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The picturesque Matka Canyon welcomes the best European wildwater canoeing paddlers this week in the 14th edition of the ECA Wildwater Canoeing Senior European Championships. France usually dominated in sprint events, but this year they made a big impression already on the opening day when individual classic races were on the programme.

 

Theo Viens (FRA) recorded the best time in men's canoe classic event with 10:38.42 and won the European Champion title. Viens was more than four seconds faster than his teammate Charles Ferrion who picked up silver medal. Experienced German canoeist Normen Weber was third this time, following the silver in this event two years ago at the European Championships in Sabero.

 

Maxence Barouh (FRA) managed to defend his European Champion title from the season 2021 and European Championships in Spain. It was a close race this time, Barouh crossed the finish line 3.75 seconds ahead of Simon Oven, Slovenian kayaker, who was the 2019 men's K1 classic European Champion and World Champion in 2018. Bronze medal went to France as well, thanks to Quentin Bonnetain, the reigning World Champion in men's classic event. Barouh was second in classic at last year's World Championships in Treignac.  

 

Viens had a really good day today on the Treska River. In addition to his C1 gold medal, he paddled to the top position in men's C2 event together with Nicolas Sauteur. French duo was a little less than three seconds faster than their teammates Manoel and Tanguy Roussin, while bronze medal went to Germany with Normen Weber, who also won second medal of the day, and Tim Heilinger.

 

Laurane Sinnesael from Belgium was the best in women's classic event, finishing the course 1.82 seconds ahead of German Sophia Schmidt and 2.30 seconds ahead of Lise Vinet from France, who was third. This is the biggest success in senior category for the 25-year-old Laurane Sinnesael so far. She was fifth in the 2021 edition of the European Championships in women's kayak classic event.

 

Italian Cecilia Panato was the hot favourite for the gold medal in women's canoe classic event and she did not disappoint. Daughter of legendary Vladi Panato, multiple Wildwater Canoeing World Champion, won in women's C1 event with almost five seconds advantage ahead of second placed Laura Fontaine from France, while her sister Alice Panato picked up bronze medal.

 

Panato sisters joined forces in women's C2 event and secured themselves a confident win. Laura Fontaine and Eve Vitali - Gulbert from France were second and bronze medal was won by Czech duo Kristina Novosadova - Karolina Paloudova.

 

On Thursday, the 2023 ECA Wildwater Canoeing European Championships in Skopje continues with classic team events and masters races.