News

European canoe slalom paddlers dominated the 2017 Australian Open on the Olympic Course in Penrith. They have won ten medals in five events and finished the competition with 27 finals altogether. David Florence was the best in men’s C1 final, Jiri Prskavec in men’s K1 final and Škantar cousins in men’s C2 event.

European paddlers took all three medals in the last event of the 2017 Australian Open. Olympic medallists David Florence (GBR) and Matej Benuš (SVK) were first and second respectively in men’s C1, while young Slovak paddler Marko Mirgorodsky finished third. Representatives of European nations were really strong in Penrith – eight of out ten C1M finalists were from Europe. Ryan Westley (GBR) was fourth, Lukaš Rohan (CZE) fifth, Michal Martikan (SVK) sixth, Vaclav Chaloupka eighth and Tomaš Rak tenth (both CZE).

Eight European finalists paddled also in men’s K1 final. Jiri Prskavec produced the fastest run with 88.17 seconds he spent on the course. Michal Smolen (USA) finished second, 2.80 seconds behind, and Olympic champion Joseph Clarke (GBR) was third. Mathieu Biazizzo (FRA) was fourth, Bradley Forbes-Cryans (GBR) fifth, Jakub Grigar (SVK) seventh, Pierre Bourliaud (FRA) eighth, Luboš Hilgert (CZE) ninth and Andrej Malek (SVK) tenth. Peter and Ladislav Škantar (SVK) won the men’s C2 event ahead of French duo Nicolas Scianimanico – Hugo Cailhol and another Slovak crew Tomaš Kučera – Jan Batik.

Australian Jessica Fox was the most successful in both women’s K1 and C1 finals. Her sister Noemie finished second in C1, Tereza Fišerova was third, Jana Matulkova seventh and Monika Jančova tenth (all CZE).

Katerina Kudejova (CZE) finished the women’s K1 final just behind Fox, Luuka Jones (NZL) was third, Amalie Hilgertova fifth, Barbora Valikova sixth (both CZE), Chiara Sabattini (ITA) seventh, and Veronika Vojtova (CZE) eighth.

RESULTS

K1M

1. Jiri Prskavec CZE 88.17

2. Michal Smolen USA +2.80

3. Joseph Clarke GBR +3.84

C1W

1. Jessica Fox AUS 104.17

2. Noemie Fox AUS +9.63

3. Tereza Fišerova CZE +11.24

C2M

1. Ladislav Škantar – Peter Škantar SVK 104.27

2. Nicolas Scianimanico – Hugo Cailhol FRA +0.30

3. Tomaš Kučera – Jan Batik SVK +2.65

K1W

1. Jessica Fox AUS 96.56

2. Katerina Kudejova CZE +6.00

3. Luuka Jones NZL +6.58

C1M

1. David Florence GBR 95.78

2. Matej Benuš SVK +0.95

3. Marko Mirgorodsky SVK +2.03

Full results: http://canoeliveresults.com/event/2017/australian-open-3/