#Canoeing: Ireland’s Ronan Foley won the European junior championships in the canoe marathon K1 today. He raced remarkably well and was completely in charge at the end of an interesting 22.6 kilometre race in Metkovic in Croatia.

 Three paddlers – Foley of Ireland, Thorbjorn Rask of Denmark and Vince Petro of Hungary – broke away on the second of six laps. They stayed together until the final lap, when Foley used the final portage to secure gold. He sprinted away from the other two and when he got back in the water he extended the advantage.

 Matt McCartney of Celbridge Paddlers finished 13^th.

Canoe Marathon European Championships, Metkovic, Croatia

Men, K1, Junior: 1 Ireland (R Foley) 1 hr 41 min 2.63 sec; 13 McCartney at 7 min 16.5 sec.

#Canoeing: Ronan Foley took gold medals on Saturday and Sunday at the canoe marathon World Cup in in Viana do Castelo in Portugal. The Kilcullen man dominated the short race on Saturday, and then sprinted away from his rivals on the last portage to win the marathon test on the Sunday.

 Barry Watkins took silver in the senior race over the short course on Saturday and took 10^th on Sunday – recovering from an unwanted swim in rough conditions.

Canoe Marathon World Cup, Viana Do Castelo, Portugal (Irish interest; selected results):

Saturday

Men – K1 Short Race: 2 B Watkins 13:46.15.

K1 Short Race, Juniors: 1 R Foley 14 min 52.43 sec.

Sunday

Men – K1 Marathon: 10 Watkins 2 hr 21 min 10.20.

K1 Marathon, Junior Final: 1 Foley 1 hr 53 min 7.34 sec.