Who will take the 2024 World Rowing Cup crowns?

The third and final regatta in the 2024 World Rowing Cup series is ahead this week, with entrants from 40 nations heading to Poznan, Poland for World Rowing Cup III. The regatta will determine the winners in each individual boat class, as well as the overall winner of this year’s trophy.

How the World Rowing Cup Points work

The World Rowing Cups are an annual series of three regattas. Each Olympic boat class earns points based on the finishing order. The highest placing boat from a country is awarded the following points:

1st = 8 points, 2nd = 6 points, 3rd = 5 points, 4th = 4 points, 5th = 3 points, 6th = 2 points, 7th = 1 point

At each regatta, the member federation with the most points at that regatta will be declared winner of the World Rowing Cup Regatta Nation Cup. Following the completion of all three World Rowing Cup regattas in each year, the title of World Rowing Cup Champion in each World Rowing Cup boat class shall be conferred on the member federation with the most points earned from racing in that boat class in all three World Rowing Cup regattas. Each year the member federation with the most points overall from all World Rowing Cup boat classes in all three World Rowing Cup regattas will be declared winner of the World Rowing Cup for that year.

1. World Rowing Cup (boat class) Winner: The member federation with the most points in a particular World Rowing Cup boat class after the conclusion of the final World Rowing Cup each year shall be awarded the trophy for the World Rowing Cup Winner for that boat class for that year.
2. World Rowing Cup Winner: The member federation with the most points over all boat classes after the conclusion of final World Rowing Cup each year shall be awarded the trophy for World Rowing Cup Winner for that year.
3. Equal Points
   1. In the event of more than one member federation having equal points for either the title of World Rowing Cup (boat class) Winner or the title of World Rowing Cup Winner, the member federation gaining the higher number of relevant points at the final World Rowing Cup regatta shall be the Winner;
   2. In the event that a tie is not resolved in the above manner, the member federation gaining the higher number of points at the previous World Rowing Cup shall be the Winner. If that still does not resolve the tie then the member federation gaining the higher number of points at the World Rowing Cup I shall be the Winner.

Individual boat classes

Current standings

Women’s Pair (W2-)

The Netherlands won the women’s pair at both World Rowing Cups so far and have a five-point lead over Ireland. But Ymkje Clevering and Veronique Meester are sitting Poznan out, so it is up to Ilse Kolkman and Willemijn Mulder to try and close out the overall win. Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh could take it for Ireland if they win and the Dutch pair come sixth or worse in Poznan.

Men’s Pair (M2-)

Similarly to the women’s pair, the men’s pair leaders Great Britain have 16 points with second-placed Switzerland on 11, but Tom George and Ollie Wynne-Griffith are not racing in Poland. That could open the door for Roman Roeoesli and Andrin Gulich, but the British do have two development boats racing. GBR 1, Matthew Heywood and James Doran, were part of the British-Dutch composite crew which beat the Netherlands’ men’s eight at the Holland Beker Regatta the other weekend, so could well be fast enough to secure enough points to get Britain the win.

Women’s Double Sculls (W2x)

The women’s double sculls is a tight contest. Norway currently have 11 points, ahead of the Netherlands with nine and the USA with eight and Australia with six. Another good showing from Thea Helseth and Inger Kavlie ought to be enough to close out the overall event win, but Australia and the Netherlands are not out of the running. The USA have not entered a crew in Poznan.

Men’s Double Sculls (M2x)

Melvin Twellaar and Stefan Broenink took both wins so far for the Netherlands, and as second-placed Italy (12 points) have no crews racing in Poznan and Ireland are third with six points, the men’s double sculls is guaranteed to go to the Dutch this year, regardless of the outcome of World Rowing Cup III.

Women’s Four (W4-)

The women’s four will be won by Great Britain, who lead the standings with 16 points after their selected Olympic crew won both World Rowing Cups to date. Second-placed Netherlands have 11 points, but are not racing this boat class in Poznan; neither are third-placed the USA, who in any case have five points and would be unable to catch the British even if they were racing.

Men’s Four (M4-)

Great Britain lead the men’s four standings too, with 11 points. The closest nation also racing in Poznan is New Zealand, who have six points after their second place from World Rowing Cup II – so the Kiwis could overturn the British if their Paris-qualified crew has a very good regatta and the British ‘Project LA’ boats do not.

Women’s Single Sculls (W1x)

After two wins for Karolien Florijn in the women’s single sculls at World Rowing Cups I and II, only a win for Germany’s Juliane Faralisch in Poznan would take the overall title from the Netherlands. Germany currently have nine points thanks to Alexandra Foester, ahead of six for Australia.

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x)

Oliver Zeidler’s win in Varese and Simon van Dorp’s victory in Lucerne means Germany and the Netherlands are currently tied with 14 points apiece in the men’s single sculls, well ahead of all other nations. Neither are racing in Poznan and the Netherlands have not entered a sculler in this event so any points for Julius Rommelmann would swing the World Rowing Cup event win to Germany.

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x)

Nobody can take the World Rowing Cup crown from the British lightweight women’s double sculls, after two wins in the first two regattas for Emily Craig and Imogen Grant. While the world champions are not racing in Poznan, no other crews competing are close enough to overturn the Britons at the top of the rankings.

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x)

Italy will pick up the lightweight men’s double sculls title, as they currently have 16 points ahead of Switzerland with 12 and neither crew are racing in Poznan – the Swiss double having withdrawn after the close of entries. None of the three nations competing at World Rowing Cup III have points in this event at the moment.

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x)

Germany is likely to win the women’s quadruple sculls. Currently, Britain and the Netherlands are tied with 12 points apiece at the top of the rankings, but neither have quads entered in Poznan. That means Germany (nine points) are in pole position, although Switzerland (six points) could also emerge top if they win the four-boat race and Germany are last.

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x)

With the Netherlands sitting pretty on top of the men’s quadruple sculls rankings, with 16 points, and no other competing nations in Poland closer than six points, this title will go to the Dutch. Great Britain and Italy are currently joint second with 10 points, but Poland and Switzerland could both edge into second with good performances in Poznan.

Women’s Eight (W8+)

A win for one of the two Australian crews, or Romania, would hand them the women’s eight World Rowing Cup win for this year. Both nations currently have five points, seven behind leaders Great Britain with 12 – so the eight points available for victory would be enough for the win.

Men’s Eight (M8+)

Only an outright win for Germany in the men’s eight would stop Great Britain from finishing the season atop the leaderboard. The British, who are not racing World Rowing Cup III, have a perfect 16 points while Germany have eight; a win in the final regatta would tie the Deutschland Achter on points and hand them the overall win. No other nation competing in Poznan can overtake the British.