A stunning silver for Wey paddler Greta Roeser in the Junior Women's long course, on day one of the 2023 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships. Plus top ten finishes for the senior team as they take on the short course distance.
The K1 Junior Women were first on the water this morning in Vejen, Denmark taking on the long course distance.
Roeser secured the first medal of the championships with an impressive performance around the 17.7km course on Jels Lake.
She was joined on the start line by fellow Brit Isla Bethune (Elmbridge) and both girls had a stellar start to the race. They successfully avoided collisions that caused one of the race favourites Molner of Hungary to fall in off the start.
Both Isla and Greta established themselves at the front of a large lead group and held their positions around the opening lap.
Leading away from the first of four portages, Greta was the second boat back in the water after Szerafin of Hungary. They made up a lead group of three trying to break away after the portage, but Isla and the Argentinian boat managed to maintain contact.
Roeser put in a strong effort to lead the group, with Bethune close behind around the next lap.
It was heartbreak for the Elmbridge paddler on the second portage however. Bethune knocked her rudder on the get out of the portage causing some serious steering issues when she got back into the water.
After a fantastic start of her race, battling it out at the front of the group, Isla had to retire due to rudder issues.
Greta continued to power around the course and maintained a top three position throughout.
Her silver medal was within reach coming into the final small lap of the course after she created a gap between herself and third place.
Roeser matches her European Championships results with another silver medal in the long course. She completed the course with a time of 1:27:32.
Speaking after her race Greta said:
“I'm happy with my race today especially when I'm up against some clever racers which all contribute to the bank of experience I'm gathering.
“I'm really looking forward to watching my teammates race over the next few days”
Planet Canoe have been sharing snippets from todays racing over on their Facebook and YouTube channels.
Check out some of the highlights of Greta’s silver medal winning race below.