Summary of Day 3 results: U23; K1W Jess Fox roll costs her final place but redeems herself with first in C1W, double boats for AUS-GBR-UKR also in C1W final, C2M 1,2,3 for Czech Republic, double Junior leads for Kim Woods in K1W and C1W, fastest in K1M Heats Smolen (USA) fails to qualify.

Nick Harding | @nickhdg | Sportscene - What headlines! Exhausted thinking about today's incredible action, it was about putting down best times, all or nothing – a day of heated contests, risk-taking and shaky edges.

K1W U23

It got ferocious! Bookies prime Jess Fox capsized four gates to go after having got her paddle stuck beneath her – technical dexterity saw her roll to fight back valiantly but it was too late and too close to the finish line. Other Australian Borrows also had a bad day at the office out below recovered Jess in 19th.

Czech mermaid Katerina Kudejova gave a clinically flawless run European Bronze medallist and third-place yesterday Vikki Wolffhardt looked weary today, a shock retreat into 15th.

20-year old Elise Chabbey (SUI) who was ranked 20th at London 2012 was also 20th today!

Top runners for the final in reverse are Newman (FRA), Zasterova (CZE), Mangin (FRA), Giai Pron (ITA), Funk (GER), Fritsche (GER), Vojtova (CZE), Horn (ITA), Tercelj (SLO), Kudejova (CZE).

K1M U23

2 of the top 3 qualifiers Smolen (USA) and Brus (SLO) out!

A leg-shaking conclusion to the first race of the day; 10 qualified and it was Italian supermen Zeno Ivaldi and Giovanni De Gennaro who  robbed Australia's Jaxon Merrit of a 1st or 2nd finish; he had to settle for 3rd. There was only 0.40-of-a-second between 1st and 4th – top-notch performances from a tight field. Hats off to Zeno though – running 97.97 on the long-winded Liptovsky course – bravo!

Little heard of Swiss Lukas Werro snuck into qualification in tenth – so 5 Eastern Europeans, 4 Western Europeans and an Australian march on to the final, not mentioned so far: Polaczyk (POL), Prskavec (CZE) [Senior European Champion], Tunka (CZE), Halcin (SVK), Biazizzo (FRA) and Cvikl (CZE).  

C1W U23

Sensational run by Jess Fox (AUS) finishing a stonking 3 seconds clear of Mallory Franklin (GBR) and a special Sportscene congratulations to Svetlana Polezhayeva from Kazakhstan who surprisingly had run of the day into 3rd.

Fifth place in the Heats Monika Jancova (CZE) was the only top 5 qualifier not to make the cut – she had a disastrous run with a missed gate, 58 penalties put her down and out to 19th.

The line-up for the final in reverse order is Borrows (AUS), Sabitova (RUS), Vilarrubla (ESP), Woodcock (GBR), Wolffhardt (AUT), Us (UKR), Dobrotvorska (UKR), Polezhayeva (KAZ), Franklin (GBR), Fox (AUS). Mallory will be gold-hungry looking to repeat today's speed.

C2M U23

Commanding Czechs seal triple-flag leader-board. 2013 European Championship bronze medallists Ondrej Karlovsky and Jakub Jane qualified 7 seconds ahead of team-mates Lukas Rohan/Adam Svoboda, +0.75 Czechs Jonas Kaspar and Marek Sindler were tied in third with the Brzezinskis (POL) who still had this year's European silver under their belts.

3 Polish boats made the final in total including Chlebek/Weglarz and Wiercioch/Majerczak, 2 French crews; Bercon/Biazizzo and Scianimanico/Cailhol plus a smart 9th place for Quinn/Tatchell (GBR). Praise of the day go to Ana Sátila's compatriots Oliveira/Correa (BRA) who slithered into tenth – steal!

C1M U23

3rd place yesterday Luka Bozic (SLO) launched a solid 107.57 after two touches. Leader in the Heats Colazingari (ITA) fell to 5th and Thomas Quinn (GBR) had a race of the year up to 4th.

Local boy Jergus Badura (SVK) lead the home charge but went +0.62 out of contention of first with 2 minute touches.

Good to see American Zachary Lokken in the pick at 7th – the US has been under-performing in the results this week, albeit Smolen's K1M's quest. Disappointing for fellow North American Canadian Cameron Smedley who said au revoir in 12th.

Also in the final over the weekend: Riha (CZE), Gajarsky (SVK), Bercic (SLO), Gondek (POL) and Le Friec (FRA).

Juniors

In C1W Junior it was fictional euphoria for Ana Sátila this afternoon; +0.47 into second behind Kimberley Woods (GBR). This was Kim's second triumph of the day as she also took the lead in K1W – her mum who we met at Cardiff will be so pleased! However, Ana did not qualify in K1W in 13th.

Amalie Hilgertova (CZE) qualified in 5th to proud parents; nice nostalgic quote from Ettore Ivaldi on his blog:
“In the junior women's race of the kayak seems to have stepped back in time, between Hilgertova, Micheler Jones, Prigent Grange, Fox Jerusalmy, all daughters of former champions of slalom poles that have taken the road of the parents.”

K1M Juniors saw the first French win of the week, bien fait Bastien Damiens in an earth-shattering sub-100 run: 99.72 – fierce! First time I've mentioned this gentleman in coverage so eyebrows pricked for Bradley Forbes-Cryans (GBR) steering his way into 4th and final qualification.

Lukas Rohan (CZE), Jakob Jeklin (SLO) and Mracna (SVK) were today's top 3 in C1M.

Stealing back the U23 C2M lead from the Czechs, Slovakian Juniors Simicak/Skubik were victorious in front of elated home support. The story didn't finish there as Czechs Vetrovsky/Matejka even though 4 seconds slower were still fourth. 

We might be seeing the prodigies in action from yet-a-year champions but this new breed of youngsters are laying down some serious sound sending ricochets through the senior world.

Tomorrow it is the start of an intense weekend of finals, Sunday sees team-racing.

Results: www.sportscene.tv/liveresults

Download Results Day 1, 2 and 3