Author: Harry Otse

This was Koninklijke Holland Beker Day 1!

The Holland Beker 2024 and National Championships delivered an exhilarating day of rowing, showcasing fierce competition and remarkable performances. From the tightly contested heats of the Ladies Trophy to the electrifying races of the Holland Beker and the high-stakes battles in the National Championships, rowers pushed their limits and thrilled spectators. With standout performances from all athletes today the stage is set for an unforgettable series of races, semifinals and finals tomorrow. Here’s a recap of the day’s highlights and a look ahead to the excitement of tomorrow’s races.

Ladies Trophy

Last year she finished in fourth place, but this year, Juliana Faralisch is determined to win the trophy and she’s off to a flying start. Faralisch surged ahead of the field right from the start, finishing first in the opening heat of this year’s Ladies Trophy event. USA lightweight rower Audrianna Boersen delivered powerful, efficient strokes to secure second place, just edging out Nicola Martinez Gonzales.

While the times for the second and third heats are missing, it’s clear that Alejandra Alonso Alderete and Olivia Negronotti, who each claimed first place in their heats, are strong contenders for the trophy tomorrow. Vwairé Obukohwo and Ellie Cooke, both of whom secured second place in their heats, are also competitors to watch.

In this year’s edition, all participants advance to the semifinals. However, finishing in the top three of their heats allows athletes to skip the repechage and enjoy an afternoon of rest. Mia Freischem and Jente Jongsma from Nereus capitalized on this, securing their spots and avoiding an extra race. Meanwhile, Nika Vos, Martine Kamminga, and Sidni de Ruiter had to race again in the afternoon. It was Nika Vos who triumphed, crossing the line first and proving her resilience.

The field seems to be tightly matched overall, so we are thrilled for the races tomorrow!

Holland Beker

In the electrifying first heat of the Holland Beker 2024, Nereus rower Jelle Bakker burst off the start line, claiming an early lead and never looking back as he crossed both the 100m mark and the finish line first. The race featured an intense duel between Niek van der Grift and Stephan Cox. Despite a slower start, Van der Grift powered past Cox in the final 500 meters, adding to the thrill.

The energy at the Bosbaan only intensified for the second heat. Pieter van Veen blazed across the finish line, clocking a considerably faster time. In a remarkable return to the skiff after six years, our ambassador Niki van Sprang rowed a steady and impressive race, seizing second place. Van Veen, Van Sprang, and Erik Talens all secured their spots in the A/B semifinals, setting the stage for an exciting showdown tomorrow.

The third heat kept the adrenaline pumping. Although Lucas Keijzer had an explosive start, it was the British sculler Matt Long who stole the show, surging ahead to finish first and establishing himself as a contender to watch. Dutch rower Martijn Bos faced a setback around the 1000m mark but made a thrilling comeback, reclaiming the crucial third spot from Oskar Martinius Gjerland in a gripping second-half battle.

Not to be outdone, Gjerland roared back in the repechage, clinching first place and securing his place in the A/B semifinals. Joining him through the repechage were Bonjan Reuffurth and Jelle Teekens, both delivering strong performances to qualify for the next round. The stage is set for an epic semifinal showdown tomorrow!

National Championships

Today also featured the National Championships in the coxless four and double sculls categories. Let’s briefly recap these thrilling races.

Both the M4- and W4- events were dominated by Oxford Brookes crews. In the M4- final, the crew stroked by Jonathan Cameron took an early lead and maintained a three-second gap by the 1000m mark, holding it to the finish. Congratulations to them! The crew from Bundesstützpunkt Dortmund followed closely, rowing a strong and consistent race to secure second place. Oxford Brookes 1, despite a slow start, made a remarkable comeback, but fell just short of overtaking the German crew, finishing in third place. In the women’s M4- race, the crew stroked by Grace Richards claimed the gold medal, with Oxford Brookes also taking second and third place, showcasing their dominance. Well done!

In the M2x, the Dutch composite crew of Proteus-Eretes/Theta emerged as national champions, leading from the start. British scullers James Gare and Harry Ruinet secured second place. The LM2x race was a nail-biter, with the Okeanos crew putting intense pressure on the leading Triton crew in the second half. Despite Okeanos’ efforts, Triton held on to their lead to claim the national title. The LW2x event saw slower starters making strong comebacks, with the Proteus-Eretes/Pelargos composite crew winning after starting in third place and finding an unstoppable rhythm. The Aegir crew, starting in fourth, finished in second place. The W2x was won by the GB crew of Jenny Bates and Freya Kato, who were too strong for Ilse Kolkman and Willemijn Mulder of Talent Team NL, usually rowing in the pair but showing their versatility this weekend.

Elite eight field

The elite men’s eight field today was dominated by Oxford Brookes University boats. All five of their boats lined up side by side in the final. Unfortunately, some illness in the Hoop boat led to their withdrawal, with an eye on rowing at the Henley Royal Regatta. All creews were disappointed by this, as they were looking forward to racing alongside each other! Ultimately, the boat with Louis Nares at stroke won. They had already been the fastest during the heats. In the final, they were the quickest off the start and maintained their lead throughout the entire race and won with a time of 05:35 minutes.

