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WSAP Anniversary Reception
The Water Sports Department of the Hamburg Police Sports Association e.V. has met with a grand anniversary reception on June 24, 2023, to officially celebrate its 100th anniversary. In the presence of Wolfgang Maennig, honorary chairman of the German Rowing Association, and Sylvia Pille-Steppat, vice president of the Hamburg Sports Association, as well as other guests of honor from sports associations, the over 100 attendees enjoyed a beautiful afternoon with boat christenings in the best weather and gained further insights into the club, which, with 550 members, is one of the largest water sports clubs in Hamburg.
Since April 1 (no April Fool’s joke) 1923, canoe and rowing sports have been practiced at WSAP, and in 2000, dragon boat paddlers also joined, from whose ranks the current chairwoman Britta Mesecke comes. The attendees listened with interest to her explanations of the club’s history.
Naturally, the successes achieved by WSAP athletes from all disciplines in national and international regattas, world championships, and Olympic Games were mentioned. However, it was also important for her to point out that recreational sports and social activities are highly valued at WSAP. She proudly stated that WSAP is among the inventors of canoe polo.
Treasurer Guido Schaudin presented the joint gift from the Hamburg rowing family on behalf of the AAC/NRB State Rowing Association. Together with Wolfgang Maennig, both highlighted the successes and achievements from the perspective of rowing in their welcoming speeches.
With Iris Völkner, WSAP counts one of the most successful German female rowers among its members. A multiple German champion and Olympic medalist, she remains closely associated with the club today. However, a special athletic achievement of a completely different kind was accomplished by the WSAP rowers Timna Bicker, Meike Ramuschkat, Catharina Streit, and Steffi Kluge, who with their
Wellenbrecherinnen team mastered the 5,000 km Atlantic crossing from La Gomera to the Caribbean in a rowing boat as the first German team at the turn of 2019/20. Beyond these special achievements, it is also the everyday rowing sport in Hamburg and beyond that makes WSAP an institution. There is no event in Hamburg where WSAP rowers are not present, often even across generations in one boat.
And another aspect distinguishes WSAP. Many of the (former) volunteers in the AAC/NRB State Rowing Association have their home on the Isebek Canal:
Timna and Timo Bicker (formerly Board of Hamburg Rowing Youth and currently Regatta Staff), Horst Fehrle (formerly State Coach), Christian Fründt (formerly Regatta Office), Hartmut Meyer (formerly Treasurer), Heiko Radtke (formerly 1st Chairman of Hamburg Rowing Youth), Birte Senska (formerly 1st Chairwoman of Hamburg Rowing Youth and currently Auditor).
From the association’s perspective, therefore, there is reason to look back with pride and gratitude on 100 years of WSAP and to wish ‘oarlock and oar break’ for the next 100 years, or (with a wink) always a hand’s breadth of keel under the water, as one of the guest speakers mistakenly said.
Text and Photos: Guido Schaudin