17 May 2014
Press Release
954 rowers from 19 nations will participate in the European Championships for Indoor-Rowing on Jan. 26/27, 2013 in Essen-Kettwig!
Although the winter has control over Germany at the moment, a European Championship will take place in Essen-Kettwig next week. Races will not be on the water but indoor on 24 Concept2 rowing machines, which are connected with a computer. The Kettwiger Rudergesellschaft, which organised the EuroOpen 2010 already, is happy, that 954 rowers from 19 nations will participate this year. Rowers aged from 17-80 years and in two weight classes can achieve a European Championship title in Indoor-Rowing. The Spectators can expect elite rowers like Olympic Champion Tim Grohmann, as well as competitive rowers of all levels.
The oldest female athlete is 79 year old Paulette Billand fro France and the oldest male rower comes from Russia, Igor Loyko (74). In the main race (final on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013 at 12.30 p.m.) World- and European Champions will compete against each other in the Senior Mens race. 24 year old Tim Grohmann from Dresden, who won the Olympic Gold medal in the Quadruple Sculls on Dorney Lake last summer, won the European as well as the World Championships in Indoor-Rowing in 2010 already. We look forward to his race against Pavel Shumei (36 years) from Belarus. He is not as fast on the water as Tim, but has won several titles on the Rowing machine and is physiologically very strong.
In the Lightweight Mens race Pedro Fraga from Portugal, who was fifth in the Lightweight double at the Olympic Regatta will challenge the Germans Lars Hartig (Lightweight Double in London), Lars Wichert, Jochen und Martin Kühner (all Lightweight Four in London).
The organising team in Kettwig is very grateful for the confidence that was placed in them to organise this outstanding sport event in Europe for the second time now. Kettwig is a very beautiful suburb of the metropolis Essen. Due to the unique atmosphere and the spectator- and media-friendly presentation, Kettwig has became one of the most popular places for the supporters of indoor rowing over the past ten years.
The event will take place in the coliseum of THG School, which has been the venue of Germany’s number one indoor rowing event, the “NWRV Indoor-Cup” for many years now. Athletes will find perfect conditions. The enthusiastic spectators will make it a boiling pot the athletes will never forget.