Records re-written at Armada Cup

Armada Cup winnings went New Zealand’s way along with the new course records. Emma Twigg and Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand set new records when they each won their respective category of this mass single scull race in Bern, Switzerland.

New Zealander Drysdale recorded his third win in the BKW Armada Cup – setting a new course record in a time of 32.24 – for the 9km head race. Drysdale’s time was 11 seconds faster than the former record which was set by American Steve Tucker in 2005. Twigg won the women’s race finishing in 35.27 and breaking the former course record held by Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus by 13 seconds.

Fellow New Zealander Nathan Cohen finished second overall, about three boat lengths behind Drysdale. Estonia’s Kaspar Taimsoo finished third with Switzerland’s Mario Gyr taking fourth. Lightweight rower Gyr caught Drysdale off guard in the mass start by getting into the lead. After about 2km Drysdale was able to push in front on the winding Lake Wohlen course. Once in front Drysdale said he then had the luxury of being able to respond to any attacks from the rest of the field.

Gyr’s fourth place was ahead of Andre Vonarburg, Switzerland’s top single sculller for a number of years, who has been the best Swiss finisher in the Armada Cup for the past six years. Vonarburg admitted that he was not too concerned about losing that status as his fitness is currently down on former years. This year Vonarburg, who finished eighth, also acted as the event’s race director. Gyr, 24, considered his result the best of his international career especially as he defeated his role model, Vonarburg.

Last year’s winner, Allar Raja of Estonia finished fifth.

In the women’s race, Twigg successfully defended her 2008 title and finished 31st overall. Twigg stayed easily ahead of Russian Olympic medallist, Julia Levina, finishing over one minute ahead of her. Great Britain’s lightweight Sophie Hosking finished just behind Levina in third. Hosking took bronze in the lightweight women’s double at this year’s World Rowing Championships. Kaisa Pajusalu of Estonia was fourth. 

This race, entirely for singles, attracted 245 boats, and rowers enjoyed sunny, cool, tail wind conditions. Three boats were not able to finish the race due to small collisions. 

Both Twigg and Drysdale walked away with 1,500 CHF (1,450 USD) each in winnings with second and third place getting 1,000 CHF and 500 CHF respectively.

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