Duisburg International Regatta 2023
This weekend saw Brookes take to international waters for the second time in two weeks at the International Wedau Regatta 2023 in Duisburg, Germany. Following a dominant display at Ghent International the previous weekend, greater challenges awaited with strong international crews racing in both the Men’s and Women’s Eights events.
Saturday’s racing saw, two Brookes Eights line up for the final where lanes were seeded. With a field of racing, Brookes 1st VIII produced a powerful start to lead a fast moving German Development crew and Leander. Approaching halfway, Brookes 2nd VIII were able to move themselves into 3rd place just behind Leander. At the finish, Brookes secured a 1-2, with the 1st VIII producing a time of 5:29.56, the 2nd VIII, 3.4 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Brookes III won the B-Final. The time set by the 1st VIII, was the second fastest a Brookes crew has ever gone, after Ratzeburg 2018, which was the fastest time set by a British crew outside of the national team (5:29.06).
The women’s eight had a straight final, where they were able to break clear from the early challenges of Leander and a Dutch development crew, they finished with clear water in a time of 6:22.34.
On Sunday, three Brookes crews made the A-Final, with Brookes II being the fastest qualifier from the Heats. With another fast start from Brookes, both crews led the field by 500m and were able to stretch out their margin of victory over the chasing pack by the finish. Brookes III crossed the line in 5th just behind the Polish Rowing Association.
With a larger entry for the Women on Sunday, Brookes faced stiffer competition from more German and Dutch crews. After another strong start from Oxford Brookes, they were able to establish a lead in the first half of the course. A fantastic display saw them cross the finish line with a margin of 11 seconds over a German Federation U23 crew in 2nd place and further back the Dutch U23s and Leander. A dominant display of rowing.
With just a few weeks before the entire team heads to the Metropolitan Regatta, the squad now embark on training camp in Wimbleball, Somerset next week.