Promising Season Start for the Hamburg U23 Team

For the Hamburg U23 rowers from the Ratzeburg/Hamburg federal training center, late March and early April marked the start of the national competition season: The program included the 2000-meter erg test, the small boat long-distance race in Leipzig, and the first assessments over the Olympic distance at the Small Boat Championship. The venue for this year’s championships was the traditional Beetzsee lake in Brandenburg.

The U23 athletes made a strong impression at the 2000-meter erg test in Leipzig. A remarkable 11 of the 14 participants set new personal bests – proof of successful winter preparation. Particularly noteworthy from a Hamburg perspective are Lisa Behrens (7:03 min.) and Nike Utesch (7:06 min.), both of whom shone with convincing performances. Among the men, Ben Tazir made a statement with a time of 6:05 minutes, significantly beating the required large boat standard.

The Hamburg U23 talents also impressed in the long-distance race. In the women’s coxless pair, Nike Utesch and Lisa Behrens achieved a strong fourth place in the U23 ranking, while Ben Tazir, in the men’s single scull, also held his own among the extended top contenders with an eighth place in the U23 ranking. Both boats thus impressively underscored their ambitions for a nomination to this year’s national team.

Two weeks later, Beetzsee in Brandenburg once again proved to be a challenging venue for Germany’s rowing elite. While Saturday – with quarter-finals and semi-finals – presented itself from its merciful side, offering almost windless conditions, the final day demanded everything from the athletes: Strong, lateral headwind made Sunday’s races a real challenge and placed high demands on technique and boat handling.

The results from a Hamburg perspective are all the more remarkable: Despite the adverse conditions, the U23 athletes asserted themselves with strong performances in their final races and collected important points in the fight for the coveted spots in the national team boats.

Particularly pleasing: Leo Rosenquist, who had to withdraw in Leipzig due to illness, made an impressive comeback. Together with his coxless pair partner from Münster, he achieved a strong second place in the U23 ranking – a clear statement regarding his nomination. Also in the coxless pair, Lisa Behrens and Nike Utesch finished in sixth place, confirming their stable form. However, things did not go as smoothly for Ben Tazir in the men’s single scull: After a difficult race, he had to settle for 15th place in the U23 ranking.

The next stop on the way to the U23 World Championships is the international regatta in Ghent, Belgium, where the Hamburg athletes will compete against strong competition in mid-sized and large boats. The second small boat assessment at the end of May in Hamburg will then be decisive: There, the last valuable points for the large boat crews will be at stake – and thus the final decisions for the U23 national team.