Danish lightweights feeling positive

Helleberg, Kruse-Andersen, Joergensen, Ebbesen

In the first regatta of the season, the Odense Long Distance Regatta in Denmark, the reconstructed Danish lightweight four made their goal clear – to win gold at the World Championships in Munich. They also demonstrated this goal is not without a solid base in reality.

Eskild Ebbesen, Morten Joergensen, Mads Kruse-Andersen, and Bo Brask Helleberg finished the 6000 metre course in 18:19.5, a new record for the course, and seven seconds faster than the previous record from the 1990's that was held by the legendary "Golden Four".

For veteran rower Eskild Ebbesen this was his 16th Odense Long Distance race and he was pleased with the crew's performance. "To us this regatta is not so much a competition, but more an opportunity to test our current strength and stamina and to feel our rhythm and balance working. But of course we are pleased that we rowed so fast.”

The next challenge for the lightweight four is the Huegel Regatta in Essen, Germany in May. Then the weekend after that they will compete at the International Copenhagen Regatta. In both regattas the four will be competing in the heavyweight class. So the Rowing World Cup in Linz/Ottensheim, Austria (June) will be the crew's first competition in the lightweight class and all four members are confidently looking forward to being tested against competitors of the best on the international scene.

The final crew for the lightweight four will not be selected until after the second Rowing World Cup in Amsterdam (end of June). But if the positive development of the current combination continues, national coach Bent Fransson admits that he will lack the arguments to make any changes.

Copy thanks to Bente Saugmann, Danish Press Officer