Versailles witnesses international rowing

A future classic or a nice regatta in a historical location?

The Mayor of Versailles supports it. The President of the Management Board of Versailles supports it. The President of the French Rowing Federation supports it. And even the French Minister of Sport supports it.

What do they support? The creation of a classic international regatta in the fantastic location of Versailles.

Le Chateâu de Versailles is the classic castle built by the French King Louis XIV, the Sun King. It seems that the only thing he did not foresee back in 1667 when he ordered the construction of his 1,700 by 60 metre, Grand Canal at Versailles, was the eight-lane, 2,000-metre construction that makes up a standard rowing course.

The Grand Canal is in a spectacular location. It is surrounded by woods with the famous castle straight ahead, just up the hill from the finish line.

Saturday’s regatta was a huge step forward for rowing. To stage an international regatta in such a wonderful location is perfect for the promotion of rowing. Thanks to the efforts of the French Federation, the French national team was joined by national teams from Australia, Germany, Great Britain and Poland for this inaugural event. The racing was solid with some surprise results. (Please visit www.avironfrance.asso.fr for a full list of results.)

There was a good crowd on this cloudy, windy Saturday at Versailles. The organisers had gathered all living French Olympic medallists and had a wonderful exhibition of rowing boats from throughout history.

The question is: Where is this event going? What will turn it from a nice regatta into a classic? This is a great opportunity for rowing to add this event to the calendar which brings rowing to the people rather than making the people go out to find rowing! This is a wonderful challenge for the French rowing leaders to ponder. The rowing community will all benefit from its success.

Australia’s women make the trip worthwhile

It was the Australian women who stood out last Saturday 4 June at the inaugural International Regatta of Versailles. The event included quads and eights over a 1,500-metre course and in the women’s quad Australia fought a close battle to take first by less than half a second.

This surprise result came at the expense of Great Britain who won last month at the first Rowing World Cup and Olympic champions Germany who did not finish the race after colliding with a duck.

The Australian women did it again in the eight reversing their results at the Rowing World Cup in Eton by finishing well ahead of Great Britain. The British struggled ending up third behind Germany.

The German men’s eight continued their 2005 unbeaten record by remaining comfortably in front of France with Great Britain finishing just a bow ball back in third.

A close three-way finish in the men’s quad had Poland just managing to stay ahead of Great Britain with France finishing one second off the leaders in third. 
 
RESULTS

Women’s Quad
1. Australia, 4’45″35
2. France, 4.’46″02
3. Great Britain, 4’46″70

Women’s Eight
1. Australia, 4’31″59
2. Germany, 4’34″46
3. Great Britain, 4’39″28

Men’s Eight
1. Germany, 4’06″32
2. France, 4’09″59
3. Great Britain, 4’09″94

Men’s Quad
1. Poland, 4’15″41
2. Great Britain, 4’15″99
3. France, 4’16″89

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