Another stunning day dawned in Pau, France for the final day of racing at ICF World Cup two. With the course changed back to the significantly tougher configuration of 25 gates, the K1 women and C2 men prepared for the semi-finals and finals.

It was a return to form for Lizzie Neave in the final of the kayak women (K1), seeing her claim the bronze and win her first medal of 2012. Having qualified through to the final in 7th place, Neave paddled with style and finesse down the course. Learning from her semi-final run she built on her earlier performance, ironing out time errors to go 3 seconds faster in the final and take the early lead. It was then a waiting game for the final positions, and only Spain's Maialen Chourrant and Carole Bouzidi from France went better, leaving Neave in 3rd and with the bronze medal.

Lizzie Neave commented: 'I am really happy, especially after last weekend in Cardiff where I didn't have a great time. I'm really pleased to have built through the competition and put in a good run when it counted. I felt much more in control this weekend, it's been a tough course and all the top boats are here, so it fills me with confidence for the rest of the season. It's great to get back on the podium as it has been a while.'

Paul Ratcliffe, K1 women's coach commented on Lizzie's performance: 'It's a cracking result for Lizzie, it's been important for us to stay patient over the last few races, as we have been working on her race plan step by step to London.'

In the canoe double (C2) final, Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott were the sole British representative. Having finished just outside the medals in 4th place last weekend, the duo were focused and determined to go one better. With a good start under their belts, Baillie and Stott clipped gate 9 picking up a 2 second penalty leaving them chasing their tail. Unfortunately a couple of time losses on the latter part of the course left them hard pressed for a quick time, seeing them finish in 5th.

Having won gold at the opening World Cup in Cardiff, David Florence and Richard Hounslow were confident in reproducing their result. Unfortunately they didn't make it past the semi-final after accruing 4 seconds of penalties and few costly time errors, finishing in 14th. Adam Burgess and Greg Pitt also struggled in the semi-final on the tougher course, unable to recreate their heats performance, losing time and picking up penalties, to finish in 20th.

In the women's K1 semi final Louise Donington fought hard on the technically demanding course but lost time and picked up penalties to finish in 19th.

It's been a weekend of mixed results for GB at World Cup 2 in Pau, but with another medal added to the 2012 bag, the team move confidently on to World Cup 3 in La Seu d'Urgell, Spain (22nd – 24th June).

Results:
K1W
1. Maialen Chourraut - ESP
2. Carole Bouzidi - FRA
3. Lizzie Neave - GBR

19. Louise Donington - GBR
35. Fiona Pennie – GBR

C2M
1. Pierre Labarelle & Nicolas Peschier - FRA
2. Ladislav Skantars & Peter Skantar – SVK
3. Minghai HU & Junrong SHU – CHN

5. Tim Baillie & David Florence – GBR
14. David Florence & Richard Hounslow - GBR
20. Adam Burgess & Greg Pitt - GBR

The GB Canoe Slalom team
Men's K1 (Kayak Single)
Richard Hounslow
Campbell Walsh
Tom Brady


Men's C1 (Canoe Single)
David Florence
Mark Proctor
Adam Burgess


Men's C2 (Canoe Double)
David Florence / Richard Hounslow
Tim Baillie/Etienne Stott
Adam Burgess and Greg Pitt


Women's K1
Lizzie Neave
Louise Donington
Fiona Pennie


More information, start lists and results can be found at the official event website - pau2012.worldcup.events.slalom.canoeicf.com

(Posted on the 19th Jun 2012 by jennyc)

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