European ST Championships - Dresden, GER (Jan 17-19, 2014)

[Laura (Lori)]

This thread will be used for discussion and trip-planning for European Championships in Dresden, Germany (January 17-19, 2014).

Discuss any topics related to this event - trip-planning, pre-competition, post-competition, and 'Game Day' chat!

Before making travel arrangements, double-check with USS and ISU official schedules.

For those who are planning to attend the event, pertinent information gathered here - as it becomes available - will be summarized IN THIS 'INTRODUCTORY' POST for quick-reference.

Please share any info on the following topics that will be of help to those who will be attending the event and/or following along online:

Media Links - TV Coverage; Webcasts; Live Fan Chat, Etc.
Participating Skaters
Event Schedule and Time Zone Conversions
Venue Info
Ticket Info
Hotel Suggestions & Info
'Practical' Info - Clothing, Cameras, What to Bring, What NOT to Bring...
How To Meet Up With Other Fans
Transportation Tips (Ground and Air)
Sightseeing Ideas
Weather Reports
Carpooling/Room Sharing Connections
Links to Watch for More Info
Links To Results When The Event Has Concluded

[sk8erfan]

Overall Medalists:

Ladies GOLD: Jorien Ter Mors (NED) SILVER: Elise Christie (GBR) BRONZE: Arianna Fontana (ITA)

Men GOLD: Victor An (RUS) SILVER: Semen Elistratov (RUS) BRONZE: Niels Kerstholt* (NED)

EDIT: *Sjinkie Knegt finished in 3rd but received a red card for his actions in the relay. He was stripped of his bronze medal a few hours after the competition and he was taken off the overall results page on the isu website.

The results from the finals of the European Championships:

1500m

Ladies 1 TER MORS Jorien NED 2:35.748 34 2 HEIDUM Bernadett HUN 2:36.574 21 3 KONYA Zsofia HUN 2:36.762 13 4 CHRISTIE Elise GBR 2:49.505 8 5 FONTANA Arianna ITA 3:52.050 5 PEN VAN KERKHOF Yara NED PEN 0

Men 1 ELISTRATOV Semen RUS 2:14.541 34 2 KERSTHOLT Niels NED 2:14.734 21 3 VAN DER WART Freek NED 2:15.650 13 4 PUKITIS Roberto LAT 2:15.702 8 5 LOBELLO Anthony ITA 2:20.760 5 6 FAUCONNET Thibaut FRA 2:45.414 3 7 KNEGT Sjinkie NED 3:01.014 2 PEN LEPAPE Sebastien FRA PEN 0

500m

Ladies 1 FONTANA Arianna ITA 43.885 34 2 BORODULINA Tatiana RUS 43.923 21 3 TER MORS Jorien NED 44.233 13 4 VALCEPINA Martina ITA 44.475 8 PEN VAN KERKHOF Yara NED PEN 0

Men 1 AN Victor RUS 40.644 34 2 KNEGT Sjinkie NED 40.734 21 3 GRIGOREV Vladimir RUS 40.920 13 4 LEPAPE Sebastien FRA 41.084 8

1000m

Ladies 1 CHRISTIE Elise GBR 1:30.489 34 2 TER MORS Jorien NED 1:30.557 21 3 BORODULINA Tatiana RUS 1:30.650 13 4 HEIDUM Bernadett HUN 1:31.063 8 PEN PIERRON Veronique FRA PEN 0

Men 1 AN Victor RUS 1:24.940 34 2 ELISTRATOV Semen RUS 1:25.215 21 3 GRIGOREV Vladimir RUS 1:25.322 13 4 CONFORTOLA Yuri ITA 1:25.413 8

3000m Superfinal

Ladies 1 TER MORS Jorien NED 5:53.121 34 2 CHRISTIE Elise GBR 5:59.126 21 3 FONTANA Arianna ITA 5:59.272 13 4 HEIDUM Bernadett HUN 5:59.636 8 5 VALCEPINA Martina ITA 5:59.700 5 6 BORODULINA Tatiana RUS 6:00.041 3 7 KONYA Zsofia HUN 6:09.580 2

Men 1 AN Victor RUS 1 4:47.462 2 KNEGT Sjinkie NED 2 4:47.582 3 KERSTHOLT Niels NED 3 4:47.763 4 CONFORTOLA Yuri ITA 4 4:47.972 5 ELISTRATOV Semen RUS 5 4:48.196 6 LEPAPE Sebastien FRA 6 4:48.679 7 PUKITIS Roberto LAT 7 5:08.441 8 VAN DER WART Freek NED 8 5:33.538 9 GRIGOREV Vladimir RUS 9 6:03.350

Relay

Ladies 1. Netherlands 2. Great Britain 3. Hungary 4. Russia 5. Italy

Men 1. Russia 2. Netherlands 3. Germany 4. Italy

As I mentioned above, there was some controversy during the men's relay final. At the end of the race Sjinkie Knegt was beaten by Victor An and raises his middle fingers and then kicks out his skate. Whether this was directed at Victor An or just general frustration is in question and you can watch the video and make your own interpretations. The referees gave Sjinkie a red card but decided not to punish the entire team allowed the relay results to stand.


