World Rowing joins with the Holland Beker Regatta: Stage two of the 2007 Rowing World Cup Series

More than 750 rowers from 43 countries will gather on the Bosbaan regatta course to compete in 20 events, including one international adaptive rowing event.

Winners of the first stage of the series, Great Britain, will travel to Amsterdam in force with the highest number of boats (23) and athletes (79), with entries in all but three events. China also have 23 boats entered boating 65 rowers. Home team Netherlands will defend their national pride and try to satisfy their orange-clad supporters with a contingent of 75 rowers taking part in 14 out of 20 boat classes.

This second stage sees the return of the New Zealand team including 2006 World Champion in the single sculls Mahe Drysdale competing in the 36-strong field. The men’s single is also the “Holland Beker” or “Holland Cup” event, so double stakes are at hand for anyone competing in this race.

A total of 18 women’s single scullers will also fight for the traditional women’s Holland Beker – the Ladies’ Trophy – in addition to the fiercely fought after Rowing World Cup points. Top points and trophy are in contention among a strong field including Bulgaria’s Rumyana Neykova, back now from maternity break, France’s Sophie Balmary and Germany’s Peggy Waleska.

Also returning from New Zealand after months of winter training down-under, twins Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell get their first chance for revenge after a surprise defeat in the women’s double at last year’s World Rowing Championships. In the absence of the Australian World Champions Brooke Pratley and Liz Kell, Germany’s 2006 silver medalist Susanne Schmidt (who has doubled up with Manuela Lutze) are the only others to put their bow ahead of the Kiwi twins.

A full event by event preview will be available on www.worldrowing.com from Wednesday 20 June.

Entries and race schedules are available at the following links from today:

Race schedule
Summary of Entries by Event
Full country by country list of Entries

The event finals will be video streamed live on Sunday 24 June and can be accessed through the www.worldrowing.com website.

The Rowing World Cup series was launched in 1997 and includes all 14 Olympic boat classes. The overall Rowing World Cup winners are determined after a series of three regattas. Germany has dominated the series since its beginning ten years ago. This year, the three stages of the series are held in Linz/Ottensheim, Austria (1-3 June); Amsterdam, the Netherlands (22-24 June); and the final in Lucerne, Switzerland (13-15 July).

Visit the official website of the International Rowing Federation and the Rowing World Cup www.worldrowing.com, for a full list of entries, a racing timetable as well as an extensive boat class preview. During racing, this website will provide live scoring, interviews, photographs, press releases, start lists and full results.

Media accreditation can be requested through the website (www.worldrowing.com > media > media accreditation).

About Amsterdam and the Bosbaan Regatta Course:

The unique combination of Old World charm and cosmopolitan culture, Amsterdam is one of the most popular cities for international visitors. People are captivated by the atmosphere of Amsterdam’s lively 17th century city centre with its narrow streets and tree-lined canals.

Perched on the edge of the Amsterdam forest, the Bosbaan rowing course has great infrastructure for international regattas. At the height of the Dutch rowing season this man-made course hosts the annual Royal Holland Beker regatta, a not-to-be-missed rowing festival attended not only by local rowing clubs and universities but also by top class international athletes.

Last year the Holland Beker celebrated its 120th anniversary. The regatta is organised by the rowing club KR&ZV de
Maas from Rotterdam and the Amsterdam student rowing club Skøll, and is this year the second stage of the Rowing World Cup series.

A favourite feature of the Koninklijke-Holland Beker has to be the moving grandstand which allows avid fans to follow each race from start to finish without leaving their seat. Tickets for this “must try” experience can be purchased on site. Access to the rest of the venue is free.