Euro Champs 2010

[intraftfed]

The closing date for teams to enter the 2010 Euro Champs has passed. The number of teams entering is being finalised but we are expecting over 50 teams of R4 and R6 paddlers.

[intraftfed]

JUDGES WORKSHOP!!!

For: New Judges and already certified Judges
Date: 31st May and 1st June, 10 am
Place: Val di Sole (exact location closer to time)
Cost: New Judges – 15 Euros  /  Certified Judges – 0 Euros

Course schedule:
31st May – workshop discussing rules and their implementation
1st June morning – at river watching teams practise and doing practise judging
1st June afternoon – examination

Course run by IRF Chief Judges: Goran Lolic and Alex Djeric

[intraftfed]

Many of the teams are already in Val Di Sole practising for this event. The rest are on their way. Countries attending: Czech, BiH, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Serbia, Slovenia, Russia and obviously the hosts, Italy.

[bojan]

Most of the teams have arrived in Val di Sole. It is nice sunny weather and teams are currently in process if registration and practice on the slalom course.

schedule for today
----------------------

11:00h official training on downriver course. organizer will provide transportation
14:00h first captains meeting
18:00h second captains meeting. dinner
20:00h official opening ceremony

judges workshop has started today

[bojan]

After "tasting" the slalom and sprint course today, I must say that it is absolutely FANTASTIC! River Noce is very fast, with lots of rapids, rocks and white water.

Opening ceremony was held in nearby town of Dimera, where was shown that teams have prepared interesting choreography for the moment. Specially interesting were Dutch, coming in fluorosocent orange t-shirts and with lots of supporters.

[bojan]

schedule for the first day of the competition

there are 27 men and 16 women teams in R4 for today's sprint and H2H

time trial race has just started. water level is slighlty higher then yesterday and it seems that this is gonna be very interesting race.

10:00h time trial R4
11:30h H2H R4

[bojan]

pictures from the R4 time trial are uploaded onto www.internationalrafting.com webiste in photos/videos section

RESULTS from the time trial R4 are also uploaded into the same gallery

[bojan]

Photos of the H2H first round have been uploaded into the gallery

[bojan]

Photos of the second and third H2H run were uploaded into gallery. They were taken from right coast of the river.

Photos of the semi-final and final runs are also uploaded. They were taken from the left coast.

[bojan]

Water level was slighlty higher today on the first race day then yesterday on the official practice.

Teams have achieved great results for their countries and although they were expected in a way, all teams have put all their effort to achieve a good result.

R4 Women sprint
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1. CZE 2
2. NED 2
3. NED 1
4. SVK 1
5. GB 1
6. RUS 1
7. ITA 1
8. CZE 1
9. BEL
10. HUN 1
11. SVK 2
12. HUN 2
13. GB 2
14. ITA 2
15. SRB 1
16. RUS 2

R4 MEN sprint
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1. CZE 1
2. GB 1
3. SVK 1
4. CZE 2
5. RUS
6. ITA 1
7. GER 1
8. SLO 2
9. GER 2
10. SRB 1
11. HUN
12. SVK 2
13. AUT
14. GB 2
15. NED 2
16. NED 1
17. BEL 2
18. BH 1
19. CRO 1
20. SLO 1
21. BEL 1
22. ITA 2
23. DK 1
24. POR
25. CRO 2
26. BUL

[bojan]

H2H R4 men results first 16 teams
-----------------------------------------
1. RUS
2. GB 1
3. CZE 2
4. SVK 1
5. CZE 1
6. ITA 1
7. SLO 2
8. GER 1
9. GER 2
10. HUN
11. SRB 1
12. NED 1
13. SVK 2
14. AUT
15. NED 2
16. GB 2

H2H R4 Women first 16 teams
------------------------------------
1. GB 1
2. SVK 1
3. NED 1
4. HUN 1
5. CZE 2
6. CZE 1
7. ITA 1
8. RUS 1
9. NED
10. SVK 2
11. GB 2
12. HUN 2
13. BEL
14. ITA 2
15. SRB 1
16. RUS 2

[sue]

Hi Bojan

Thanks for updates! Good to know what is happening over there.

[bojan]

Sue, thank you very much.

Today is the second day of the event, and it's R6 men & women sprint on schedule.

Start was delayed due to low water level.

Time trial is over now, and we are waiting for H2H to start.

Pictures from the men & women sprint have been uploaded on the IRF website in Photos/videos section. Results are also in a form of jpg picture in the mentioned section of the website.

[bojan]

Slalom R6 and R4 were on yesterday on the third day of the competition.

On the second R6 slalom run Bosnian women team flipped on the gate number 10. Course is secured by the Italian red cross rescue unit, they were positioned along the track, and two anchored safety swimmers after the finnish line (there is a bridge and a rapid under it). 4 of 6 girls were out before the bridge, but two of them went downstream. One of them was saved in next 100m, but the other one went further on.

We started searching for her from the shore and by the boat, and eventually a kayaker pulled her out from the river 5kms away from the track, unconscious with no pulse. After a long reanimation they got her pulse, and she was transfered to a hospital. she is in a deep coma, struggling for her life.

There is a captains meeting in 20 mins, but the both serbian women team, both serbian men, croatian men team and bosnian men team already decided that they will not race today out from solidarity with the girl.

After the incident the race was stopped by the chief judge.

[bojan]

after a captains meeting most of teams decided to go on with the event.

R4 slalom will take place on 10:00h, and R6 downriver race will start at 15:00h.

After captains meeting and consultations it was decided that following teams will not paddle today in solidarity with afflicted girl:

women teams: serbia 1, serbia 2, great britain 1, great britain 2
men teams: serbia 1, serbia 2, bosnia, great britain 1, great britain 2, croatia 1, portugal

R6 slalom will be finnished by running women teams slovakia, czech and russia, because the race was stopped yesterday before their run.

[intraftfed]

Statement from the IRF Board of Directors: "The IRF has been shocked by the accident that occurred on Friday at the European Rafting Champs on the Noce River in Val Di Sole, Italy. Our thoughts are with Branka as she lies in hospital fighting for her life, and with her family and team mates. The IRF will be doing a thorough investigation into this incident."

[intraftfed]

Results and photos of the event can be seen at http://internationalrafting.com/

[bojan]

I would like to take the liberty to say THANK YOU to all the teams that have shown solidarity with Branka Stulic by deciding not to paddle after the incident:

Great Britain 1 Men
Great Britain 2 Men
Germany 1 Men
Belgium 1 Men
Serbia 1 Men
Bulgaria Men
Bosnia & Herzegovina Men
Croatia 1 Men
Croatia 2 Men
Portugal Men
Denmark Men
Great Britain 1 Women
Great Britain 2 Women
Serbia 1 Women
Serbia 2 Women
Russia 2 Women

All our thougths are with her.

[intraftfed]

Those who wish to send messages to Branka and her family can do so on IRF's facebook page. We will also try to keep you updated with her condition there. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/page ... 3710746324