The shifting conditions and heat did not deter the world’s Juniors and Under-23 paddlers as the third day of the 2011 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships showcased the depth of talent and level of excitement expected in the days to come. The third day saw events contested in the Junior and Under-23 K1 and C1 category races.

Australia celebrated its only win of the day with Bill Bain claiming gold in the Men’s K1 Juniors winning in a time of 1:40:04. The Australian pulled away with a 20m lead ahead of his closest competitor, and was confident of his strategy right from the start. He led in the first couple of laps and stayed ahead in the lead pack. Celebrating his first win, Bain expected a fast race but did not expect the extremely fast pace. “I wanted to finish on the podium but this is much better, my first canoe marathon juniors win in Singapore, it was a good race,” said the young Australian.

The day’s biggest upset saw race leader Vold Eivind of Norway capsized as he attempted to embark his kayak in the fourth portage. The Norwegian could not believe his luck to find out his rudder had broke, earning a Did Not Finish (DNF). “I felt strong and in control throughout the race. I was the fastest in and out of the portage, even the heat was fine for me. I could not continue racing as a kayak had slammed in and broke my rudder off as I was coming in for the fourth portage - no steering, no race,” said a disappointed Eivind.

In the Women’s K1 Juniors, the race’s two Hungarian paddlers Dora Lucz and Vanda Kiszli kept changing their lead but managed to work together to win gold and silver. Finishing in 1:29:14, a jubilant Dora Lucz said, “I was confident throughout the race and the gold medal win. This is my best year in kayak, winning the 5000m flatwater race early this year and now a win in canoe marathon in Singapore.”
Victoria Croucher of Great Britain was slowed down forcibly unable to go around the massive Men’s K1 Junior’s pack in her third lap. Linnea Stensils of Sweden took a short lead in the fourth and last lap but the determined Hungarian duo of Lucz and Kiszli sped away for the lead.

In the Men’s K1 Juniors, Portugal’s Nuno Quintela and silver medalist stormed past the start line, held on to the leader’s position for the first two grueling laps. Eventual C1 Junior winner Wiktor Glazunow and Joshua Drojetzki of Poland paddled smart, conserving their energy as the morning’s temperature heated up. Glazunow rode on the Portuguese’s wash, slowly but surely gaining speed and the win in a time of 1:31:04. “There never was doubt in my quest for the C1 Junior gold. I did not think of anything else except to paddle hard,” said Wiktor Glazunow, gold medal winner of the Men’s C1 Juniors.

The Women’s K1 Under-23 race began under the heat of high noon but finished underneath a spectacular heavy downpour. The epic race was a duel between race favourites Susanna Cicali of Italy and last year’s bronze medalist Eva Barrios. Cicali played her cards just right as heavy rain descended at the beginning of the fourth lap. The unrelenting rain was a bane to the trailing paddlers who had drifted even further behind the leaders. Despite the adverse conditions, Cicali managed a smile as she ran through her fourth and fifth portages, leading both segments a full five seconds in front of rival Barrios. A disqualification after the race removed Susanna Cicali totally out of medal contention. The Italian broke down in tears when she received news of her disqualification. Eva Barrios wins the race in 1:48:42.

The talent in the Men’s K1 Under-23 race was evident as representatives from Italy, Spain, Norway, Hungary and South Africa were joint favourites. Cam Shoeman of South Africa quickly fizzled out, simply cannot keep pace with frontrunners Morten Minde of Norway and Emilio Llamedo of Spain. Minde was the most efficient in the water, with a relaxed paddling style, maintained a constant high speed using as little strength as possible. “I am more confident in my portages than in the water but today is my day, this is my best win,” said a thrilled Morten Minde who won the race in 1:56:49.

Spain’s Emilio Llamedo conceded that Minde was far better in the portages and that had an effect on the results. “Minde is a difficult rival, he shot ahead in the fifth lap but I am still happy with silver. The race was hard, hot and difficult, my hardest to date,” said the 2011 Canoe Marathon European Champion who came in 1:57:17. Minde’s win illustrated the importance of the portage section in canoe marathon. Norway’s success in the portage was evident in the recruitment of specialist coach Henrik Lemel of Sweden. Tim Pendle of Team Great Britain is happy his time of 1:58:33 despite not working as hard from the fourth lap onwards. “I am absolutely knackered, but I am happy with the bronze win, especially in this heat and humidity,” said the content bronze medalist.

In the Men’s C1 Under-23 race, Manuel Garrido of Spain won the grueling race in 1:52:34 with a close second place win for Hungary’s Kristof Zoltan Szabo in 1:52:39.

Singapore garnered four medals in the Asian Championships with Chan Yiwen taking home the silver medal and bronze for Wang Nan Feng in the K1 Women Junior. Benjamin Low Wei Fu and He Chong Zhan took home the gold and silver medals in the Asian category in K1 Men Junior event.

Thirty eight countries have confirmed their participation for the 19th edition of the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships; including China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Thailand, Spain, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Over 400 athletes from 38 countries including Masters competitors will compete in six different race categories of distances from 17 km to 30 km.

Tomorrow’s schedule is as follows:

Photos: Carolyn Cooper