The rest of the finals from the Championships and a few other races are posted at this Youtube Channel for those who are interested: www.youtube.com/user/lgs1083/videos

[sk8erfan]

Here's an article about the incident in the relay. It's in Dutch but here's the Google translate version:

Knegt red card for unsporting behavior

With tearful eyes red Sjinkie Knegt was Sunday the press. The 24-year-old Friesian had frustration exhibited unsporting behavior when crossing the finish line on the redemption. The jury took the high and rebuked Knegt with a red card. This took the Dutchman his bronze medal in the individual tournament. 

While Victor An behalf of the Russians the gold fourth on the redemption, Knegt made after the line a kicking motion and showed his two middle fingers. It took Knegt a red card. What the consequences of that card would be, it was not clear a long time.

Much consternation, run and hurried consultation with the Dutch team. The referee was unable to decide after the game. However, he confirmed the red card. "That he received for his behavior after the finish line, a major misconduct," said the official, who pass on the video found the gesture of Knegt. "Unfortunately, he stopped two middle fingers to the Russian skater."

Deleted

Around 21:15 pm, about three hours after the relay, confirmed Uwe Rietzke, the race of the European Championship, which Knegt the official result was deleted.

This applied only to individual results, because he got a red card in person. The men's team was not punished by the card. This changed nothing about the result of the redemption . Netherlands retained that part with the silver.

Knegt lost his bronze medal in the overall standings and was also removed from the results of all individual distances. Niels Kerstholt moved up to third place on the podium.

Emotions

Knegt itself was all consternation not sit. In cold clothes The usually so sober Fries could barely keep his emotions under control when he talked about the incident. According Knegt the action was not directed at the referees or skater An.

"It's just the frustration of the whole weekend actually," said the former European champion, in the final of the 1500 meters went along in the fall of the Frenchman Thibaut Fauconnet and then in the 1000 meter slicing hoed by the same driver. Thus were his chances on the European title misjudged.

Knegt had regretted his action. "I blame An nothing. That boy can not help it." Anger at the decision of the jury was in Knegt therefore no question. "They just do their job. I do not know exactly what happened. I understand that reaction is."

Large hole

The redemption Knegt went head the last two rounds. The first attack of An he managed to parry, the second is not. "We had a big hole., I just do not understand that they can still come back." Although he had given everything he had felt the loss partly due to his team. "An just jumps right back. That is his right, I probably would have done myself. But I hate it for."

For the Olympics, the red card was Knegt have no impact. If he is again given a red card within twelve months, then according to the rules, a suspension of three games. A red card is almost never distributed in the short track.
schaatsen.nl/topsport-shorttrack/nieuws/2014-01-19-rode-kaart-voor-knegt-na-relay

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Something that should not be overlooked in the drama of the weekend is the fact that Jorien Ter Mors is the European champion and she's the first women from the Netherlands to win the title. She has also been named to both the short track (all distances)  and long track (1500m) Olympic teams, an incredible feat given the depth on the speed skating team in the Netherlands. She's got a lot of talent and just seems to be getting better and better.

[Laura (Lori)]

I think the Dutch team is a force to be reckoned with! As for the Sjinkie Knegt incident, I'm not entirely surprised that he reacted that way. He's a superbly talented skater, and maybe he's a really great guy - but he doesn't always come off that way. He seems to have a more difficult time than most in keeping his emotions in check. No judgement here, just an observation from the outside looking in. I AM rather surprised that his reaction caused a red card. I always assumed that a red card was for actions that caused jeopardy to other skaters - if so, it would seem a bit drastic in this situation... but obviously I'm not well-versed in those rules(?)

[sk8erfan]

I agree that on face value a red card seems a bit extreme but I looked up the rules and based on the rules it was the right call.

A penalty may be given for an infringement of the racing rules.

A yellow card may be given if an action is deemed unsafe, harmful or hazardous.

A red card may be given:
1) In the case of an infringement which is deemed by the Referee to be intentionally dangerous or grossly negligent, the Skater will be shown a red card.
2) In the case a Skater is shown two yellow cards in the same competition, the Skater will be shown a red card.
3) For any action, either on or off ice, not in compliance with Rule 125, a red card may also be shown to the Skater.

Rule 125 is about conduct for competitors and team officials and improper conduct is a violation of the rule.

[Laura (Lori)]

Well. If my Google Alerts are any indicator, Sjinkie's actions have certainly drawn attention to Short Track Speedskating in some diverse places...