With the first day proper of the European Championships in Krakow, Poland completed last night (Thursday), Scottish Olympic hope Tim Baillie (Aberdeen) and his C2 partner Etienne Stott (Bedford) have taken one step closer to Sunday's final and gaining an Olympic qualification spot.

After completing heats 1 and 2 on the white-water of the Vistula River, the British are ranked in 5th place, comfortably within the all important top ten boats that go forward to the next round.

Unfortunately, and despite making a clean (penalty free) second run they finished a massive 13 seconds adrift of the leading Slovakian pair, Pavel and Peter Hochschorner (206.69).

To have any hope of qualifying for the Olympics, Baillie and Stott must reach and take gold in Sunday's final – the day of Baillie's 29th birthday.

All the action, including the performances by Scottish Olympic qualifiers, Campbell Walsh (K1), David Florence (c) and Fiona Pennie (K1) can be followed on Eurosport at the following times:

Saturday 10 May 2008
08.45 - 09.45 Highlights From the K1W, C1, K1M & C2 Team Championships
10.00 - 13.00 K1 Women & C1 Semi-Finals
Sunday 11 May 2008
08.45 - 10.30 K1W & C1.Finals
17.30 - 18.30 K1M & C2 Finals
Monday 12 May 2008
11.15 -12.15 K1M + C2 Finals