Sven Kramer extend European skating title by another year

HEERENVEEN – Dutch skater Sven Kramer, who recently extended his national championship by another year, also repeated the feat on the European level. It is Kramer’s third European championship in a row, winning first place in the 5K, 1550 meters and 10K races. He placed fifth in the 500 metre race. Wouter Olde Heuvel placed third overall, Carl Verheijen fifth, and rising young Dutch talent Koen Verweij, who fell in the 500m race and lost 30 seconds as a result came in tenth. Kramer is also world champion. In the women’s matches, Paulien van Deutekom settled for a fourth place, Renate Groenewold fifth, Dutch overall champion Ireen Wüst sixth and Elma de Vries seventh.