Germany starts national testing

Waleska winning the women's single

Over 350 rowers, all hoping to make it onto the 2009 German national team, raced last weekend.

This first trial of the 2009 season was held in Dortmund in wintry conditions on the Dortmund Ems Canal and it was the debut trial for new German head coach Hartmut Buschbacher.

Buschbacher, who returns to Germany after coaching predominantly in the United States, but also in China, had the triallists racing over a 6000m distance. Following the rowers on his bike, Buschbacher said he was satisfied with the results.

The most exciting race was in the men’s single. Olympian Karsten Brodowski was favoured to win after finishing second in this year’s Armada Cup (in Switzerland). But Brodowski found himself being chased hard by under-23 rower, Tim Bartels. At the finish only one second separated the two rowers with Brodowski just squeaking home in first with a time of 22:54.

The third and fourth places in the men’s single were just as close with Rene Burmeister (23:04) finishing one second ahead of Daniel Makowski.

The women’s single had 41 rowers line up with Peggy Waleska taking the first place, comfortably ahead of Annkatrin Thiele who was followed by Stephanie Schiller. Both Thiele and Schiller medalled at the Beijing Olympics, Schiller winning silver in the closely fought women’s double and Thiele taking bronze in the women’s quad. Waleska was not part of the Beijing Olympic team but won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics (women’s double).

There were also trials in the pair, lightweight single and lightweight pair and the junior equivalents.

For a full list of results click here.