Polish juniors top the Baltic Cup

Baltic Cup won by Poland

Poland’s juniors took away the Challenge Cup after two days of racing over the weekend at the annual Baltic Cup in Trakai, Lithuania.

Trakai’s Galve Lake hosted this year’s competition that is raced between juniors from the 10 Baltic countries of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Poland and Lithuania, (Germany did not attend). The event was held over two days with 2,000m on day one followed by 500m on the second day with countries scoring points for their placings.

At the end of racing Poland was on top with Denmark finishing second and Lithuania taking third place overall. These countries also entered with the biggest teams.

Ludwigsen and Asmussen celebrate in front of the famous Trakai castle

Individual stand-out performances included Kaisa Palusalu of Estonia who won the junior women’s single on both days. Also winning both days was Russia’s women’s pair of Ekaterina Jurina and Nina Ivanova, Denmark’s men’s pair of Michael Ludwigsen and Christian Asmussen and in the men’s quad locals Andrius Ptakauskas, Aidas Jarusevicius, Donatas Majauskas and Robertas Rakauskas added to Lithuania’s points tally.

The men’s single created a stir when the 500 metre dash turned into a four-way battle between Estonia, two Lithuanian crews and Sweden. Just before the finish Sweden’s Pontus Gustavsson found the pace a bit too hot and not only lost his oar but ended up in the water.

Trakai last saw international racing in 2002 when they hosted the World Rowing Junior Championships and next year international racing will return to Trakai for the World University Championships in August 2006.

Success for Lithuania in the men’s quad

Next year the Baltic Cup goes to Poznan, Poland.

For a full list of results please go to www.lif.lt

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