The 2019 ECA Paracanoe European Championships in Poznan, Poland, concluded with six finals in women’s KL 200 metres and men’s VL 200 metres events. Great Britain once again showed their power winning six medals in hard and windy conditions.
Always strong British paracanoeing team once again showed their superpower on the final competition day of the 2019 ECA Paracanoe European Championships. Charlotte Henshaw won European Champion title in women’s KL2 200 metres final. She was 2.220 seconds faster than her team colleague Emma Wiggs, while Katalin Varga from Hungary won bronze medal.
“It is really windy today, very different from yesterday, so it was a real challenge to do your race plan. I was disappointed with my heats performance yesterday, so the challenge for me was to leave that yesterday. Today was a new day. I managed to that and this is a real positive I can take out of it,” said the new European Champion Charoltte Henshaw.
The second title of the day for British Canoeing was won by Stuart Wood, who received gold medal in men’s VL3 200 metres final. Eddie Potdevin from France finished the race in second place and Nicholas Beighton from Great Britain was third.
Host nation also celebrated European Champion title thanks to Katarzyna Sobczak, who was the fastest in women’s KL3 final. Nelia Barbosa from France crossed the finish line second and Laura Sugar from Great Britain was third.
Ukraine continued with great performances that started on Tuesday. After two European Champion titles in men’s KL2 and KL3 events Maryna Mazhula won another gold medal for Ukraine in women’s KL1 final. Eleonora De Paolis from Italy and Jeanette Chippington from Great Britain joined her on the winner’s podium.
Russian paracanoeist Igor Korobeynikov produced the best time in men’s VL2 200 metres final. Jakub Tokarz won the second medal of the day for Poland, picking up silver medal. Norberto Mourao from Portugal was third and won the historic first medal at Paracanoeing European Championships for this country.
Men’s VL1 race was non- official event because there were not enough countries on the start line according to the competition rules. Russian paddler Artur Chuprov finished the race in front of Ukrainian representative Mykola Fedorenko.
Paracanoeists will now start in Poznan again at the first World Cup race of the season, and the peak arrives this August with World Championships in Szeged, Hungary.
Results: http://results.imas-sport.com/imas/regatta.php?competition=wettkampf_199
22.5.2019
