The rescheduled Canoe Slalom European Championships got underway today in Bratislava, Slovakia the event had to be postponed back in June due to flooding.
The event started with qualification for the C1W (Canoe Women), K1M (Kayak Men) and (C1M Canoe Men)
Mallory Franklin (16 years old) started the British campaign off well by qualifying with ease finishing in 2nd place gaining a place in Sunday’s semi final.
Olympic Silver Medallist Campbell Walsh put in a storming second run to qualify into the final finishing in 2nd position. Team mates Richard Hounslow and Huw Swetnam unfortunately won’t be joining Walsh in the semi final, with Hounslow missing out by one place.
Walsh along with Hounslow and Swetnam will be competing tomorrow to retain their European title in the K1M team event.
Shaun Pearce K1M Coach comment:
“It was a slightly disappointing morning with Huw and Richard coming undone on the bottom drop, although a strong performance from Campbell showing he is great form. The boys are keen to go out tomorrow and put right the errors from today and hopefully retain the title they won last year in Nottingham. They are a strong trio and have complete belief in their ability as a team.”
The British C1M had a sparkling start to the Championships with David Florence Olympic Silver medallist in Beijing flying through to the semi finals in 2nd place, team mates Greg Pitt (21 years old) and Mark Procter will be joining him there after putting in solid performances finishing in 18th and 19th
David Florence comments on his performance:
“The first run was disappointing it just didn’t flow but after a look at the video and re-focusing for the second run I was really pleased to put down a much better run. The second run boosted my confidence for Sunday, now I just need to put a good run down in the semi’s to get into the final.”
Mark Delaney C1M Coach comments on the C1M performances
“First of all I am just pleased that all the boys got through as it was a tough job with only the top 20 qualifying, David put a solid performance in, he has now shown what he can do. He normally builds through competitions so putting that performance in straight away shows he can medal.”
With the sun still shining the afternoon session kicked off, the K1W (Kayak Women) went off first with the British showing good form, Lizzie Neave and Fiona Pennie executed the challenging course with precision and power putting in quick times but picking up a couple of penalties they finished in 9th and 11th Louise Donington fought hard and confirmed her place in the semi final finishing in 17th
The final category of the day was the C2M (Canoe Double Men) who followed the same form as the K1W and C1M with all three crews going through to the semi finals. Hounslow and Florence laid down a strong first run to finish 4th making up for Hounslow’s disappointment earlier in the day when he missed out by one place in the K1M. European Bronze Medallist Etienne Stott and Tim Baillie improved on their first run pulling themselves up a place to finish in 6th. Dan Goddard and Colin Radmore finished in 20th.
After a full day of racing and with 11 out of the 13 boats through to the semi final on Sunday the focus shifts to the first medal event of the Championships – the team events where our K1M and K1W teams will be fighting it out to try and retain their titles won last year in Nottingham.
Jurg Gotz Head Coach comments on the days racing:
“It’s been a successful day we have started exactly the same as we did back in June, we had 13 boats on the start line and 11 have qualified. Today unfortunately 2 of the K1M didn’t make it through but other than that there have been very good performances in all class so job done, so now lets bring the teams home tomorrow.”
More information, startlists and results can be found at the official event website - http://www.canoeslalomeuro2010.org/