Nina Flack, Helen Johnsson defend Doubles title in Women's European Championships

    06/15/10

    2010 WEC

    Top seeded Swedes beat Finland to win the first gold medal of the championships

    2010WECDoublesHelenJohnssonNinaFlack.jpgNina Flack and Helen Johnsson (r-l) claimed the first gold medal at the 3rd Women's European Championships 2010, when the Swedes successfully defended the Doubles title Monday at Zelta Boulinga Center in Riga, Latvia.

    In the championship match, the 2008 WEC Doubles champions defeated Finland's Piritta Kantola and Krista Pöllänen, 454-429. Flack had 233 and Johnsson added 221 while Kantola had 248 and Pöllänen 181.

    The top four doubles after the 12 game preliminaries - first block of six games on short oil, the second block on long oil - advanced to the playoffs. Flack and Johnsson leaped from fourth to first place Monday thanks to a 2685 series (223.75 avg,) on the long pattern, the highest of all 53 doubles from 21 countries, to earn the No. 1 seed with 5393 pinfall total and an overall average of 224.71.

    Johnsson, the 2006 WEC Masters champion, had the field-best six game series on long oil (1396) and the highest individual 12-game series (2796; 233 average). Defending WEC Masters champion Flack contributed 2597.

    In the semifinals, the Swedes met No. 4 seeded Hayley White and Lisa John, England, who led after the first block on short oil. Johnsson rolled a 220 game to carry her team to a 399-352 win.

    In the other semifinal, the Finns, seeded second, eliminated No. 3 Rikke Holm Rasmussen and Sascha Wedel, Denmark, 492-437, thanks to a 278 game by Krista Pöllänen.

    Finland took the silver medal and England and Denmark shared the bronze medal. The 3rd Women's European Championships 2010 will continue Tuesday and Wednesday with the Trios preliminaries and playoffs.

     


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    3rd Women's European Championships 2010 - Doubles Finals


    Championship Round:
    1. Sweden (Nina Flack/Helen Johnsson)
    2. Finland (Piritta Kantola/Krista Pöllänen)
    3. Denmark (Rikke Holm Rasmussen/Sascha Wedel)
    (tie) England (Hayley White/Lisa John)

    Playoff Results:
    Semifinal Match 1: #1 Sweden (Nina Flack 179/Helen Johnsson 220) def.
    #4 England (Hayley White 189/Lisa John 163), 399-352
    Semifinal Match 2: #2 Finland (Piritta Kantola 214/Krista Pöllänen 278) def.
    #3 Denmark (Rikke Holm Rasmussen 204/Sascha Wedel 233), 492-437
    Championship: Sweden (Nina Flack 233/Helen Johnsson 221) def.
    Finland (Piritta Kantola 248/Krista Pöllänen 181), 454-429.

     


    Doubles - Standings after preliminaries


    12 games, first block of six games on short oil, the second block on long oil. The top 4 advance to the playoffs.



    Team High Game/High Series (long oil):
    1 Game: 508 - Katrien Goossens/Carolin Witvrouwen, Belgium
    3 Games: 1380 - Nina Flack/Helen Johnsson, Sweden
    6 Games: 2685 - Nina Flack/Helen Johnsson, Sweden

    Individual High Game/High Series (long oil):
    1 Game: 279 - Kamilla Kjeldsen, Denmark
    3 Games: 729 - Hayley White, England
    6 Games: 1396 - Helen Johnsson, Sweden