We’re under 23 and we’re off to row in Germany

Starting Thursday, 17 July, over 700 rowers aged under 23 will converge on Brandenburg, Germany, to race at the 2008 World Rowing Under 23 Championships. They will come from all corners of the world. From as far away as Australia and New Zealand and as close as Germany who sends a huge contingent of 65 athletes and coxswains.

Competing in 20 events the men’s eight is likely to be one of the highlights of racing with a huge field of 12 countries. This event has been dominated recently by the heavyweights in rowing, Canada, Germany and the United States. But last year Estonia surprised everyone by finishing first. They are back to continue building their team towards senior success and again challenge the larger nations. Meanwhile the women’s eight continues to mature with two more countries participating as it goes into its third year as an under-23 event.

The lightweight men’s double is well-represented with 22 countries participating. Hungary’s Tamas Varga and Peter Galambos will go into it as favourites. The duo finished with silver last year and have stuck together to give gold a crack. Hungary also have a good chance in the lightweight women’s double. Sisters Zsofia and Mariann Novak have joined together and will bring experience with them into their racing.

Watch out for Karl Schulze and Tim Grohmann of Germany in the men’s double. They won silver last year and with Belarus’ 2007 gold medallists off to the Olympics this year, the top spot has opened up. But Schulze and Grohmann will again meet Charles Cousins and Bill Lucas of Great Britain. Cousins and Lucas finished with bronze last year only a fraction behind the Germans.

Two-time under 23 champions Jitka Antosova and Gabriela Varekova of the Czech Republic are using the women’s double race as a warm-up for their Olympic debut next month. They will be hard to beat even by the likes of Germany.

Joseph Sullivan of New Zealand is back in the men’s single. Sullivan comes to Brandenburg as reigning champion in this event and he will again face a hefty field, this time of 29 countries including new rowing nation Iran. Iran has also entered in the women’s single along with 14 other nations. El Salvador’s Camila Vargas goes from here to Beijing after qualifying for the Olympics through the Latin American Qualification Regatta.

Racing continues over four days with finals on Sunday 20 July. Stay tuned to www.worldrowing.com for live race commentary and results, daily race reports and the event photo gallery.

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