2017 Holland Beker Regatta men's single winners, Synek, Martin, Krueger
2017 Holland Beker Regatta men's single winners, Synek, Martin, Krueger

Synek, the Rio Olympic bronze medallist in the single, clocked a fast time of 6:38 ahead of Martin who finished in 6:42. Martin beat Synek earlier in the day when they raced in the same semifinal, but Synek won when it counted taking away a prize package that included 3000 Euros. This was Synek’s fifth Holland Beker win. Coming in third was Germany’s Stephan Krueger who clocked 6:47. Krueger last raced internationally at the Rio Olympic Games in the men’s double.

After the race Synek made reference to the recently broken World Best Time in the men’s single. The time was set at 6:30 by Robert Manson of New Zealand earlier this month at World Rowing Cup II in Poznan. Synek said he was very happy with his victory despite not beating the World Best Time.

The Holland Beker men’s single race received the most entries at the regatta with 26 scullers racing. Overall there were more than 500 crews entered across events that included a range of junior, under-23 and senior races.

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The Ladies’ Trophy saw last year’s winner, Emma Twigg of New Zealand finish in third with the win instead going to local Dutch sculler Inge Janssen. Janssen raced to silver at the Rio Olympics in the women’s quadruple sculls and after she had finished, Janssen said that the race “felt old and familiar”. American lightweight rower Mary Jones finished four seconds behind Janssen in a time of 7:29 with Twigg in third at 7:33. Like Krueger, Twigg last raced internationally at the Rio Olympics where she finished fourth in the single.

Janssen is the first Dutch winner of the Ladies’ Trophy since 1995 with the dominant winner in recent years being Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus.

The fast times recorded was despite there being head wind conditions on both days of racing. The water, however, remained relatively flat. One course record was broken when the Dutch national team under-23 men’s eight rowed a 5:28.9 to win the men’s eight final. The senior national team men’s eight was unable to race due to injury.

The Holland Beker Regatta has a long tradition and is one of the highlights of the Dutch rowing calendar. This year 19 nations took part including Australia and New Zealand who often use this regatta as a warm up for racing in the third World Rowing Cup of the season. This is the 124th Holland Beker Regatta which is one of rowing’s longest running regattas, stretching back to its roots in 1886.

More information: http://www.hollandbeker.nl