Italy tops Coupe de la Jeunesse

Over the two days of racing which included heats and finals on both days, Italy gathered 15 medals, five of them gold, while Great Britain picked up 13 medals, seven of them gold. Poland was third overall.This year 11 countries participated with 95 boats racing and Secretary General of the Coupe, Christian Stofer said the regatta enjoyed good water conditions on this well-known Ottensheim course which hosted the 2008 non-Olympic World Championships and the World Rowing Junior Championships.

“The weather was not summer,” said Stofer. “It was a mixture of rain, slight wind and only very little sunshine.” Stofer said the Coupe executive committee was very pleased with the event and its perfect organisation. “It set a new standard,” said Stofer.

The Coupe de la Jeunesse will move to Banyoles, Spain for the first time next year. The regatta will take place from 20-22 July 2012. Lake Banyoles was the regatta venue for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

The Coupe de la Jeunesse is considered a development regatta for those aiming for their country’s top junior team. It happens annually between some European nations. The countries involved are: Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Great Britain, Switzerland, Hungary and Poland.

Coupe de la Jeunesse website: www.couperowing.org