Rowing through the Olympics at the Voelkermarkter regatta

While eyes were on Beijing, people continued to row at regattas throughout the world. One of these was in Austria – the 2008 Voelkermarkter Ruderregata.

Held near the village of Voelkermarkt on Lake Stausee, this was the 19th anniversary of the regatta. Over 330 crews came from Slovenia, Italy and, of course, Austria to compete in the 500 metre sprint races. The regatta attracted many top rowers including some that had competed for their country in this year’s World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Brandenburg, Germany and the World Rowing Junior/Senior Championships in Linz/Ottensheim, Austria.

Austrian rowers, Magdalena Lobnig and Lisa Farthofer made an impression in the women’s double by winning both the junior and senior doubles race in Voelkermarkt. Lonig and Farthofer won silver at the World Rowing Junior Championships this year. This success was more marked as the duo was up against Austria’s top lightweight woman, Michaela Taupe-Traer as well as Monika Sajincic of Slovenia who raced at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships finishing seventh in the lightweight women’s single.

Top under 23 rowers competing also included Austrian lightweight Florian Berg (fifth in the lightweight men’s single at Brandenburg) and Slovenians, Matevz Malesic and Dejan Sandic (sixth in the lightweight men’s double at Brandenburg). Among the top junior athletes were Ales Zupan (fourth in the double at Linz), Zan Cve and Andraz Borstnar Vasle (sixth in the pair at Linz) of Slovenia.

The weather conditions were favourable on Lake Stausee which is an artificial lake fed by the River Drava and the 500m race distance saw competitive fight some very tight finishes.  .

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