In the women’s eight, the Netherlands took the win, followed by Oxford Brookes University. These two boats were close together until the 1000-meter mark, but after that, the Netherlands took the lead and won with a 2.41-second difference over the British team. In the lightweight men’s eight, the Phocas/Njord/Skøll/Okeanos/Laga/Orca combination dominated the field, taking first place with a time of 06:04.

Impressive victory

Today witnessed an impressive victory as the Skøll boat emerged triumphant in the men’s elite 4x field. Outshining both the Dutch talent team and the Belgian selection, they navigated through an exhilarating race. It was from the 800-meter mark that Skøll asserted their dominance, steadily pulling ahead and confidently securing their hold on the race. It’s going to be very interesting to see their second match-up on the Sunday. The Dutch talent team will be determined to take revenge on the Amsterdam crew today.

Freshman’s fields

This afternoon was full of excitement for the freshman rowers, as the top 6 boats in their category received invitations to the Holland Beker. In the men’s heavyweight eight, Gyas took the lead with a remarkable time of 06:09 minutes, finishing a length ahead of Skøll . The women’s first-year eight also saw Gyas securing a clear victory. In the lightweight men’s division, the rowers from Nijmegen’s Phocas proudly stepped onto the podium. For the lightweight women, it was Skadi who claimed the top spot, while in the women’s four, Argo dominated the race from start to finish to take the win. Finally, the men’s heavyweight four from Njord emerged as the winners in their category at the Holland Beker. It was truly a day of thrilling races!

We hope to see you all again today and good luck to all the rowers on the Sunday of the Holland Beker!

Ladies Trophy and Holland Beker, who to watch?

This weekend, the historic Bosbaan in Amsterdam will once again be the stage for the Koninklijke Holland Beker. This annual regatta, held since 1886, attracts top athletes from both national and international levels. Rowers from all over the world come together to participate in an event known not only for its challenging course but also for its rich tradition and the sporting honor associated with it.

The Bosbaan provides the perfect venue for this rowing competition. It promises to be a weekend filled with intense competition, exceptional performances, and unforgettable moments. Let’s look at what we can expect during this edition of the Koninklijke Holland Beker.

With the Paris Olympic Games on the horizon, the Ladies Trophy and Holland Beker events promise a thrilling experience. While there are fewer races this year compared to last, the streamlined schedule allows for more focused and intense competition. Spectators can look forward to witnessing top-tier athletes giving their best performances, ensuring an exciting and memorable event for all rowing enthusiasts.

Holland Beker

The Holland Beker, in addition to the top Dutch rowers, also features international rowers and a lot of rowers who are going to the Olympics this summer!

We are happy to see that rowers from all over the world are coming to the Bosbaan to participate. First of all, Stephen Cox, who has had his selection confirmed to represent Zimbabwe at the Paris Olympics 2024. He starts next to Jelle Bakker, a local up-and-coming rower from Amsterdam based club Nereus. 

Pieter van Veen is also competing in this heat. He will be racing alongside Niki van Sprang, a Dutch rower who competed in the men’s coxless pair at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

In the third heat, we have Bojan Reuffurth from Switzerland, who also participated in the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships. He is in the heat with Matt Long, who rows for Great Britain. They are also with Lucas Keijzer, who is also going to the Olympic Games this summer and participated in the 2024 European Rowing Championships last year.

Sunday afternoon we will watch the final race. We’re curious to see who wins the race this Sunday afternoon! And who knows, perhaps this will give us a glimpse of the Olympics coming up this summer! Best of luck to all rowers.

 Ladies Trophy

After securing World Cup bronze in Lucerne last weekend, last year’s Ladies Trophy winner Emma Twigg has returned to New Zealand to continue her Olympic preparations. However, we are happy to welcome back racing at the Bosbaan quite some athletes in this year’s Ladies Trophy event. 

First, we are happy that Paraguayan athletes Alejandra Alonso Alderete and Nicole Martinez Gonzales also entered the Ladies Trophy event this year. Alejandra came in 4th in last year’s B-final and Nicole 4th in the C-final. We are sure they are determined to secure a spot in the A-final this year! 

We are also glad to welcome Holland Beker 2022 BW2x winner Vwairé Obykohwo (GBR) back. After winning the Holland Beker, she took back a bronze medal from the U23 World Championships. This year she has won the UK Mark Less award for up-and-coming female and male rowers. So we expect she has a good chance of taking home another Holland Beker medal. Joining her from the UK is Ellie Cooke, the fastest U23 sculler at the national trials this year. We are excited to see her row here this weekend! 

