Pundit’s Picks for 2023 European Rowing Championships

With four exciting days of racing ahead, we spoke to our panel of experts to find out what they were most looking forward to at this year’s European Rowing Championships.

The men’s double sculls is the largest boat class of these European Championships, and it is the one that Martin Cross is particularly excited about.

“I can’t wait to see the match up between the Sinkovic brothers and Boucheron and Androdias. The French were the stand out crew from last year’s World Championships and are the reigning Olympic champions. The Croatians finished 4th last year but the Zagreb World Cup showed they are nearly back to the form that saw them take Olympic Gold in Rio. It will be a race to savour.”

From the men’s double, to the women’s double, the boat class of particular interest to Camilla Hadland-Horrocks, who said; “I’m excited to see World Rowing’s Women’s Crew of the Year 2022, the Romania women’s double back in action. I can’t wait to see if anyone overhaul the Olympic and European Champions unbeaten streak. With Simona Radis coming back into the boat as a late addition, will they be on top form, or will this open the door for the Dutch, or even the Irish?”

Meanwhile, Brian ‘Richie’ Richardson is looking forward to the men’s eight. “GB have made just one change to their unbeaten crew line up from 2022. All eyes will be on Germany to see how they will perform recovering from a disappointing 2022 World Championship. The Dutch 8 had a remarkable comeback in the final last year to recover a bronze after their boat stopping crab. All 3 of these should be in the mix for medals on Saturday.”

It was in the British men’s eight that Greg Searle raced in on Lake Bled, back in 2011, so he’s familiar with the course. “I’m excited for everything in Bled. It is such a beautiful course and the scenery is unique.” For him, it’s the men’s single sculls that is the boat class of interest;

“It has been great to see Olli Zeidler showing his ability to win in different and difficult conditions. Bled will produce a new challenge and he will face the Olympic champion Stefanos Ntouskos, who we know loves the bouncy water.”

Peter O’Hanlon couldn’t decide between the men’s quad or the men’s single sculls:

“The men’s quad is going to be a good test of the winter training programmes for the World Championship medalists of 2022, whose line ups remain largely unchanged from last year. Poland 2022 world champs, GB silver medalists and Italy Bronze weren’t in Zagreb for the first World Cup earlier this month, so I can’t wait to see what they can do!”

“Also, the last time we were in Bled for a senior World Rowing event (aside from the Masters) was the 2nd World Cup of 2015. In the men’s singles, Damir Martin is the only returning A-finalist from 8yrs ago where he placed 6th behind some legends of the single. Soon to be Olympic Champ Mahe Drysdale took gold and the late Angel Fournier Rodriguez silver – who put in a memorable performance in one of his more successful years on the water – and the likes of Synek and Campbell. Now with Ntouskos, Zeidler, Borch, Nielsen and others… a new set of legends is emerging!”

Which boat class are you looking forward to most? Let us know!

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