Among the competitors at the German University Rowing Championships in Bad Lobenstein were teams comprising students from Bremen who were defending their titles in two boat classes. Altogether, though, Bremen students triumphed in several other classes, too, taking five championship titles, three vice championships, and two bronze medals.
In the finals of the women’s coxless four, Annika Reinke, Franziska Goldgrabe (both from the Bremen University of Applied Sciences, Wiebke Schütt (Jade University of Applied Sciences) and Ann-Kathrin Weber (University of Bremen) effortlessly crossed the line ahead of the competition to the day’s first victory. In the light women’s double sculls, Melanie and Lisa Baues fully lived up to their exceptional reputation to dominate their final.
“Not in my wildest dreams would I have thought that last year’s two titles were just the prelude of more to come”, declared team leader, Sören Dannhauer (University of Bremen) when the day was over. In the women’s coxless double, Weber und Reinke won a convincing victory to make their second gold of the championship, whereas the Baues sisters this time only managed a silver.
A Hat Trick for the Men’s Double Four
The men’s double four put up a splendid race with Kim Fürwentsches (Bremen University of Applied Sciences), Knud Lange, Joos Lange and Sören Dannhauer (all from the University of Bremen). After 2010 and 2011, Bremen‘s team of the year won their third championship title in a row, setting a record in the student rowing scene that will surely be very hard to beat.
In the mixed eight, Kristine Kühl (University of Oldenburg), Bolko Maass, Maren Trapp (both from the University of Bremen), together with the Baues twins, Dannhauer, Goldgrabe and the two Lange brothers were up against a top-class international field. The Bremen boat held back until the 600-meter mark before putting on a burst of speed to cross the line three-quarters of a length ahead of their nearest rival – another gold!
While the women’s and men’s eights in a racing alliance with Hamburg and Karlsruhe each managed to finish vice champions, the men’s double and single sculls, and the women’s coxless double each took bronze.
And last but not least, after this stupendous weekend, the University of Bremen‘s light double sculls, women’s coxless double, and the men’s double four were nominated to take part in the 2013 European Championships.
Stormy Weather: High-Tech Boats Sent Spinning through the Air
There was also a downside, though. On Saturday evening a strong storm followed by two whirlwinds swept over the regatta location on the Bleilochtalsperre. A number of trees were uprooted and several high-tech boats were sent spinning into the air, causing damage to at least three of the Bremen boats.
Notwithstanding this setback: “Five titles and a total of ten medals – that’s awesome!”, says Klaus Achilles, leader of the University of Bremen’s sports program, full of pride over his athletes superb performance. In the overall ranking, the 30 students from Bremen clad position 3, from a total of 500 participants from 43 universities.
BU: German University Champions 2012: Bremen men’s double four, with Sören Dannhauer, Joos Lange (both from the University of Bremen), Kim Fürwentsches (Bremen University of Applied Sciences) and Knud Lange (University of Bremen).
