14 Nov 2017
From pair to single, the Sinkovic brothers prevail at Silver Skiff
This first – second finish continues the success of the Sinkovics at the Silver Skiff regatta. Martin won in 2014 and 2015, then finished second to younger brother Valent in 2016.
The winning time for Martin of 40:19.70 was less than a second off the course record. Coming in third behind Valent was Switzerland’s Michael Schmid who also recorded a fast time of 40:36.12.
This year, 663 senior athletes from 26 nations entered the 11km race. The regatta also included two Kinder Skiff races for up to 14-year-olds, one over 4km with 209 participants, and the other over 1000m with 141 participants. In the para-rowing category, 26 athletes from three nations lined up.
Other notable competitors in the senior men’s single sculls category included Mahe Drysdale from New Zealand. Drysdale still owns the 11km course record which he set in 2007 in a time of 40:18.5. The Kiwi sculler, who owns multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, has won the Silver Skiff four times, with his last victory dating back to 2013. This year he finished ninth in his category and 13th overall.
Also in the senior men’s single sculls category, Italy’s Francesco Fossi, a multi world medallist, finished fifth, while Dirk Uittenbogaard from the Netherlands, a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist in the men’s eight, finished 11th.
In the lightweight men’s single sculls, Pedro Fraga of Portugal registered an impressive fourth consecutive Silver Skiff win. The multi European Championship medallist was followed by Italy’s Stefano Oppo, who won World Championship silver this year in the lightweight men’s double sculls. Finishing in third position was this year’s under-23 World Champion in the lightweight men’s four Paolo Di Girolamo, also from Italy.
On the women’s front, Diana Dymchenko from Ukraine crossed the line in the fastest time in the senior women’s single sculls – 44:27.08. Dymenchenko was second last year in the Silver Skiff as well as in 2015. Second home for the women was Kiri Tontodonati from Italy and Joana Branco from Portugal was third.
In the lightweight women’s single sculls, Italy’s Valentina Rodini who is this year’s under-23 World Champion in the lightweight women’s quadruple sculls, had the fastest finishing time at 44:33.54. Italian lightweight Federica Cesarini, the current World Champion in the lightweight women’s quadruple sculls, finished second, while Germany’s Anja Noske crossed the line in third position.
The winners of the men’s and women’s single sculls events are awarded a prize in gold coins to the value of 1,500 Euro for first place, 1,200 Euros for second place and 1,000 Euros for third place.
For full results, click here.
For course records, click here.