Dominant Danes compete at 2014 EuroOpen

The events at Gladsaxe Sports Centre had crowds on their feet with tied competitions and new world records being set.

Five time Olympic medallist Eskild Ebbesen, announced his retirement from rowing after the London 2012 Olympic Games. But the recipient of rowing’s highest honour, the Thomas Keller Medal, raced in the 40-49 lightweight men’s category, proving that retirement doesn’t have to mean the end to his amazing sporting achievements. Ebbesen shaved 0.2 seconds off the previous World Record, finishing in a time of 6:16.8.

Henrik Stephansen, two-time World Rowing Champion and holder of the men’s lightweight 2000m World Record agonisingly tied his own record at 5:56.7, more than 10 seconds ahead of his closest adversary Steffen Blonde. Stephansen has spent the last nine years repeatedly beating his own world record. As the indoor season continues he will look to knock time off his current personal best.

Anne Dsane Andersen led the pack in the women’s open event, finishing in an impressive 6:48.3. She was followed by Olympic silver medallist Fie Udby Erichsen. Erichsen took a break from the sport in 2013 to have her first child and her result in Copenhagen showed that she is well on her way to the 2016 Olympics in Rio, finishing in a time of 6:52.1.

The men’s openweight category had the audience on the edge of their seats. In the last 250 metres the top three athletes, Sverri Nielsen, Frank Steffensen and Sophus Johannesen, pulled even. They went stroke for stroke to a three-way tie, with a time of 5:57.2.

A series of sprint and relay races followed the open events, completing the full day of racing. The schedule included junior, under-23, Para, masters and open events. The 791 participants came from 20 different European nations.

For the full results from European Indoor Championships, click here: http://ergometertider.dk/?regatta=dm2014&loeb=alle