Entries announced for the first stage of the 2011 Samsung World Rowing Cup, in Munich (GER)

The first regatta of the season on the international rowing calendar carries an air of expectation about it. This is a chance to see how crews have progressed through the months of winter training and also an opportunity for the world to see what new line-ups the coaches have created. Munich is no exception with a number of reshuffles as well as some unexpected surprises.

Sitting in the stroke seat of Denmark’s lightweight men’s four is Eskild Ebbesen who is nothing less than the king of the lightweight four. He owns three Olympic golds from this event and he is back after a post-Beijing break. Also back and together for Denmark are Beijing Olympic medallists in the lightweight men’s double sculls, Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Quist.

Great Britain, which finished last season as the clear World Cup winner, is sending a large and formidable squad to Munich. Hoping to build on their 2010 success, most of the British crews will be the ones to beat. Their unbeaten 2010 flagship crew, the women’s double, however, will be missing Anna Watkins who is out due to injury. Watkins’ partner, Katherine Grainger will still race but with Melanie Wilson.

Recent early-season racing in the women’s single scull has hinted that the event has opened up and will not be the closed shop that it has been in recent history. An exciting new level of competition has started with Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic having beaten Ekaterina Karsten last weekend in Philadelphia. The men’s single is also looking very interesting with defending World Cup and World Champion Ondrej Synek (CZE) facing the incredible talents in the mens single who are continually stepping the pressure up.

The lightweight men’s double sculls has attracted the most entries with 35 boats competing to make it to Sunday’s final. Great Britain’s Olympic and World Champions, Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter are the crew to beat with Italy likely to put up a strong fight.

 A full Rowing World Cup event by event preview will be available on the new www.worldrowing.com from Wednesday 25 May.

Entries and race schedules are available from today on www.worldrowing.com or by clicking here.

The event finals will be video streamed live on Sunday 29 May and can be accessed through the video section of the website.

The World Rowing Cup series was launched in 1997, and includes all 14 Olympic boat classes. The overall World Rowing Cup winners are determined after a series of three regattas. This year, the three stages of the series will be held in Munich, Germany (27-29 May), Hamburg, Germany (17-19 June); and the final in Lucerne, Switzerland (8-10 July).

Media accreditation can be requested through the website www.worldrowing.com