A total of seven golds were won by Spain on the opening day of competition staged at Lake Jels in the town of Vejen.

There was a Spanish one-two-three in the men’s C1 55-59 category headed by Pedro Areal who triumphed in 1hr 17min 54.49sec.

Marcelino Cacabelos came second in 1:22:24.26 followed by Enrique Miguez in 1:25:47.67 to complete the hat-trick for Spain.

Manuel Craviotto set the ball rolling for Spain when he won the men’s K1 65-69 title in 1:10:02.84. 

Britain’s Brian Greenham captured the men’s K1 70-74 crown in 1:14:26.51.

Norway’s Steinar Morch came out on top in the men’s K1 75-79 class, winning in 1:22:24.23.

Sweden’s Eva Lindback emerged victorious from the women’s K1 65-69 category, triumphing in 1:02:32.08.

Australia’s Ann Green was the only competitor in the women’s K1 70-74 class as she clocked 1:12:08.98.

Ruth Scales tipped the balance in a Danish one-two as she claimed the women’s K1 over-75 title in 1:09:17.17, beating compatriot Esther Jensen who finished in 1:18:56.60.

Germany’s Bruno Pieperbeck secured the men’s C1 65-69 crown with a time of 1:06:23.88.

There was only one athlete featuring in the men’s C1 70-74 category, with Australia’s Antony Bond crossing the finish line in 1:37:08.39.

Latvia’s Jurijs Kopasovs was the lone competitor in the men’s C1 over-75 division, finishing in 1:30:31.29.

Belgium’s Laurens Pannecoucke topped the standings in the men’s K1 35-39 class after coming home in 1:20:01.15.

Norway’s Johan Brekke claimed victory in the men’s K1 55-59 category, while Japan’s Takayuki Kokaji sealed the men’s C1 35-39 crown in 1:25:48.07.

There was also delight for Japan in the men’s C1 40-44 division, with Issei Takenaka crossing first in 1:17:45.29.

The men’s C1 45-49 class was won by Denmark’s Carsten Scales in 1:18:06.84.

Julian Serrano of Spain delivered men’s C1 50-54 gold in 1:15:49.94, while Ulises Aranda beat Adolfo Monteagudo in an all-Spanish battle for men’s K1 45-49 top spot, winning in a time of 1:23:25.06.

Spain triumphed again in the men’s K1 60-64 category after Francisco Varquez won in 1:27:08.53.

Finland’s Emmi Vehkalahti was the only entry into the women’s K1 35-39 division, finishing in 1:18:12.00.

Denmark’s Jeanette Raahauge scooped top prize in the women’s K1 40-44 class after posting a time of 1:14:12.07.

Anke Trilling ensured another win for Germany when she crossed the finish line first in 1:19:23.07 in the women’s K1 45-49 division.

Lajos Gyokos of Japan claimed men’s K1 40-44 gold in 1:20:39.07 before Norway’s Mattis Naess sealed the men’s K1 50-54 title in 1:23:34.60.

There was more success for Spain when Belen Sanchez won the women’s K1 50-54 title in 1:16:11.17 before Margarita Fernandez clinched the women’s K1 55-59 crown in 1:20:01.64.

Esther van Lohuizen of The Netherlands was also a winner on the opening day, sealing women’s K1 60-64 gold in 1:23:41.39.

"What a great feeling to finally see the masters races unfold today," said Christian Jacobsen, chief executive for the Danish Canoe Federation.

"We are here to create the best possible setting for an unforgettable experience and a fair race for the participants and we got off to a flying start.

"I dare to say that we in Denmark have the surroundings, and the community to create a professional, festive and a sustainable event beyond the ordinary."

Lars Lundov, chief executive at Sport Event Denmark, added: “Great atmosphere, great support from many spectators and great results by the masters.

"The ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships prove that sport unite people and that we can add to the experience with side activities and a sustainable focus.

"Together with the host city and the national federation we are working on UN's Global Goal No. 17: Partnerships.

"We are collaborating to create an environmentally friendly event.

"I look forward to much more all this in the coming days."