Finland’s Taru Terni struck gold for the host nation and Poland’s Tomasz Czaplicki denied France’s Tom Dolle a canoe-kayak double at the Paddle Europe Freestyle Championships in Lieksa.
Taking place on the Neitikoski Rapid in the Ruunaa hiking area, Finnish fans were treated to a feast of top-level freestyle paddling from June 10 to 13.
It was the first time the European Championships had been staged in Finland.
Terni made it even more memorable when she secured women’s K1 gold on the final day of competition.
A score of 626.67 points in the third and final round saw Terni capture the title in front of the home crowd.
Ireland’s Leah Hough improved her score in the final round with 586.67 as she earned silver, while Great Britain’s Isabella Wormall clinched bronze with 413.33.
There was a German one-two in the women’s C1 as Lucia Hacker overcame Naya Daruwala.
Hacker’s first round score of 166.67 was enough to take the title as Daruwala came second with 110.00.
Great Britain’s Ottilie Burrill-Smith secured bronze with 60.00.
In the men’s category, Dolle almost pulled off a memorable double gold in Lieksa.
Dolle was on another level in the men’s C1 final as his stunning first-round score of 1128.33 delivered a comprehensive victory.
He was joined on the podium by fellow Frenchman Abel Thenevet who ranked second with 960.00.
Great Britain’s reigning world champion Matthew Stephenson registered a score of 946.67 in the first round that saw him collect bronze.
Dolle’s hopes of two gold medals in Finland were dashed by Poland’s Czaplicki.
A score of 1701.67 in the opening round propelled Czaplicki to first spot.
Dolle delivered strong performances in each round with his best coming in the second with 1603.33 but it was not enough for gold.
Poland’s Bartosz Czauderna completed the podium as he earned 1315.00 for bronze.
In the junior events, Great Britain’s Math Cradock and Poland’s Maja Kawczynska won the respective men’s and women’s K1 European titles.
Click here for all the results from Lieksa
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