France and Spain lead 2016 ECA Ocean Racing Champs

Cagliari, the capital city of Italian island Sardinia, hosted the 2016 ECA Canoe Ocean Racing European Championships. During the first competition day of Canoe Ocean Racing in Sardinia European paddlers fought for the European Champion titles. French representatives were the most successful winning eight medals, followed by Spanish paddlers with four medals. One hundred athletes who took part in the European Championships race had to paddle 26 kilometres between Poetto Beach and Solanas Beach. In a competition where several canoe sprint, canoe slalom and white water canoeing athletes also fought for the top places French representatives produced the best runs. They were especially successful in men’s junior category where the top five places were all occupied by French paddlers. It was 17-year old Hector Henot (FRA) who took the gold, his compatriot Axel Kempf was less than a minute behind in a silver medal position, while Nathan Le Nestour took bronze medal. Thanks to Sophie Manchel and Marie Sainte Laury France celebrated a double win in women’s junior event. The two French representatives were more than 20 minutes faster than third positioned Romanian paddler Bianca Cristina Balas. Water Bouzan Sanchez (ESP) became a new European Champion in men’s senior event stopping the clock at 1:48:31. Just 38 seconds later Nicolas Lambert (FRA) crossed the finish line to pick up silver medal, while Saša Vujanić (SRB) picked up a bronze medal in this event. Italian paddler Susanna Cicali celebrated a European Champion title in front of home crowd in women’s senior event. 24-year old paddler finished the race ahead of Amaia Osaba Olaberri (ESP) and Angie Moudeu (FRA). In women’s U23 event Linnea Stenils, member of Swedish canoe sprint team, won the title with a time of 2:14:02. A bit less than two minutes later Raquel Bota Farres (ESP) crossed the finish line to finish the race in second place, while Italian Chiara Sabatini picked up bronze medal. In men’s U23 event Sweden...

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