Both paddlers triumphed in short course events in the venue due to be used for the 2019 World Championships.

Races were held over three laps and two portages over a total distance of 3.6 kilometres.

Birkett, the silver medallist at last month's World Championships in Pietermaritzburg, won the men's K1 race in 13min 58.10sec.

He triumphed by just a single second after holding off the challenge of Frenchman Quentin Urban, who was second in 13:59.10.

Adrian Boros of Hungary was third in 14:00.10. 

All the top 10 paddlers finished with one minute of the winner.

Bedek won the corresponding women's race by a slightly more comfortable margin as she crossed in 15:24.60.

Anna Koziskova of Czech Republic took second place in 15:27.10, as Lize Broekx of Belgium finished 0.40 further back in third.

World bronze medallist Jennifer Egan finished fifth, over 40 seconds behind Bedek, while Great Britain’s Lizzie Broughton had enjoyed a strong start before suffering a damaged rudder and falling back through the field to finish 12th. 

Mateusz Zuchora of Poland took the men's C1 category win in 15:43.50.

Czech Republic took second place again, courtesy of Jakub Brezina, who was second in 15:57.0, and Balazs Dori from Hungary, who was third in 16:03.30.

Long distance races are still to take place.