2023 European Rowing Championships Review
Para-crews
The introduction for Paris of a PR3 mixed double has boosted this category, which as a result is now a Europeans event. This one had a straight final alongside the ever-speedy mixed coxed four, but the PR2 mixed double remained the hyper-competitive event it has always been with eight entries and a proper repechage.
The PR3 doubles had the ever-likeable Laurent Cadot and his new partner Guylaine Marchand take the first ever European title in their category, Cadot's Olympic experience and Marchand's unquenchable enthusiasm carrying them through a nail bitingly close race to triumph over Ukraine and Britain who had led them early on. At halfway there was barely a length between the two leaders, but it was in the third 500m that Cadot and Guylaine stepped on the gas, cleaving through to level and eventually pass both rivals. A good bit of bowball-to-bowball racing in mid-course reminded us how far para-sculling has come since the early days, when changes of lead or narrow margins would never be thought of. Britain eventually faded but Ukraine held France to a two-second margin.