The 2026 Paddle Europe Ocean Racing Championships delivered a high-level opening day in Brest, with the first eight European titles decided in the SS1 races and two standout performances coming from Bernardo Pereira of Portugal and Rosie Edwards of Great Britain.
Both athletes completed a memorable double by winning not only their Under 23 categories, but also the overall men’s and women’s SS1 races, confirming the strength of the new generation against some of the biggest senior names in European Ocean Racing.
Held over a demanding 23-kilometre course on the Brittany coast, the SS1 competition was the first part of the championship programme among the 10 official European title events confirmed for Brest 2026. The remaining two official titles – Senior Mixed SS2 and Junior Mixed SS2 – are still to be decided on Saturday.
Bernardo edges Vilella in one of the races of the day
The men’s race produced one of the closest finishes of the championships so far, with Bernardo Pereira taking overall victory in 1:33:44, just one second ahead of reigning Senior World Champion Pierre Vilella of France. Spain’s Walter Bouzan followed only two seconds further back in third, underlining the depth of the field at the front of the race.
For Pereira, the result meant an impressive double success. Already one of the headline names coming into Brest as defending European U23 champion and reigning U23 World Champion, the Portuguese paddler not only retained the U23 crown but also beat the entire senior field to take overall victory.
Behind him, Vilella secured the Senior Men’s European title, ahead of Bouzan and Germany’s Gordan Harbrecht.
Rosie Edwards also claims a double triumph
The women’s race followed a similar pattern, with Rosie Edwards producing a superb performance to win in 1:45:32 and add the overall women’s race to the U23 Women’s European title.
Her victory came ahead of Spain’s Judit Vergés Xifra, who took the Senior Women’s European title, while fellow Spaniard Chloe Bunnett finished third overall and second in the senior standings.
Edwards’ double success was one of the strongest stories of the day, as she outpaced a senior field that included several established international names. France’s Angie Le Roux completed the Senior Women’s European podium in third.
Junior wins for Italy and Portugal
The Junior races also brought strong performances.
In Junior Men, Italy’s Leonardo Candela took the European title with an excellent race that also placed him eighth overall among all men, showing just how competitive the young Italian was against older categories. Portugal followed closely behind through Pedro Moreira in second and Martim Rodrigues in third.
In Junior Women, Portugal’s Constança Frazão secured the European title ahead of Spain’s Andrea Colmard Jiménez and Great Britain’s Katie Luen-Twining. Frazão’s victory was one of the notable outcomes of the day, with the Portuguese athlete finishing ahead of one of the most highly rated junior names in the field.
Masters titles decided in two official age groups
Among the Masters categories, only two men’s age groups had the required participation of at least five countries and therefore counted for official European titles.
In Master Men 45–54, Czech paddler Branislav Sramek took gold, followed by Spain’s Oier Aizpurua and Joxemari Villagarcia Etxezarreta.
In Master Men 55–64, Germany’s Michael Dobler claimed the title ahead of Spain’s Manuel Melara, with France’s Nicolas Castryck finishing third.
Eight of the ten official titles now decided
With Thursday’s SS1 programme completed, Brest has now awarded eight of the 10 official European titles confirmed for the championships:
- Senior Men SS1
- Senior Women SS1
- U23 Men SS1
- U23 Women SS1
- Junior Men SS1
- Junior Women SS1
- Master Men 45–54 SS1
- Master Men 55–64 SS1
Attention will now turn to Saturday’s SS2 races, where the remaining two official titles – Senior Mixed and Junior Mixed – will complete the European championship programme.
Top 3 – Overall SS1
Men
- Bernardo Pereira (POR) – 1:33:44
- Pierre Vilella (FRA) – 1:33:45
- Walter Bouzan (ESP) – 1:33:47
Women
- Rosie Edwards (GBR) – 1:45:32
- Judit Vergés Xifra (ESP) – 1:46:25
- Chloe Bunnett (ESP) – 1:48:33
Top 3 – Other official European title classes decided in SS1
U23 Men
- Bernardo Pereira (POR)
- Marin Lanée (FRA)
- Josep Cifre Pascual (ESP)
U23 Women
- Rosie Edwards (GBR)
- Lara Cellier (ESP)
- Sara Mengual Francisco (ESP)
Junior Men
- Leonardo Candela (ITA)
- Pedro Moreira (POR)
- Martim Rodrigues (POR)
Junior Women
- Constança Frazão (POR)
- Andrea Colmard Jiménez (ESP)
- Katie Luen-Twining (GBR)
Master Men 45–54
- Branislav Sramek (CZE)
- Oier Aizpurua (ESP)
- Joxemari Villagarcia Etxezarreta (ESP)
Master Men 55–64
- Michael Dobler (GER)
- Manuel Melara (ESP)
- Nicolas Castryck (FRA)
27.8.2026
