02 Jan 2018
The year that was… junior rowing
In 2011 the European Rowing Junior Championships began. These have helped to further promote the development of junior rowing on the European continent and 2017 turned out to be a bumper year for the championships.
The Youth Olympic Games, which began in 2010, has also helped the promotion of junior sport. They are held every four years with the next edition in 2018. Qualification for this event began in 2017 and will continue through the beginning of 2018. In 2017 the World Rowing Junior Championships was the main qualification regatta.
World Rowing Junior Championships
When and where… 2-6 August 2017, Trakai (LTU)
Number of entries… 742 rowers, 258 boats
Number of participating nations… 39
Number of events on programme… 13 (seven for men, six for women)
Most medalled nation… Romania, with 6 medals (2 golds, 2 silvers, 2 bronzes)
Photo gallery…here.
Next year’s edition… 8-12 August 2018 (Racice, CZE)
What they said in 2017…
Megan Hancock, South Africa, silver (W1x)
“That was really exciting. Everyone was so fast. I didn’t know where I was going to come. The last 250m was incredible, I was just praying for the finish line. Last year I was in the eight and we didn’t do so well, so I really enjoyed it this time. This place is great, it’s like a mini-Olympics for me.”
Sofie Sumanova (c), Czech Republic, gold (W8+)
“This is unbelievable, we didn’t think we would get to here. We actually didn’t know we had won, we thought we had come second and we were happy with that. It was not until we landed and our coach told us we won that we believe it.”
Charalampos Ntinenis (s), Greece, bronze (M2x)
“We both thought it was a great race, a perfect race. it is so cool to medal in such a big competition. There were a few rough patches, but we are very happy.”
Maria Tivodariu (s), Romania, gold (W2-)
“I think it was our best race. I still don’t believe it’s real. We tried to go very fast off the start and finish really strong. This is my last year as a junior, so it’s great to end like this.”
Youth Olympic Qualification
When and where so far…
– World Rowing Junior Championships in Trakai, Lithuania, from 2-6 August 2017 http://www.worldrowing.com/news/junior-champions-crowned-and-yog-qualification-begins-lithuania
– Asian YOG Qualification Regatta, Singapore, 11-14 October 2017 http://www.worldrowing.com/news/asian-crews-qualify-for-the-youth-olympic-games
– Qualifications so far… here.
– More information on the qualification process… here.
– Upcoming qualification regattas: Americas YOG Qualification Regatta – 10-12 April 2018 (Cordoba, Argentina)
– European YOG Qualification Regatta – 26-27 May 2018 (Gravelines, FRA)
– African YOG Qualification Regatta – July 2018 (Algiers, ALG)
– Oceania YOG Qualification Regatta – TBC
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European Rowing Junior Championships
When and where… 20-21 May 2017, Elfrather Lake (Krefeld, GER)
Number of entries… highest so far – 582
Number of participating nations… 33
Number of events on programme… 13 (seven for men, six for women)
Most medalled nation… Germany, with 11 medals: five golds, four silvers, and two bronzes.
Next year’s edition… 26-27 May 2018 (Gravelines, FRA)
More information… here.
Coupe de la Jeunesse
When and where… 28-30 July 2017 in Hazewinkel, Belgium
Interesting fact… 130th anniversary of the regatta
Number of events on programme… 13
Number of participation nations… all 13 European member nations of the regatta
Number of entries… 217 boats
Overall winning nation… Great Britain
More information… here.
Next edition… 27-29 July 2018 in Cork, Ireland