The ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships start on Friday January 23, 2015 in Dordrecht (NED). The European Short Track allround winners will be crowned on Sunday January 25. Unlike the World Cup where skaters race one or two distances and win distance titles, during the European Championships the skaters have to compete over four distances. The allround classification is based on the results of each skater in the three individual distances 500m, 1000m and 1500m. After the completion of the three distances only the top eight point scorers and ties on the eighth position will skate the 3000m Super Final. For the individual distances the final points 34, 21, 13, 8, 5, 3, 2 and 1 are awarded to Final A and Final B Skaters in descending order commencing with the first place in Final A and after all places in Final A have been awarded, the remaining points will be awarded to Final B in descending order starting with first place. In the case of a penalty or did not finish in the Final A, the skater(s) concerned will be awarded a number of points equal to the winner of the Final B. In the case of a penalty in the Final B, the skater(s) concerned will not be awarded any points. No points are awarded to skaters who receive a yellow or red card or did not start the race.
The competition starts on Friday with the Ladies and Men 1500, 500, 1000 meters and with the Relay Heats. On Saturday will take place the Ladies and Men Semi Finals and Finals over 1500 meters, Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Finals over 500 meters and Semi Finals Relay and finally on Sunday the Ladies and Men Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Finals over 1000 meters, Super Finals 3000 meters and Finals Relay Races will be skated.
In the Ladies’ field the reigning European Champion Jorien Ter Mors (NED) decided to concentrate on Speed Skating however five time European Champion Arianna Fontana (ITA) will be competing to get her title back. Last year’s runner up Elise Christie (GBR) is a strong contender for the top of the podium. Other skaters to look out for are 2011 silver medalist Bernadett Heidum (HUN) and Yara van Kerkhof (NED).
Reigning European and Olympic Champion Victor An (RUS) will be keen to keep his title while the Dutch team Freek van der Wart and Sjinkie Knegt will want to shine in front of their home crowd. A strong Russian team spearheaded by An and consisting of Vladimir Grigorev, Semen Elistratov, Dmitry Migunov and Ruslan Zacharov will also be pushing the squad. Frenchmen Maxime Chataignier (2010 bronze medalist) and Thibaut Fauconnet (2010 silver medalist) will also be aiming to get another medal while Jack Whelbourne and Jon Eley from team GBR hoping for their first medal.
The schedule for the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships is as follows:
Friday Jan 23: 11:15 Qualifying Rounds 1500, 500, 1000 meters Ladies & Men
Saturday Jan 24: Morning (time TBA) Ranking Races 1500 and 500 meters Ladies and Men
14:00 Semi-Finals & Finals 1500 meters Ladies & Men, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals & Finals 500 meters Ladies & Men, Semi-Finals 3000 meters Relay Ladies, Semi-Finals 5000 meters Relay Men
Sunday Jan 25: Morning (time TBA) Ranking Races 1000 meters Ladies and Men
14:00 Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals & Finals 1000 meters Ladies & Men, Super-Finals 3000 meters Ladies & Men Finals 3000 meters Relay Ladies Finals 5000 meters Relay Men