0.29 seconds faster than second placed German team with Elena Apel, Jasmin Schornberg and Andrea Herzog, while Czech paddlers Tereza Fišerova, Eva Rihova and Katerina Havličkova won bronze medal. "I am just happy we managed to keep it together as a team. I got some penalties I was worried about. I am really happy," said Kimberely Woods after the race.
In the morning part of the championships heats in the two remaining categories were held. Kimberley Woods (GBR), Nuria Vilarrubla (ESP) and Andrea Herzog (GER) were the fastest in women's canoe heats, while Joseph Clarke (GBR), Jiri Prskavec (CZE) and Felix Oschmautz (AUT) produced the best times in men's kayak heats.
On Saturday the 2019 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships will continue with semi-finals and finals in women's kayak and men's canoe events.
Results: http://siwidata.com/canoelive/#/live/eca/1191
31.5.2019