Next up is Juliana Faralisch (DE) who rowed to fourth place in the A-final last year. With last year’s top three missing from this year’s entry list, she is sure one of the main contenders for this year’s win! However, we are sure that the very fast Dutch national team rower Nika Vos will do her best to secure herself that highest podium spot. Joining fellow Dutchy Nika are Martine Kamminga, Sidni de Ruiter, Jente Jongsma and Mia Freischem. Martine came in third at the Dutch national championships where Sidni finished fifth.

Olivia Negrinotti (SUI), Chiaki Tomita (JPN) and Audrianna Boersen (USA) complete the entry list of this year’s Ladies Trophy. Olivia is a young Swiss talent who came in 4th in the BW2x at the 2023 World Championships. Chaiki and Audrianna are both lightweight rowers that should be equally matched. 

The top races are, of course, the Ladies Trophy and the Holland Beker. However, the other crews will also deliver fantastic races. We wish you all the best of luck this weekend! 

Preview freshman races

Fresh at the start! 

This Saturday, the esteemed tradition continues as the top six crews of the Freshmen Classification are once again invited to compete at the Koninklijke Holland Beker. While no points are at stake for the classification, anticipation runs high for an exciting weekend filled with top-tier rowing competitions. Let’s explore which freshmen crews have the honor of participating in this prestigious event.

Men’s Heavyweight Eight (HEj8+)

Gyas is currently leading, followed closely by Skøll and Njord. Njord has won four out of the seven races so far and is only one point behind Skøll. So we definitely expect a tight battle between those top three crews. Asopos de Vliet, Vidar and Proteus-Eretes complete the top six and will undoubtedly do everything they can to go home with a beautiful Koninklijke Holland Beker medal.

Women’s Eight (DEj8+)

Having won six out of seven races, Gyas firmly leads the ranking. Skøll holds the second place with a narrow margin over Njord and Argo, who are tied for third.  Orca and Phocas round out the field. It remains to be seen if Gyas will win again this weekend. With tight races at the last couple of regattas, all eyes are on Gyas to see if they can secure a seventh victory. The stage is set for an exciting battle as the competition unfolds this weekend.

Lightweight Men’s Eight (LHEj8+)

In the Lightweight Men’s Eight category, Proteus-Eretes leads with 53 points. Despite a strong start to the season, they have recently lost their rhythm. Skøll, Njord, Argo, Skadi and Phocas are all in the mix for the win. With the exception of Njord, each team has secured a victory this season, making it anyone’s race. Which of these six teams will cross the finish line first this weekend at the renowned Bosbaan in Amstelveen?

Lightweight Women’s Four (LDEj4*)

Gyas boasts a formidable lineup this year, leading in the Lightweight Women’s category as well. After winning the last four races, they are undoubtedly eager to secure a fifth podium finish this weekend. Argo’s crew, currently in second place, is also one to watch. Despite being in fifth place, Skadi has shown promising form, coming close to victory in the last race. The crews from Njord, Phocas and Skøll round out the field and could surprise us with a win this weekend. 

Women’s Four (DEj4+)

In the Women’s Four category, the competition is heating up as Saurus, Argo, Skøll and Theta are all closely tied around the 50-point mark. These four teams have been neck and neck throughout the season, making it anyone’s race to win. Following them is Asopos de Vliet with 27 points, who will be looking to close the gap and potentially upset the frontrunners. With such tight standings, this weekend’s race promises to be thrilling.

Men’s Four (HEj4+)

Phocas leads the pack with 57 points, demonstrating their dominance this season, especially after winning the most recent race. Njord follows with 48 points, showing remarkable consistency throughout the season. Euros, holding third place with 41 points, has also secured a race victory and is a formidable contender. The battle for fourth place is intense, with Dudok van Heel and Gyas both vying for the spot. Asopos, having just made the Holland Beker top six by edging out Okeanos by one point, adds another layer of excitement to the competition. Given Phocas’s recent momentum and impressive performance, they are the favorites to win this weekend. However, with Njord’s consistent showings and Euros’ potential for an upset, it’s anyone’s race. 

It promises to be an exciting battle between these talented teams. Good luck to all participants!

The KHB picnic is back!

Don’t have lunch plans yet this weekend? Enjoy a picnic on the Bosbaan on Saturday and/or Sunday while cheering at the Koninklijke-Holland Beker. When you order a picnic basket you will receive everything for a perfect lunch by the water. You can already register for a picnic basket via this link: https://forms.gle/Na9NUDjr8q3F7At38

Road works highway A9

Due to the closure of the A9 between junction Badhoevedorp and junction Holendrecht, heavy traffic with long delays is expected on the S106 Amstelveenseweg / Amsterdamseweg. It is recommended to travel to the Bosbaan by public transport or by bicycle if possible. See the infographic below for more information.

 

Entry deadline extented

After receiving multiple request we have extended our entry deadline to Monday May 27th till 11:59 PM. We are aware that the registration system doesn’t show the adjusted deadline, but be assured that all entries will be accepted till the new entry deadline. After the deadline late entries are possible, please contact us using our details.