Written by: Nina Jelenc - Essen, Germany, hosted this year’s European Canoe Polo Championships, with more than 400 athletes from 19 countries participating at this event. The competition welcomed teams in four categories – men’s, women’s, men’s U21 and women’s U21. 

The host nation concluded the tournament with three gold medals and a bronze. Equally impressive was the outcome for the France – winning four medals as well. Gold, silver and two bronze medals were won by the French teams.

The competitions that took place at the Baldeneysee in Essen were very exciting throughout the tournament and the final matches were no exception. In men’s gold medal match host nation defeated Italy with a tight 2-1 result. This was the last event of the championships and it was an open and equal match, so the golden goal decided who the new European Champions is. Italy opened the match with a goal in the fifth minute, but Germans answered quickly with a 1-1 only two minutes later. Jonas Vieren was the one who scored a golden goal for Germany. In a bronze medal match France won with a result 7-2 against Denmark.

Germany reached the top also in women’s final. The members of the host nation’s team had a better start to the match with early goals by Tonie Lenz and Caroline Sinsel. The French scored their first goal in eighth minute, but Germans went to the break with a 3-1 lead, scoring another goal just before the break. After the break the French team came close with another goal, but the Germans answered quickly with a goal. However the match was not over and France scored one more time to keep the match stressful until the last minutes. In the last two minutes of the match the spectators saw three more goals, two in the net of France and one in German net, which meant that Germany won with 6-4. Netherlands won bronze after the 3-2 match against Switzerland.

In the U21 category French athletes won with a 4-3 against Denmark and Germany picked up bronze. They were playing against Great Britain and the score was 3-2 for Germany. In the women’s U21 gold medal match Germany defeated Poland with a result 2-1, France was third after a secure 10-4 win against Great Britain.

FINAL STANDINGS

Men
Gold medal match: Germany – Italy 2:1
Bronze medal match: France – Denmark 7:2
1. Germany
2. Italy
3. France
4. Denmark

Women
Gold medal match: Germany – France 6:4
Bronze medal match: Netherlands – Switzerland 3:2
1. Germany
2. France
3. Netherlands
4. Switzerland

Men U21
Gold medal match: France – Denmark 4:3
Bronze medal match: Germany – Great Britain 3:2
1. France
2. Denmark
3. Germany
4. Great Britain

Women U21
Gold medal match: Germany – Poland 2:1
Bronze medal match: France – Great Britain 10:4
1. Germany
2. Poland
3. France
4. Great Britain

TOP SCORERS

Men
1. Bellini ITA 21 golas
2. Montgomery, Gallin GBR 20 goals
3. Gordo Herrer ESP 16 goals

Women
1. Robson GBR 18 goals
2. Gilles GER 14 goals
2. Dijkman NED 14 goals
2. Johansson SWE 14 goals
3. Littlewood GBR 13 goals

Men U21
1. Assunção POR 14 goals
2. Iversen DEN 13 goals
3. McCutcheon GBR 12 goals

Women U21
1. Frigot FRA 16 goals
1. Sachmerda POL 16 goals
2. Burel FRA 13 goals
2. Pacyga POL 13 goals
3. Griffiths GBR 10 goals

For all results, photos and more information visit the official event website: http://canoepolo-ec-2015.com

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