Claire O'Hara: Finals Day

It only feels like yesterday that the competition started and now its almost over. Its super strange sitting out and watching the finals from the side. I wish all the competitors well and for the first time in a long time watch the final show.

Its a strange feeling sitting out of the finals

Up first its the squirt men. Its a tight fight between Bartosh (POL) and Thomas (POL) in their play boats and Ben in his squirt boat. They battle hard but Ben puts his skills to the test nailing a sweet mystery move and sequence of tricky wu's and one armed bandits to take the win. His first International medal, he is the new European Champion. Helmut from Germany also makes the final, his first final, in a squirt boat and puts down some impressive runs just missing his mystery finishing in 5^th place.

New European Squirt Mens Champion Ben Aldred

The junior women's is next. Nuria Fontane steels the show with a commanding 200 point run. Jen and Kim in their first European Championships throw some impressive runs but just miss out on the medals. They are definitely paddlers to watch out for in the future.

Kim lines up for her 45 sec run

In the junior mens the GB boys dominate. Bren Orton, a force to watch out, once again throws massive, consistent, technical runs taking his first ever Gold, with James Benns not far behind in 2^nd and Sam Stephenson going huge to win the Bronze.

Den celebrates with the Junior Mens finalists

In C1 its defending European Champion Lukas Cerbinka (CZE) that takes the win and in the ladies Marlenne Denzines (FRA) continues her outstanding performance with another set of huge space godzillas and loops to take the win. Closely followed by Nina (SVK) and Maria (SWE).

The judges watch over the athletes as they perform

The event finishes with the mens finals and its an impressive battle and showcase of different styles. Defending champion Peter Chonka is badly injured so can't really contend as his normally would finishing in 5^th place. This year instead its Spain’s young paddler Quim Fontane who sets the bar and steels the show with the biggest run of the entire event a massive 1,170 point run. Seb and Pring can't quite match it, on the day, finishing 2^nd and 3^rd respectively, still with some massive runs and James Weight is his first international finals throws big to take 4^th place.

James Weight goes huge during his final runs

The event finishes with a great Scnitzel dinner, prize giving celebration and party in the town. All in all a great event and another fantastic set of performances and results for Team GB.

Claire O and Marlene celebrate their wins

Massive thanks has to go to Thomas and the team of judges. organisers and officials who helped put on and run the event. The town of Lienz and everyone at Camping Falken for hosting us. All the supporters, family and friends or coming along and supporting us. But mostly the GB support team who give up their time to help us perform and reach our best at these big events.