After four days of exciting racing in
North Macedonia the 2023 ECA Wildwater Canoeing European Championships came to
an end. On Saturday, individual and team sprint finals were on the programme,
as well as masters sprint race. French athletes once again showed excellent
performances, winning four individual medals in the final race day, the
remaining two gold medals in morning part of the programme went to Czech
Republic and Slovenia.
Skopje and it's wildwater course
which hosted the 1975 Canoe Slalom World Championships welcomed the best
European Wildwater Canoeing paddlers this week and spectators had an
opportunity to see great racing just minutes away from breath taking Matka
Canyon, one of the sights of Skopje.
Saturday was packed with excitement
in individual and team sprint events. As anticipated French and Slovenian
wildwater paddlers took the top positions in sprint finals. France took four
individual European Champion titles thanks to Charles Ferrion, Laura Fontaine,
Pierre Troubady - Hugues Moret and Margot Beziat - Elsa Gaubert. Slovenia's
Anže Urankar was crowned European Champion in men's kayak event, while Marie
Nemcova from Czech Republic took gold in women's kayak final.
The tears were pouring down the
cheeks of the Czech paddler Marie Nemcova after the women's kayak final. Those
were the tears of joy as Marie could not believe she won European Champion
title in kayak. "I am so happy. My run wasn't that good. At the end, in
the big waves I went in the middle, which is not the best route to go. I knew I
need to paddle as fast as possible in the end. It's amazing. This is my first
medal in K1, even if it would be bronze, I would be super happy."
The final was very tight. Ana Šteblaj
from Slovenia, who was the fastest in the heats, was only 0.01 seconds behind
to win silver medal, while Mathilde Valdenaire from France picked up bronze
medal.
In men's canoe final Charles Ferrion
from France won his second individual medal of the championships, after silver
in classic. He concluded the course on the Treska River in 46.62, 0.43 seconds
faster than Blaž Cof from Slovenia. Bronze medal went to France with Nicolas
Sauteur.
"This was very good sprint for
me with very good time. I was second in classic race, so this was very good
European Championships for me. This was good experience, next step is World
Championships in Augsburg," said Ferrion.
In men's kayak the battle between
Slovenia and France was anticipated and the athletes did not disappoint. In
heats, two French athletes won first and second place, followed by two
Slovenians. In the decisive run of the championships, Anže Urankar from
Slovenia produced the best run of the day to win European Champion title and
gold medal. This is the first individual gold medal for Urankar at European
Championships, after already winning silver and bronze medals in the previous
editions of the European Championships.
"It was very tense, but enough.
I am very happy. I really wanted to win here. I felt really good the whole
week. I had a very good run in the upper part, but I made a mistake in the
lower part. I think only Vid Debeljak (2017 European Champion) could beat me on
this course if he returned to competitions," said Urankar, who was also
the 2017 Sprint World Champion.
Maxence Barouh, French kayaker who
won gold in classic here in Skopje, was second, 0.13 seconds behind Urankar,
while Nejc Žnidarčič from Slovenia, the reigning World Champion, settled with
bronze medal.
Laura Fontaine from France won gold
medal in women's canoe final, producing half a second faster time than Italian
Cecilia Panato, winner of the heats and classic event. Elsa Gaubert from France
was third, 1.38 seconds behind her teammate.
After the race Laura Fontaine said:
"It's great. It was a great race and I am very happy. It was a calm run, I
tried to concentrate and have to power to win. This race showed me I can be
fast and it will give me more confidence for the World Championships."
France celebrated a double win in
men's C2 event thanks to Pierre Troubady - Hugues Moret, the new European
Champions, and Manoel Roussin - Tanguy Roussin in second place. Czech duo
Matous Beier - Matej Vanek was third.
In women's C2 event France once more
dominated the event. Margot Beziat and Elsa Gaubert set the best time of the
day and were 1.31 seconds faster than Italians Cecilia and Alice Panato, while
bronze medal went to Austria with Nadine Weratschnig and Valentina Kroener.
In the afternoon's team events, Czech
Republic (Kristina Novosadova, Klara Vankova, Marie Nemcova) took gold medal in
women's kayak, France won silver medal and Italy picked up bronze medal.
Slovenia confirmed the status of the main favourites in men's kayak team events
and won the second gold medal in team events at this European Championships,
after Urankar, Žnidarčič and Oven already reached the top podium position in
classic team race. Italy was second and France third. In the final act of the
championships, in men's team canoe event, France with Nicolas Sauteur, Charles
Ferrion and Matteo Zanni won gold ahead of Czech Republic and Germany.
Masters also had a chance to compete
today in sprint event, however the races were not official European Championships
events. David Piaskowski (GER), Ljubomir Spasikj (MKD) and Sreten Biljić (SRB)
won medals in 35+ age group, Hans Meersmans (BEL), Kamil Mružek (CZE) and
Matjaž Avšič (SLO) were the fastest in 45+ age group, Gilles Calliet (GER),
Neil Blackmann (GBR) and Djordje Mihajlović (SLO) won medals in 55+ event,
while the medals in 65+ group went to Wolfgang Brick (GER), Marjan Zgonc (SLO)
and Miroslav Matušik (SVK). Robert Papazov (MKD) started in men's C1 event,
while Claudia Mohr-Calliet (GER) and Dilai Magdalen (GBR) from were first and
second in women's masters event.
Wildwater Canoeing paddlers will not
have any rest. Already in June, between 9th and 11th, they will compete at the
Wildwater Sprint Canoeing World Championships in Augsburg, at the 1972 Canoe Slalom
Olympic Course.
WEBSITE:
LIVE RESULTS:
https://siwidata.com/canoe123/live?SessionKey=kosta.2023051700
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