The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Canoeing: Florence’s golden double.
Aberdeen’s David Florence is celebrating a superb canoe slalom world championships double.
A day after becoming the first Briton to win the canoe slalom C1 world title in Prague, he yesterday added the C2 title with English partner Richard Hounslow.
The double Olympic silver medallist (C1 in 2008 and C2 with Hounslow in 2012) has now set his sights on upgrading those medals and achieving a unique double in Rio in three years.
After disappointingly missing out on the C1 final at London 2012, Florence madeamendsbytaking the world titleonSaturday. The 31-year-old then added the C2 title yesterday.
The British pair, fifthfastest qualifiers, clocked 114.10sec in the final and won the title by just 0.04sec. Home favourites Jaroslav Volf and Ondrej Stepanek clocked 112.14 but, crucially, touched a gate, and suffered a two-second penalty which reduced them to silver. Ladislav and Peter Skantar from Slovakia took the bronze in 115.63.
“It’s amazing really,” said Florence. “For two days in a row for it all to go so well and get on top of the podium again is unbelievable. To come to the world championships and get two golds is just amazing, something I thought would never be done by anyone. It’s never been done before. For it to go just right in two classesontwodays ina row is perfect.
“It’s gone so well the last couple of days and obviouslyamassivethanksgoes to Rich as well. I’m very pleased for him to have joined me only 24 hours later as the world champion.”
On Saturday, Florence clocked 100.53 in the C1 final but picked up a twosecond penalty for touching a gate early on and had to watch anxiously to see whether any of his rivals could beat him.
Eighth-fastest going into the final, another seven paddlers had to go down the course after him but none could match his
“I am very, very pleased . . . after last year’s disappointment”
time.
Slovakia’s Alexander Slafkovsky took silver in 103.36 with Slovenian Benjamin Slavsek capturing bronze (105.79).
Scotland now has a double world champion and a European champion in canoe slalom, Crieff’s Fiona Pennie having won the
ROWING: SUCCESS FOR ABERDEEN SCHOOLS
European women’s kayak crown earlier this year.
Pennie suffered disappointment in Prague, failing to make the final of her event after placing 17th in the semi- final, after touching two gates.
Florence had an agonising wait on Saturday as he watched his rivals try to eclipse him in the C1 final after he had set his mark.
“I had to sit and wait thoughIknewIwasin with a very good chance of a medal, or a good chance of maybe even holding on for the win as I watched the next seven guys come down,” he said.
“It’s incredible it went theway it didandI amvery, very pleased to have come back to this after last year’s disappointment at theLondon Games in C1.”
Florence finished his canoe slalom world championships campaign with a bronze medal in the C2 team event behind winners Czech Republic and Slovakia. Competitors from the Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association claimed victories in six of the eight age categories at the Scottish schools'headraceson theForthandClyde Canal between Banknock and Dullatur.
Aberdeen rowers also won the Scottish Junior Club Championship Cup outright for the fourth year in succession.
Winners' pennants went to: