Slovenians Benjamin Savšek, Anže Berčič and Luka Božič tackle a tricky course at the European Canoe Association European Canoe Slalom Championships ©ECA

Slovenians Benjamin Savšek, Anže Berčič and Luka Božič took a step to the top of the podium as the first medals were awarded at the European Canoe Association European Canoe Slalom Championships in Pau, France.

The trio collected silver medals at the 2017 championships in Tacen, Slovenia, but dominated the men's team canoe event in the south of France to add gold to their collection.

In an gripping race, Savšek, Berčič and Božič were only 0.16 seconds faster than the second-placed French team of Denis Gargaud Chanut, Martin Thomas and Cedric Joly. 

Russian paddlers Dmitrii Khramtsov, Kirill Setkin and Pavel Kotov were third. 

Pre-race favourites Slovakia finished fourth, despite star man Michal Martikan, 2016 Olympic C1 silver medallist Matej Benuš and Marko Mirgorodsky, taking to the course.

The French national anthem rang out following the women's team kayak event, with French trio Marie-Zelia Lafont, Lucie Baudu and Camille Prigent producing the best run to win gold.

German representatives Ricarda Funk, Jasmin Schornberg and Elena Apel were second, while Austrians Corinna Kuhnle, Viktoria Wolffhardt and Nina Weratschnig picked up bronze medal.

French trio Marie-Zelia Lafont, Lucie Baudu and Camille Prigent topped the podium at the European Canoe Association European Canoe Slalom Championships in Pau, France ©ECA
French trio Marie-Zelia Lafont, Lucie Baudu and Camille Prigent topped the podium at the European Canoe Association European Canoe Slalom Championships in Pau, France ©ECA

The men's team kayak event was dominated by Czech stars Jiri Prskavec, Vit Prindiš and Vavrinec Hradilek.

The trio completed the course more than four seconds quicker than Slovenians Peter Kauzer, Niko Testen and Martin Srabotnik in second. 

Germany collected a second medal of the day as Hannes Aigner, Sebastian Schubert and Stefan Hengst came third.

British paddlers Mallory Franklin, Kimberley Woods and Sophie Ogilvie won gold in the last team race, the women's canoe event.

They were 0.29 seconds faster than the second-placed German team of Elena Apel, Jasmin Schornberg and Andrea Herzog.

Czech paddlers Tereza Fišerova, Eva Rihova and Katerina Havličkova won bronze.

After the race, Woods could not hide her delight.

She said: "I am just happy we managed to keep it together as a team.

"I got some penalties I was worried about. I am really happy."

Earlier in the day, Woods recorded the fastest time in the women's canoe heats, ahead of Spain's Nuria Vilarrubla and German Herzog.

Great Britain's Joseph Clarke, Prskavec and Oschmautz produced the best times in the men's kayak heats.

Tomorrow the championships continue with semi-finals and finals in women's kayak and men's canoe events.