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The 2020 ECA Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom European Championships started today in Krakow with heats in women's kayak and men's canoe events both in junior and U23 categories. Senior European Championships medallist Vaclav Chaloupka, Elena Apel, Yohann Senechault and Emma Vuitton produced the best times in their respective events.

In very rainy and cloudy conditions the first races of the 2020 ECA Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom European Championships were held on the Vistula River. One of the favourites for the title in men's U23 canoe event Vaclav Chaloupka (CZE) won in the first individual stage of the championships. Two second behind him was Italian Raffaello Ivaldi, while Polish hope for the medal Kacper Sztuba finished third. He in fact produced much faster time than Chaloupka in men's C1 U23 heats, but picked up four penalty seconds on the way which pushed him to third position.

 

 

In women's kayak U23 heats German representative Elena Apel, who was also this year's overall winner of the ECA Canoe Slalom European Cup, finished the race ahead of two Czech paddlers. Amalie Hilgertova, last year's European Champion and this year's bronze medallist, was second and Antonie Galuškova third.

 

 

Winners of both junior heats were from France. Yohann Senechault finished 0.38 seconds ahead of his teammate Mewen Debliquy and Szymon Nowobilski from Poland was third, 0.72 seconds behind (with two penalty seconds).

 

 

Emma Vuitton (FRA) was the winner of junior WK1 heats. Katerina Bekova from Czech Republic was second and Emily Apel from Germany third.

 

 

On Friday, the morning programme will bring the remaining heats - women's canoe and men's kayak, and in the afternoon team races, when the first Junior and U23 European Champions of the year will be crowned.

 

 

HEATS - day 1

MC1 U23

1. Vaclav Chaloupka CZE

2. Raffaello Ivaldi ITA

3. Kacper Sztuba POL

WK1 U23

1. Elena Apel GER

2. Amalie Hilgertova CZE

3. Antonie Galuškova CZE

MC1 junior

1. Yohann Senechault FRA

2. Mewen Debliquy FRA

3. Szymon Nowobilski POL

WK1 junior

1. Emma Vuitton FRA

2. Katerina Bekova CZE

3. Emily Apel GER