African rowers gain racing experience

By Melissa Bray

The ever-expanding Tunis International Rowing Regatta in Tunisia attracted a mixture of African and European nations to the Tunis Lake rowing course.

Tunisia’s National Technical Director Fayçal Soula said it was great for African nations to be able to race against countries from Europe. But, he commented, that was still a long way to go to improve in the level of racing.

“It’s a good opportunity to prepare for the African Games (July in Algeria) and the Pan-Arab Games (November in Egypt),” said Soula. “Organising this at the beginning of the year means that we can have countries prepare for races in the coming season.”

Tunisia boated the largest team and finished at the head of the medals table. Top lightweight rower Ibtissem Trimech finished first in the open women’s single while Mohamed Mhenni gained silver in the lightweight men’s single. This silver comes on the heels of Mhenni’s bronze medal finish at February’s FISA Team Cup.

Tunis Lake is establishing itself as a popular racing venue. It has already played host to the Arab Championships, the Mediterranean Games and the FISA African Olympic Qualification regatta prior to the 2004 Olympics.

Medals Table
1. Tunisia  
2. Great Britain
3. Belgium

Results
Lightweight men’s single
1. Bonny Logar, GBR
2. Mohamed Mhenni, TUN
3. Elong Samual Moukouboulan, CMR

Lightweight women’s single
1. Frederique Van de Velde, BEL
2. Rihab Ouerghi, TUN
3. Imen Mouelhi, TUN

Lightweight men’s double
1. Sahbi Khardani, Aymen Mejri, TUN
2. Larry Syms, Bonny Logar, GBR
3. Samir Alloui, Abdelkrim Hamiche, ALG

Men’s single
1. Andrea Serventi, ITA
2. Paul Etia-Nboume, CMR
3. Yoan Farrugia, FRA

Women’s single
1. Ibtissem Trimech, TUN
2. Rabeb Ben Nouri, TUN
3. Frederique van de Velde, BEL

Men’s double
1. Bileo Aouididi, Chamseddin Ochi, TUN
2. Sahbi Khardani, Aymen Mejri, TUN
3. Claudio Petrillo, Andrea Serventi, ITA

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