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The strongest wildwater canoeing nations were once again leading in the wildwater sprint canoeing heats of the European Championships for junior and U23 paddlers in Dallenwil, clos to Lucerne. Only the 15 boats from the kayak heats, best 12 from canoe single and best 10 from canoe double heats advanced to the final which is on the programme on Saturday.

 

British kayaker Iona Patrick produced the best time in women's junior kayak heats, finishing the challenging course ahead of Cecilia Leonori (ITA) and Sandra Bergmannova (CZE). In women's U23 kayak event French representative Emma Lacoste won in the heats, ahead of last year's U23 World Champion Ana Steblaj from Slovenia, while German Luisa Puttkammer finished third in the first stage of sprint competition.

 

In men's canoe in both age groups - junior and U23 - Czech paddlers produced the best time. Tobias Trnka was the fastest among juniors and Matej Vanek in the U23 event. Ondrej Kvapil (CZE) and Yann Canevet (FRA) were second and third in the heats of junior event, and Jonah Muller (SUI) and Adam Ondrich (CZE) were second and third respectively in the heats of U23 event.

 

German kayaker Nicolas Niederle - Gomez produced the fastest time in junior heats, where Hynek Mika (CZE) and Aaron Schmitter (SUI) were just behind him. Vojtech Matejicek (CZE) was the best in U23 men's kayak heats, Italian Giacomo Abbiati was second in the heats, and Titouan Doreau (FRA) was third.

 

Marie Vrbova, Magdalena Mala and Sandra Bergmannova (all Czechia) were the fastest three paddlers in women's junior canoe heats to qualify for Saturday's final. In the U23 women's C1 event Czech Anna Retkova qualified for the final with the best time in heats, Laura Fontaine (FRA) was second on Friday, and Eve Vitali-Guilbert (FRA) third.

 

Sramek - Slezak (CZE), Retek - Retek (CZE) and Nogues - Ianotto (FRA) were the top three crews of heats in men's junior C2, while in the MC2 U23 event the top three boats were Ondrich - Vejnar (CZE), Muller - Bretscher (SUI) and Nemec - Vesely (CZE).

 

Fourotte - Bidault (FRA), Vikova - Beierova (CZE) and Diaz Quintian - Prats Moreiras (ESP) were the fastest three women's C2 junior crews of the heats, while in the U23 women's C2 event Kerry and Emma Christie (GBR), Strilkova - Bundova (CZE) and Zeder - Ettlin (SUI) were the best in heats.

 

The 2024 ECA Junior and U23 Wildwater Canoeing European Championships in Dallenwil will conclude on Saturday, when individual and team wildwater sprint canoeing finals are on the programme.