Champions Gather for the Croatian Open

The Croatian Open, traditionally one of the first regattas in the Croatian and Slovenian season took place in Zagreb on April 6 and 7.

Close to a thousand rowers from four countries (Croatia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Turkey) took part in 155 races over two days. 50 final races were held.

The event saw the participation of many of the world’s top international athletes:

In the men’s single scull Iztok Cop and Luka Spik, (Slovenian Olympic champions from Sydney 2000 in the men’s double scull) confronted each other in an exciting race. Both took an early lead from the rest of the field, but the victory came to the more experienced Cop who won in 6.58,50. Spik followed with a time of 7:00.82 and Bozic, also from Slovenia, came third in 7:15.37.

In the women’s single scull, Miroslava Knapkova from the Czech Republic (tenth in last year’s World Championships in the single scull) raced against 2001 World Championships lightweight single’s finalist from Croatia – Mirna Rajle and showed her talent by leading her to the finish line on both days.

The men’s coxless pairs was raced between members of the Croatian men’s eight (Olympic bronze medallists in Sydney and silver medallists at last year’s World Championships) and last year’s bronze medal Slovenian coxless four. The Skelin brothers from Croatia – Niksa and Sinisa – showed a fast start but the Croatian crew of Kresimir Culjak and Igor Francetic and Slovenians Rok Kolander and Matej Prelog were close behind.

In last 500 meters Culjak and Francetic made a strong push and took the first place in a time of 6:42.20. The Skelin brothers kept their advantage and took second place in 6:46.94 and Kolander and Prelog from Slovenia finished third in 6:47.31. The second Slovenian crew composed of Janez Klemencic and Milan Jansa – fourth in Sydney in 2000 – rowed in fourth.

On day two of racing, the strongest race was in men’s coxless four. Winning pairs from the day before, Croatians Culjak, Francetic and the two Skelin brothers combined in one coxless four, against the famous Slovenian four from last year – Klemencic, Jansa, Kolander, Prelog.

Although the Croatian crew was faster in the pair on the previous day, the Slovenians showed their strength in this discipline and won in 6:04.45 leaving second place to the Croatians in 6:07.22. The second Croatian crew made up of Maric, Bajlo, Vucicic and Martinov took third place in 6:11.06

The next test for Croatian rowers will be in less than three weeks time on April 27 and 28 at the Zagreb Open. Crews for the first international competitions in both Junior and Open categories will be announced after the event.