"VAN" (Sports Desk - 16.09.2024) :: The 2024 World Rowing Masters Regatta saw around 600 races taking place on the historic Beetzsee Regatta Course, competed by more than 3600 athletes, representing 721 clubs from four continents. From the individual men’s and women’s age groups, to the mixed events, the regatta had hugely competitive athletes mixed with virtual novice rowers through to Olympians.
Athletes, volunteers, organisers and spectators had unanimously a great experience on the shores of the Beetzsee, with tremendous races during the day and great entertainment around the course.
Ron Chen, chair of World Rowing’s Masters Commission, stated: "Each of the previous editions of the World Rowing Masters Regatta has contributed its own unique experiences and memories for the masters rowing community, and now the 2024 regatta of Brandenburg, the 50th anniversary regatta, joins this list. It has been a fantastic event that reinforced the bonds of friendship among all rowers. Despite sometimes challenging weather conditions, we conducted over 600 races. My congratulations go to the Organising Committee, with whom we have been working for over two years to make this event happen, and to the people of the city and state of Brandenburg for their warm hospitality."
Volker Gramatter, chair of the 2024 World Rowing Masters Regatta's Organising Committee, added : "We want to thank our volunteers, sponsors and especially the city of Brandenburg for their unlimited devotion to support this event. The positive feedback we received from the community delights us and makes us confident that we will be able to organise further international events in the future."
The 600 races had rowers grouped by those nearest in age. The F men's single sculls (54 to 59 years of age) had the most entries with 139 competitors.
The World Rowing Club Trophies were awarded on Saturday afternoon. For the women’s category, it was a great performance from Steeringuwright of Arizona, USA, who won by more than 80 points over Cornelis Tromp Hilversum of the Netherlands. But with their great performances on the men’s side – they won by more than130 points over Region Grand Est of France - Sport Club Corinthians Paulista of Brazil took home both the men’s Club Trophy Award and the overall Club Trophy Award.
Notable participants this year included Olympic Champions Nico Rienks, Julia Liar and Olympic medallists Fini Sturm, Christiane Huth or Maximilian Planer who raced in various events, on their home soil.
Saturday night, the members of the "Octos" were honoured. This group celebrates active rowers 80 years of age and older. Within this group, the oldest competitor of the regatta was Walter Wagner from Germany. Wagner is impressively still rowing at the age of 98 years old, within the M age category (89 years and over).
Next year, the 2025 World Rowing Masters Regatta will be held in Banyoles, Spain, from 10 to 14 September 2025.
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