Bled International Regatta - another step in selection

In between Rowing World Cup racing, regattas are taking place throughout the world as crews aim to get faster and coaches work on their final team selection for the World Rowing Championships. The 50th annual Bled International Regatta in Bled, Slovenia was no exception.

Nine countries from the region (450 athletes) competed with many of the senior rowers preparing for the Mediterranean Games or the final BearingPoint Rowing World Cup in Lucerne. Junior racing was also used for selection as the World Rowing Junior Championships loom closer.

Over the three-day regatta crews raced in heats on Friday, finals and heats on Saturday and finals on Sunday. Although local hero Iztok Cop did not compete (he is recovering from a cold) the crowds still turned out numbering some 1,000 spectators.

In one of the highlighted races of the weekend, the men’s single, Slovenia showed their sculling strength with Cop’s doubles partner, Luka Spik winning both days. On the Saturday Spik out-rowed Germany’s Olympian Robert Sens and then beat fellow countryman, Athens Olympic single sculler, Davor Mizerit on the Sunday.

At the head of the field in the women’s single Slovenia’s Majda Jerman won both finals over Serbia & Montenegro’s Iva Obradovic who recently returned from competing and studying in the United States where she was selected as one of the top university rowers for 2005 (All-American).

The men’s double had shared honours. In Saturday’s final Slovenia’s Rok Kolander and Matej Prelog won the gold. They did not race on Sunday. Instead Serbia & Montenegro’s top single sculler, Nikola Stojic teamed up with junior Milan Uzunovic to win the gold. Uzunovic is best known for medalling in the single at last year’s World Rowing Junior Championships.

The regatta course on Lake Bled is world-renowned as one of the most picturesque places to row and the fairness across the lanes for racing. Many people still have fond memories of the Bled 1989 World Rowing Championships – Bled’s third time hosting the World Rowing Championships. Bled is the national training centre for Slovenia and most training camps are held there. The local club can now claim Olympic Champions Iztok Cop and Luka Spik as their own – two of the most decorated sportspeople in Slovenia’s history.

For a full list of results go to: www.timing-mojstrana.com

Content thanks to Vojin Jovanovic

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