The GB team returned with 4 medals from the European Marathon championships held in Metkovic, Croatia last weekend.
The first race saw Emma Russell (CLM) and Freya Peters (RIC) racing in K1 for the first time and looking to add to their European and World bronze K2 medals from 2017. Emma immediately established herself in the front group and a good final portage saw her take the win to become European Champion. Freya did well to make the front group at the start and finished 7th.
Sam Rees-Clark (BAS) added medal number two, taking bronze behind the 2 Hungarians in the U23 women’s K1. In the U23 men’s K1, Matt Johnson (CLM) had a good start and battled through bumpy conditions to finish 10th.
Our junior men were all racing at this level for the first time. Arthur Leech (RIC) raced strongly in the juniors mens C1 to finish 5th despite damaging his boat at the final portage and taking on a lot of water. In the juniors men’s K1, Will Scammell (LON) and Luke Shaw (NOR) both made the front group off the start and raced well in a strong field to finish 7th and 9th. In the juniors men’s K2, Will was racing with club mate James Bell alongside Tim Gannicott-Porter and Alex McIntyre (CLM). Both boats made the initial large front group and James and Will then established themselves in the front group of 5 boats. Intelligent and gutsy racing saw them lead through the final portage to cross the line first. Heart-breakingly they had a 30 second penalty due to their drinks bag falling in the narrow gap between the pontoon and the bank which dropped them to bronze. This doesn’t take away from a stunning performance. Tim and Alex finished 9th.
Our final medal came from Lizzie Broughton (RIC) who put in a very good performance to take bronze in the senior women’s K1 behind the 2 Hungarians. In the seniors women’s K2, Lizzie and Fay Lamph (WEY) were unable to make the front group off the start and finished in 5th.
Tim Pendle (NOR) was our representative in the senior men’s K1 and worked hard off the start to make the front group ultimately finishing 11th. In the senior men’s K2, great starts for both boats saw them at the sharp end of a large front group for the 1st lap. Magnus Gregory (LON) and Charlie Smith (LBZ) finished 11th, with James Russell (CLM) and Lewis Duffield(CLM) 14th.
Full GB results:
JWK1: Emma Russell (CLM) GOLD, Freya Peters (RIC) 7th
JMC1: Arthur Leech (RIC) 5th
JMK1: Will Scammell (LON) 7th, Luke Shaw (NOR) 9th
U23WK1: Sam Rees-Clark (BAS) BRONZE
JMK2: Will Scammell/James Bell (LON) BRONZE, Alex Macintyre/Tim Gannicott-Porter (CLM) 9th
U23MK1: Matt Johnson (CLM) 10th
SWK1: Lizzie Broughton (RIC) BRONZE
SMK1: Tim Pendle (NOR) 11th
SWK2: Lizzie Broughton (RIC)/Fay Lamph (WEY) 5th
SMK2: Magnus Gregory(LON)/Charlie Smith(LBZ) 11th, James Russell/Lewis Duffield(CLM) 14th.
Thanks to Mike Fegent and Tim Ralph for driving such a long way and to them and Katie Williams for all their support over the championships.
Jo Bates
Team Manager
