Chelmsford’s James Russell was back on the podium today at the Marathon European Championships in Poznan. After an epic bronze in the short course on Thursday, Russell made it a double after finishing third in the senior men’s long course.
He earnt the front side wash after powering off the start line and held strong in the leading group.
James recorded the fastest time on the first portage. A rapid 40 seconds ensured he led out into the third lap.
After portage number two Pederson went for the break and Candy went with him, securing them the top two positions early on in the race.
Throughout the remaining laps Russell put down smooth portages time after time. Taking plenty of leads he managed the pace to ensure he had the energy for a huge final burn across the line to claim bronze.
He secured his second medal of the championships over 29.8km, finishing with a time of 2:12:39.
Speaking after his race he said: “I’d been pretty relaxed up until that point [the first portage], just letting everyone do their thing and not buying into any of the burns. I got myself into position ready for the first portage, which is a key point in the race, and I managed to go from the back of the group of maybe 15 people to pretty much the very front. So I knew I had the speed early on and it was just a case of managing myself after that.
“[Jeremy Candy and Mads Pedersen] They made a break on the second portage. I tried to follow Mads but it was a little too hot for me. I felt comfortable in the group behind, so thought it was risky pushing myself and risk blowing out.
“I felt pretty confident in the last lap. I had a little test around the top turn to string it out and see what everyone had in them. It went down to me and Vold and when I asked him to come through and start pushing the pace to hold the gap, he couldn’t. I didn’t know if he was bluffing or not, but his body language suggested he didn’t have much left. So I felt pretty confident. I got in front, kept it under control and didn’t let them come through.”
Melissa Johnson (Chelmsford) was also back in action for the women’s long course this afternoon. She secured another top ten finish, completing the 26.2km course in a time of 2:11:14.
She joined the back of the large leading group and sustained it until the first portage when the group started to split. Hungary’s Kiszli made a break for it around lap three and Johnson found herself in the second chasing group with Serbian Bedec and Winther of Denmark.
Powering around the remaining laps as a trio Johnson found herself in a tight sprint for the finish that ultimately earnt her 9th place.
Reflecting on her race Johnson said: “I’m really happy with my race today. I wanted to try and stay in the front group for as long as possible, I was in the top group until it split on the first portage. I went round with Winther and Bedec until the sprint finish. I’m very happy to finish in the top 10 at my first Europeans.”
Two British crews lined up for the start of the junior women’s K2 long course race today.
Chelmsford’s Sienna Payne joined forces with Kamila Sklenarova (Norwich) after they secured 4th and 6th respectively in their K1 long course race yesterday.
Annabel Hutchinson (Reading) and Mollie Ball (Devizes) combined to make up the second British crew.
Both K2s got away well and found themselves in a large chasing group, hunting down three boats that broke away to lead in the opening laps.
The Reading and Devizes duo had a strong run and led the chasing group out of the first portage.
Payne and Sklenarova stalled momentarily on the get out of the portage, but a fast run put them back within catching distance of the chase group.
In the remaining laps the Brits worked hard together in a group and a sprint to the line saw both British boats finish the 19km course within seconds of each other.
Ball and Hutchinson powered to 5th place with a time of 1:33:03. Payne and Sklenarova took 6th in 1:33:07.
Both crews were pleased with their racing experience. Ball shared: “I was pleased with today’s race, after the first three boats were quickly established we comfortably sat in the second group and eventually placed 5th. I was particularly impressed with our portaging and feel as if I have learned lots”
After the race Payne said:
“I’m pretty pleased with our result, as a crew who only trained once out here, I’d call it a great success, other than the nose of my K2. Think we worked well when we needed to and ultimately had a great time.”
The junior men opened today’s racing with the long course. After promising short course results Joe Enoch (Nottingham) and William Short (Elmbridge) were back in action.
Both Brits established themselves in the lead group and put in the work to make it stick throughout the opening two laps.
The pace quickened as the junior athletes fought for the best positions going into the first portage. Enoch was the fourth boat back in the water and Short very close behind after a clean and quick run from both of them.
A lead group of four formed going into the fourth lap and Short joined a chase in a group of three.
Heartbreak for Enoch on the second portage. A swim as he got back in to start lap four cost him. He recovered well, but subsequently retired from the race.
Short worked together with two other athletes around the final lap to earn an impressive 6th place finish. He completed the 22.6km course in a time of 1:45:25.
Speaking after his race he said: “It was a great experience paddling against the best paddlers in Europe. I saw the group ahead slow down with indecision of who was going to lead so I took the chance to go hard and make it back into the front group.
“The short course was crazy, the speed was constantly so high and the front three stayed the same the whole way. The long course was much more controlled and a steady pace with short bursts. I will be taking the experiences I’ve gained and tactics learnt from those around me into future races in the hope that I will get a greater result.”
You can find a full list of today’s results here.
You’ll find more K2 action tomorrow in Poznan.
Make sure to check out the Marathon Racing Committee social media pages to follow along with the action throughout the day.
Live streams will be available on the Canoe Europe YouTube channel.