Image Credit: World Rowing
The Holland Beker is known for its international allure. Since the competition is often scheduled amid the elite racing season (think of the World Rowing Cups and Henley Royal Regatta), international crews are often relatively ‘nearby’ and can compete too. Besides this, it is an attractive competition to race since the winners (and the other medallists) are given prize money, which is extraordinary in rowing. This can be up to 3000 Euros.
Sonia Baluzzo Chiaruzzo
One of the overseas rowers that is spending their summer in Europe, is Sonia Baluzzo Chiaruzzo. The rower from Argentina is a former lightweight. In this category, she participated in the Henley Women’s Regatta (winning last weekend in the championship lightweight single sculls category) and even the Paris Olympic Games. She even won the former in the single sculls. At the Olympics, she teamed up with Eve Silvestro but left her for this season in order to pursue her single sculls career.
Benthe Boonstra
To fill the space of the reigning world and Olympic champion, Karolien Florijn, is not an easy job. Benthe Boonstra has demonstrated at the Dutch national championships that she can be the perfect candidate to grow in this position. She won in a highly competitive field (with more than 15 female rowers from the Dutch national team) and continued to row in this category. Her sculling at the European Rowing Championships led her to sixth place in this new boat category. The experiences she gained at this event can help her win the prestigious Holland Beker.
Roos de Jong
Even though Benthe Boonstra raced to first place at the Dutch Nationals, looking at the runner-ups in this competition between the best of the Netherlands is essential. In second place, Roos de Jong made it difficult for Benthe with a margin of only 0.35 seconds over 2000 meters. She successfully paired up with Tessa Dullemans at the European Rowing Championships, which resulted in a gold medal. The question remains: is she just as fast if she is racing alone?
Esther Briz Zamorano
Another rower who can really surprise us is Esther Briz Zamorano. The rower from Spain is a two-time world champion in Beach Sprints and participated in the Paris Olympic Games last summer. Last year, she often raced in the pair. Even though the single scull is a small boat too, the shift between those boats is difficult to master. But with her experience (even from junior rowing), we can expect to see Esther in the A-final.
Prediction
Even though the Holland Beker focuses on its international status, we can expect it to be a race between the Dutch women in the single sculls. Both Roos de Jong and Benthe Boonstra will take a shot at the prize money. Esther Briz Zamorano could also make it challenging for them.
