Croatia Open Launches Season

Skelin brothers (CRO) at Munich World Cup, 2002.
© Getty Images

Rowers from seven countries took part in this year’s Croatia Open, held April 12 and 13 on Lake Jarun in Zagreb, Croatia.

The regatta, which traditionally opens the season for Croatian and Slovenian rowers, was visited this year by athletes from Turkey, Italy, Austria, Slovakia and Serbia and Montenegro. 550 crews of 1000 rowers took part in the two-day event, which saw a total of 50 final races

On Saturday, Luka Spik, (Slovenian Olympic champion from Sydney 2000 in the double scull) won the men’s single scull race comfortably in a time of 7:13.40 ahead of favoured Croatian sculler Mario Vekic. Vekic finished in 7:22.06 in front of fellow Croatian Davorin Sindler who finished third. 

The men’s coxless pair was dominated by 2002 World Championships bronze medallists Sinisa and Niksa Skelin. The pair completed the race in 6:56.49 in front of Croatian men’s eight crew members Branimir Vujevic and Tomislav Smoljanovic (7:03.00) and Slovenian crew Miha Pirih and Grega Sracnjak (7:04.93).

On Sunday, Luka Spik started another successful day by winning the double sculls race as part of a new combination with Matej Prelog, member of last year’s coxless four that placed fourth in Seville. Croatians Mario Vekic and Davorin Sindler came second and Petar Milin and Frane Nisiteo also from Croatia took third place.

More excitement was put forward in the men’s coxless four where both Slovenian and Croatian team managers decided to test new combinations.

The new Slovenian crew was composed of Janez Klemencic, Tomaz Pirih, Miha Pirih and Grega Sracnjek, whilst the Croatian boat aligned Branimir Vujevic, Tomislav Smoljanovic,  Mario Vekic and Ivan Rebic. Croatia also presented a second crew made up of Igor Boraska, Damir Vucicic, Oliver Martinov and Ninoslav Saraga. The race was finished in that order – Slovenia first in 6:26.14, Croatia 1 second in 6:29.57 and Croatia 2 third in 6:31.80.

The next test for Croatian rowers will be the Open Championships to be held on 26 and 27 April in Zagreb.

The results of all races can be found on the official website of the Zagreb Rowing federation www.vsz.hr.