Sports News

In Sports News: leading Czech kayaker Stepanka Hilgert comes second in a competition seen as a dress rehearsal for next year's World Championships in Prague; young high jumper Jaroslav Baba comes second at a Golden League meeting; two Czechs succeed in swimming the English Channel; is Milan Baros bound for Schalke?; and Bohemians 1905 play their first match since the club was resurrected by a group of fans.

Leading Czech kayaker Hilgertova comes second in Prague event

Stepanka Hilgertova, photo: CTK

Prague's Troja was the venue for the traditional Trojske Kone - or Trojan Horse - kayaking event at the weekend, with all eyes on Stepanka Hilgertova, who has won Olympic and World Championship gold medals in a long and successful career. Hilgertova was keen to win in front of her home fans but came in second behind Mandy Planert of Germany.

"Considering how I felt before the competition I can't say I'm disappointed. I think I produced a thrilling performance for the spectators here by the Vltava, even though it didn't perhaps turn out as they'd expected. Mandy Planert may not have so many medals under her belt but she really has been a top class competitor and it's certainly no disgrace to lose to her."

Troja will next year host the kayaking world championships, which is sure to be a great treat for the sport's Czech fans.

High jumper Baba comes second at last big meeting before World Championships

There are just five days to go now before the athletics world championships in Helsinki. One of the main Czech medal hopefuls is Jaroslav Baba - the high jumper has been in fine form this season, setting a new Czech record of 237 cm in February. At his last big competition before Helsinki, the 20-year-old came second at a Golden League meeting in Oslo on Saturday with a jump of 229 cm; he was beaten by Sweden's Stefan Holm, who is sure to be Baba's toughest rival at the World Championships.

Two Czechs swim English Channel

Over the weekend two Czechs completed that most gruelling of long-distance swims, the English Channel. Opera singer Richard Haan succeeded on his fourth attempt on Saturday, in a time of 14 hours and seven minutes, while TV sports presenter Stanislav Bartusek made a time of ten hours and seven minutes - the second fastest Czech time ever. Professional swimmer Yvetta Hlavacova was half-way between England and France when we recorded this programme - she's hoping to set a new world record.

Baros to go to Schalke on loan?

The saga over the future of Czech striker Milan Baros continues, with Germany's Schalke first announcing they had agreed a deal with Baros, then saying they wanted to take him on loan from Liverpool for a season.

Meanwhile, Czechs Rudolf Skacel and Roman Bednar both scored on their debuts for Scottish Premier League side Hearts; former Sparta Prague and Liberec striker Michal Pospisil also signed for the club during the summer.

Bohemians play first game since resurrection

Just a few months ago we reported that a group of fans were hoping to resurrect Bohemians, which collapsed at the beginning of the famous Prague club's centenary year. Well, the fans succeeded and Bohemians 1905, as they're now called, played their first game on Sunday, a cup game against Celakovice, a village near Prague. The Kangaroos - who are now in the Czech third division - were beaten on penalties after the game ended 2:2.