Historic Victory for the Netherlands at SH Netz Cup 2024

Last weekend, the town of Rendsburg saw some rowing history as the Dutch men’s eight claimed their first-ever victory at the SH Netz Cup 2024. Racing along the stunning Kiel Canal, the Dutch crew crossed the finish line with a time of 37:46 minutes, securing the most prestigious medal of the regatta and beating the home nation, Germany, by 15 seconds.

 The defending champions of Great Britain earned the bronze medal with a time of 38:37 minutes, while the USA finished fourth, clocking in at 39:12 minutes.

The race itself was nothing short of spectacular. The German men’s eight endured a challenging start, staying in last place for the first 15 minutes of the race. But midway through the race, spurred on by their coxswain Till Martini, the German team began a remarkable comeback. They surged past the British crew and later overtook the USA, securing second place in a dramatic push to the finish.

Despite the German fightback, it was the Dutch crew who remained dominant throughout the race, maintaining their lead to win their first SH Netz Cup, making it a historic moment for the team and their supporters. The Netherlands had almost their full Olympic silver medallists lineup, including stroke Mick Makker, that led his team to victory. The Germans also had nearly all their Olympic lineup competing in Rendsburg, while the Olympic champions of Great Britain sent a junior lineup to defend their title.

As always, the weekend was full of different sporting events and animations, including a concert from singer Bonnie Taylor.