It is the most wonderful time of the year. As the wake in powerhouse begins to rattle against the walls with coaching launch after coaching launch and the basin becomes a sad lonely place that only UBC visits, we all count down the days until the HOCR. Some of us with panic and some with anticipation. This morning Nils Hoff, of the Borch/Hoff Norwegian Doubles that won World Championships this past summer, tweeted a pic of the Boston skyline (@nilshoff), evidence that we’ll soon see the elite scullers practicing the turns.
2012 featured a staggering number of Olympians reuniting (and competing) at the Charles. A fair sure have returned for 2013 and are bringing with them some fresh new faces from the international scene. Check out our review of who to watch in the Men’s and Women’s Championship sculling events below.
Championship Men’s Singles - (4:31 PM)
After winning this event from the very back of the pack, Kjetil Borch is back! He’s fresh off a gold medal at the 2013 World Championships in the men’s 2x and with clean water, we’re hoping to see a course record time from this Norwegian Sculler. Borch’s 2x partner, Nils Hoff has also made the trip to Boston this fall and will start at bow 4. Whelpley, the US Senior 1x representative finished just two seconds behind Borch at the 2012 HOCR and will return at bow 2. Also watch out for John Graves, brother of long-time Men’s Championship 2x winners Peter and Tom. He competed in the Men’s 2x this summer at World Championships and has been posting fast times up in the Northern Kingdom. And let’s not forget about Mahe Drysdale, winner of the 2011 HOCR and 2012 Olympic Gold medalist, back at bow 7. Mahe had a bit of a rough go in the 2012 HOCR but we’re hoping for a performance akin to 2011 when he powered methodically through the field from bow 8.
Championships Women’s Singles - (4:41 PM)
After three straight wins in this event-division, Gevvie Stone is back at bow 1. She’s raced this event for Windsor, Princeton and, finally, Cambridge Boat Club winning a total of 8 times. Ursula Grobler (bow 2), who has raced at the Elite level for both the US and South Africa and won this event-division in 2009 will have to hold off recent World Championship silver medalist, Emma Twigg at bow 3. Knapkova, 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist, will start at bow 5 and will also be competing on Sunday in the Women’s Cambridge Boat Club “Great 8”. 2012 was her first year tackling the Charles course so we’re expecting to see her move up in the field. Also keep an eye out for former HOCR Lightweight 1x champion, Kristen Hedstrom, moving into the Championship category this year. Her 2x partner from their 2013 World Championship silver medal winning boat, Kate Bertko is seeded at bow 4, between two of the fastest female scullers in the world (Twigg and Knapkova).
Championship Men’s Doubles - (3:35 PM)
Sam Stitt and Matthew Miller return to this division after their 2nd place finish in 2012 at bow 1. The 2012 event saw the fall of three-time champions, Tom and Peter Graves who got caught in weeds and veered severely off-course. Tom and Peter will both be competing in different events this year. Nor will the three Tideway Scullers boats of Olympian Scullers who claimed 1st, 3rd, and 4th. This year Stitt and Miller’s competition will be of the more local variety with Nick Trojan and Austin Meyer, the 2013 US Lightweight 2x at bow 3. The Georgian National Team may be an unfortunate late scratch with a medical issue to one of the scullers occurring just this week. Lastly, keep an eye out for the Mongolian Rowing Association at bow 8. These scullers both learned to row at University in the United States and while they are not yet on the elite international racing scene, we’re thrilled to have our first ever Mongolian team participating.
Championship Women’s Doubles - (3:46 PM)
With few returning entries in this event, two elite scullers from Cambridge Boat Club’s “Great 8” entry will lead the pack. Magdalena Lobnig and Ingle Janssen will team up in bow 1 after racing against each other this summer in the singles event at World Championships. Lobnig (Austria) and Jannsen (the Netherlands) placed 4th and 6th respectively. Chasing them will be the scullers from the Canadian Senior Quad, silver medalists at 2013 World Championships, broken into two doubles and competing as the London Training Center. Sarah Schwegman and Marika Page at bow 4 are the only returning medalists (Lightweight) from 2012.
From a cursory (and in depth) look at these event-divisions, the Champ Singles looked stacked with talented international athletes and it could be the year of an upset in the Women’s division. The Championship Doubles, on the other hand, could go back to club US programs this year with strong entries in the men’s division from Potomac and UBC. Either way, get yourself to a bridge or line up on the banks to catch these four races.
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10/16/2013 6:51:44 PM