Richard Varga, Hannah Kitchen, win European Aquathlon Champs

Gold for Great Britain while Richard Varga delights the home crowds

With the 2017 ETU Aquathlon European Championships taking place in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, it was no surprise to to see the presence of four-time ITU Aquathlon World Champion, Richard Varga, flying the flag for the host country. That the race also fell seven days prior to The Championship in Samorin – which Richard will also be racing – helps make it a very convenient trip from his Leeds base, with two ‘home’ races in seven days.

Did he win? Well that’s just say I wrote the headline for this article four hours before the race started. Of course he did!

Our own super swimming triathlon legend @Varga_triathlon with Polish friends at the European aquathlon champs @HUUBPolska albacore speed pic.twitter.com/z9pWzo7HTT

— HUUB Design (@HUUBDesign) May 27, 2017

Great Britain’s Hannah Kitchen is no stranger to these championships. Winner in 2015 (Cologne), second in 2014 (Cologne) and third in 2016 (Châteauroux), the Brit has already had a full-house of ETU Aquathlon medals, alongside her World Championship Bronze from 2014 (Edmonton).

This year she was back again – and she was back on top. Perhaps the way the British women have been racing of late, that should be no surprise! Team Manager Ian KITCHEN (!) was obviously very pleased…

We have Elite 🥇winner @ETUtriathlon European Aquathlon Champs in Bratislava this evening. Hannah Kitchen! I know that name 😀👌🏻@BritTri

— Ian Kitchen (@IanKitchenTri) May 27, 2017

Walking on water 💁🏻
Went for it with 3k to go on the run 👉🏼 #winnerwinner
Delighted to take the win 👊🏼 European Aquathlon Champion 🎊 pic.twitter.com/BVJGkejUgS

— Hannah Angell (@hannah_kitch) May 27, 2017

Bratislava ETU Aquathlon European Championships – Saturday 27th May 2017
1km swim / 5km run

ELITE

Men

1st – Richard Varga (SVK) – 28:13
2nd – Dmytro Malyar (UKR) – 28:36
3rd – Mark Devay (HUN) – 28:38

14th – Nathan Tweedie (GBR) – 29:45 (5th in Elite U23 race)
31st – David Bartlett (GBR) – 31:22

Women

1st – Hannah Kitchen (GBR) – 32:11
2nd – Romana Gajdosova (SVK) – 32:18
3rd – Zsanett Bragmayer (HUN) – 32:30