Germany's Hacker and Thiele establish themselves

Of the seven finals races – raced over a 2000m distance – the results remained quite similar to the long distance trials held last month. Kristof Wilke and Richard Schmidt are still the fastest men’s pair combination, enhancing their chances of remaining in the German World Champion men’s eight. 

Linus Lichtschlag and Lars Hartig improved their chances of staying in the lightweight men’s double sculls when they finished first and second respectively in the lightweight men’s single at these trials. The duo’s closeness of speed was noted as they finished the race just one second apart.

Marie-Louise Draeger went one step closer to putting herself back into the German lightweight women's double sculls by winning the lightweight single. Draeger took time out of the double last season and raced to two World Champion titles in the lightweight single scull and quadruple sculls. Draeger is setting herself up to be in the lightweight double at next year's Olympics and she looks to be on track at this stage. 

For Marcel Hacker his four-second win over Lauritz Schoof sent a message to selectors that, despite his time off from rowing in the second half of 2010, Hacker is back as Germany's fastest single sculler. Anne-Katrin Thiele also sent a positive message to selectors. Thiele was the fastest female at last month's trials and she remained the fastest over the shorter, 2000m distance. 

The women’s pairs raced in new combinations compared to a month ago and at the top of the pile this time were Nadine Schmutzler and Katrin Reinert. Both Schmutzler and Reinert raced in their country’s women’s eight early in the season last year, but neither of them made the final World Championships boat.

In the lightweight men’s pair the combinations remained similar to last month’s long distance trials and the top three finishers were an exact mirror with Martin and Jochen Kuehner finishing first, three seconds ahead of Bastian Seibt and Lars Wichert. 

The trials, on Lake Fuelingen in Cologne, Germany, were raced in good conditions and were the first small boat trials for 2011. This is part of ongoing tests to choose Germany’s national team for this year’s international race series which culminates in the World Rowing Championships (in Bled, Slovenia) at the end of August.

The trials were also used as a starting point to help select the junior (under 19) national team for 2011. They will compete at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Eton, Great Britain at the start of August. 

Results

Men’s Pair
1. Kristof Wilke, Richard Schmidt 6:39
2. Andreas Kuffner, Eric Johannesen 6:40
3. Gregor Hauffe, Florian Menningen 6:41

Men’s Single Scull
1. Marcel Hacker 7:02
2. Lauritz Schoof 7:06
3. Eric Knittel  7:08

Lightweight Men’s Pair
1. Jochen Kuehner, Martin Kuehner   6:46
2. Bastian Seibt, Lars Wichert    6:49
3. Matthias Schoemann-Finck, Jost Schoemann-Finck 6:52

Lightweight Men’s Single Scull
1. Linus Lichtschlag 7:08
2. Lars Hartig  7:09
3. Christian Hochbruck 7:13

Women’s Pair
1. Nadine Schmutzler, Katrin Reinert 7:34
2. Lisa Kemmerer, Ronja Schuette 7:35
3. Kathrin Thiem, Ulrike Sennewald 7:38

Women’s Single Scull
1. Anne-Katrin Thiele 7:48
2. Britta Oppelt  7:54
3. Peggy Waleska 7:54

Lightweight Women’s Single Scull
1. Marie-Louise Draeger  7:59
2. Anja Noske   8:01
3. Lena Mueller   8:05