Starting tomorrow, Hamburg will host the season highlight for the very young junior athletes of the DRV. From September 30 to October 1, 2023, 37 athletes from 29 clubs will compete for the German team at the international Open Baltic Cup for juniors in Hamburg Allermöhe. “We have a motivated and talented young team competing here. In some boat classes, we were even able to allow two boats to start, which is permitted for us as the host nation. I look forward to seeing the boats in action. The atmosphere is great, and everyone is excited to represent the German colors with dignity,” says Adrian Bretting, the U19 national coach, proudly. At the same time, a city comparison will also be held on the regatta course. Junior rowers from Berlin, Bremen, Dresden, Hamburg, Potsdam, and Rostock will compete here.

“For us, the Baltic Cup is a competition for next year’s prospective team. Our best B-juniors and younger A-juniors can gain their first international competition experience here and then hopefully enter preparations for the upcoming season motivated and with momentum. A special feature is that on Saturday, the regular 2000m distance will be covered, while on Sunday, competitors will race over the 500m short distance. Exciting races are guaranteed,” the U19 national coach says, looking forward to the weekend.

A total of almost 400 junior rowers from nine nations—Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, and Sweden—are participating in this year’s Baltic Cup. “Preparation for most German boats took place in their home clubs. Additionally, both double sculls, the men’s coxless four, and a women’s coxless four were able to participate in the German-French high-performance sports exchange of the DRJ in Macon. This is always a great measure for us, especially to help form the team boats,” Bretting reveals.

The competition is organized by the Allgemeiner Alster-Club, the Norddeutscher Ruderer-Bund, and the Landesruderverband Hamburg. “I am naturally delighted that the LRV Hamburg and its regatta team were willing to bring the Baltic Cup back to Germany after 2016. Many thanks to the entire team! As the German team, we want to support Hamburg in being good hosts. However, that’s primarily on land! On the water, we want to use our home advantage and deliver a strong performance in front of our home crowd. The trophy for the overall victory should, of course, remain in Germany,” Bretting explains with a wink.

Further information about the event can be found here.