12th World University Rowing Championship: Repechages

KAZAN – On September 7^th, the Heats started with cloudy weather, and some wind, but perfect weather for the rowers. The competitions include a total of 13 races for both men & women, with a total of 278 participants.

All competitors showed they were happy, in spite of some technical aspects issues which were solved in this magnificient place that is this completely new Rowing centre, one of the most beautiful in Europe.

According to all here, the transportation, accommodation and catering were running without any problem and all participants congratulated the Organising Committee for their great efforts for providing boats! Indeed, the Organising Committee was ready to find a solution for any issue which could arise.

During this day of heats, the competitors could know each other better and could be conscious that the FISU World University Rowing Championship was an intermediate stage level, in between the Junior Championship and the top level ones.

A 2012 World Rowing Youth Coaches Conference was organised with attendance of FISU, FISA, the Russian Rowing Federation and coaches.

The expectation of a good cooperation not only between FISU and FISA but also the NUSFs and NSFs crucial to welcome our young rowers into a society of education.

FISU, with the support of all those attendants, gave the suggestion to organise coastal rowing in the future, as well as the project with universities to have “study and row”. The idea to have mixed boats was also raised by our FISU CT Chair Lionel Girard.

Today, September 8^th, the weather forecast announced broken clouds and light rain with south-west wind, sometimes with gust up to 14mps, but all participants were ready to compete for the best. The competitions of this morning decided for the finals of tomorrow and this morning, we could assist to very tight fight to get to the finals.

This afternoon, we will look at the classification races from the place 7^th to 12^th.

The day will end by a nations dinner offered by the Organising Committee to the whole the University Rowing family. We hope, such as we had for the reception of the Jury for the WUC Rowing yesterday, to gather all friends of Rowing and Sport Shooting together in a very warm atmosphere.

The detailed results can be found at the OC website.

(Source: Nicole Mangelschots, FISU Asst.)