International Canoe Federation

The 2010 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup started under a glorious skies this morning (Friday) in Duisburg. As the first rays broke on the course, happy athletes were able to enjoy this world-class venue to the fullest. Built more than 80 years ago, the course and its facilities are one of the best in the World.

Two distances were competed today, the 1000m athletes had the opportunity this morning to feel the water in expectation of tomorrow’s semi-final. The 200m events were wrapped up in one day and hundreds of spectators came to cheer the 200m finalists and enjoy the After Work Party organised by the Hosts.

As a nice breeze wafted over the Duisburg course, early evening, the athletes were preparing for the night race. Let’s see if this becomes the trend! It will be interesting to hear from the athletes and if they liked this new format planned by the Duisburg Organising Committee.
 

The 2010 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup welcomes 39 countries and for this first day of competition, 22 countries were represented in the finals. In total, 7 medals were up for grabs in these exciting 200 m events. The first final had all spectators in suspense. After a wonderful race in Szeged, Ed McKeever (GBR) was expected to give Ronald Rauhe (GER) the race of his live. Perhaps the expectation was too great for this young British athlete; the experienced Ronald Rauhe prevailed.

Women's K1 200m is always a crowd pleaser and German fans were again served with the win of two of their athletes for the gold and silver. Great Britain's Rachel Cawthorn (our Athlete of the Month took bronze). Quite a surprise with the Men’s C1, with 2 medals for the Republic of Ukraine but they were no match for Lithuanian paddler Jevgenij Suklin who took first.

Then it was time for the Women’s Canoe paddlers to take the stage, with Szeged gold medal winner, Laurence Vincent-Lapointe (CAN) taking first place and Nicole Haywood (CAN), second. It is clear that Canada is dominating this new women’s event on the international scene and that they are strengthening their lead as the ones to beat in the discipline.

In the Women’s K2, it was a close race so much so that it required a photo finish for the 3rd position. Austria just pipped the Swedish duo to third place. The German squad of Silke Hörmann and Conny Waßmuth collected another gold for the host country. The Slovakian pair took silver.

Again Lithuania excelled on the course tonight with a second gold medal in the C2 category and this was a wonderful day for Brazil who won its second bronze medal of the day after Luciana Costa’s medal in the 200m Women’s Canoe.

Repeating last week’s success in Szeged, Hungary, Jonathan Schofield and Liam Heath (GBR) took gold in the Men's K2 200m, while Raman Piatrushenka and Vadzim Makhneua took silver, who were visibly displeased with their performance. In third were Denmark’s Lasse and Casper Nielsen.

So at the end of Day 1, 11 countries are now in the medal tally with the host country, Germany in first with 3 golds and 2 silvers. Second is Great Britain with 1 Gold and 2 Bronzes.

Follow Day Two with us and follow with us the medal race in Duisburg!

For live results visit www.kanuduisburg.de/erg_2010/Zeitpl_Start.php