Sideris Tasiadis the only one who wins three times

Translation: Rosalyn Lawrence, Sportscene | Source: www.teamkanuslalom.de - After a thrilling last competition day at the second national qualification for German canoe slalom, the German Canoe Federation team has been announced for the European Championships at the beginning of June in Krakow. For the World Championships there is still a chance of nomination in two categories for those athletes that were absent due to sickness or injury.

With a victory in the last race of the K1M Fabian Dörfler from Augsburg secured himself the last free place in the European and World Championship team, next to the already qualified Hannes Aigner (Augsburg) and Sebastian Schubert (Hamm.) Through his second success in this year’s qualification races Dörfler even pushed himself to the top of the overall ranking. In the process the ex-World Champion had at first finished in fifth place with a gate touch, however the chief judge corrected the decision and took back the two seconds.

A relieved Fabian Dörfler said:

I am very relieved, now naturally all the more. I did not touch and it is good that the judgment was corrected. Yesterday I made the mistake, with a good initial position, to be too unconstrained in the race. Today I felt better with the greater pressure.

Hannes Aigner and Sebastian Schubert paddled today as they did in the overall ranking, in second and third position.

Olympic silver medalist Sideris Tasiadis also won the final race and leads the ranking list in C1M as the only qualification participant with the ideal zero points. Jan Benzien and Franz Anton (Leipzig) also qualified themselves for the World Championships following today’s race.

“I am happy that it went so well for me. I managed to go into selection in a relaxed way, it was clear that the race was between Jan, Nico, Franz and I. I’m happy that I could race so consistently. For the World Championships I’m preparing to be in the top five,” said Sideris Tasiadis.

In the last race the victory in C2 went surprisingly to the Bad Kreuznach crew Eric Mendel and Alexander Funk, who also qualified for the European Championships.  Funk was handicapped by an abdominal muscle injury, but gritted his teeth on the Eiskanal.

“We were very restricted by Alex’s injury. We tried to let the boat run and arrive safely. It was a very close race today, we hadn’t counted on winning, luck was on our side,” said Eric Mendel.

Franz Anton/Jan Benzien (Leipzig) decided the overall ranking in their favour, finishing third today. The brothers Kai and Kevin Müller (Halle/S) are also already qualified for the World Championships with a second place today and in the final ranking.  David Schröder/Frank Henze (Leipzig) as well as Robert Behling/Thomas Becker (Schkopau,) who were absent due to sickness, still hold a chance to qualify as the third boat for the World Championships.

Claudia Bär (Augsburg) produced her second victory in the K1W. She distanced herself, in the final competition as in the overall rankings, from Cindy Pöschel (Leipzig) and Jasmin Schornberg (Hamm) in second and third position.

“It is great to make the team with two victories. I haven’t given too much thought to the whole season, but my ambition is awakened, I’ve had a long period of hard times behind me in the last year,” said Claudia Bär.
The first three on the ranking list have secured their qualification for the European Championships. Melanie Pfeifer, who is missing at this stage due to overcoming a shoulder injury, retains a chance for qualification for the World Championship team against the third placed Jasmin Schornberg.

In the C1W Sabrina Barm (Augsburg) produced a surprise victory on Sunday, against both Lena Stöcklin (Leipzig) and European Champion Mira Louen (Hilden,) who were second and third in the smallest field of only three starters at this year’s qualification.

You can find a summary of the results here.

Nominations Team Germany

At the coaches’ meeting yesterday the German federation reviewed all four selection races and discussed the team’s line-up. Subsequently the national performance director Dr. Jens Kahl announced the nominations for Team Germany 2013:

• K1M: Fabian Dörfler (KS Augsburg), Hannes Aigner (Augsburger KV), Sebastian Schubert (KR Hamm).
• C1M: Sideris Tasiadis (KS Augsburg), Jan Benzien (Leipziger KC), Franz Anton (Leipziger KC).
• C2M: Franz Anton/Jan Benzien (Leipziger KC), Kai Müller/Kevin Müller (BSV Halle/S.), Eric Mendel/Alexander Funk (KSV Bad Kreuznach)*.
• K1W: Claudia Bär (KS Augsburg), Cindy Pöschel (Leipziger KC), Jasmin Schornberg (KR Hamm)**.
• C1W: Mira Louen (KC Hilden), Lena Stöcklin (Leipziger KC).