Olympians race at the 2016 World Rowing Masters Regatta

Nearly 3,000 participants from 48 nations and 580 clubs raced over 1000m at four-minute intervals. The winner of each heat won medals.  Germany and Great Britain sent the highest number of entries, with 497 and 394 rowers respectively, followed by Denmark with 293 participants. Excluding mixed events, female rowers represented 35.5 per cent of the entries.

Masters rowing events are held in 11 age categories, with category “A” starting at 27 years of age and category “K” for crew averaging 85 years of age or more.

Notable participants this year included multi-Olympic Champion Eskild Ebbesen from Denmark who raced in the men’s eight as well as in the men’s four. Germany’s multi Olympic medallist in the men’s single sculls, Thomas Lange, also raced in various events.

A specially-formed women’s quadruple scull named “The 1976 Olympians” marked the 40^th Anniversary of women’s rowing at the Olympic Games by rowing in Copenhagen. In the coxed quadruple sculls 40 years ago, Sandra Kirby and Guylaine Bernier from Canada finished ninth while Denmark’s Judith (Solveg Seitzber Andersen) Lyster finished sixth and Norway’s Tone Pahle finished tenth in the single sculls.

Pahle, chair of FISA’s Masters Rowing Commission, stated: “It has been a fantastic regatta. Before the start there’s always the concern that the logistics might cause a problem, but the organising committee has really made it work. They have set an example that we will use for our future events. The volunteers have put in a massive effort to make it a great regatta.”

The World Rowing Masters Regatta is a boost for many athletes to train throughout the season, as Pahle explains: “They come to make friends and a lot of them are already planning to make new crew combinations for next year.”

The World Rowing Masters Regatta also provides a good opportunity to train new umpires in a busy environment, says Pahle.

“What makes me very happy is the increased number of women competing and the growing number of A-category participants. We would like to retain the rowers after they retire from elite or university level rowing and include them into the master’s community. These athletes are a great role model for the younger generation.”

For results click here. 

Next year, the World Rowing Masters Regatta will be held in Bled, Slovenia, from 7 to 10 September. For more information about the regatta, please click here: http://www.wrmr2017.com/