Image Credit: Aaron Sims
Even though the Koninklijke Holland Beker (translated as Royal Holland Cup) is a race where first-year crews can receive points for the Freshmen’s ranking, the top six (based on all the earlier races) are invited to participate. In and amongst some of the best professional rowers in the world, barely-experienced rowers can enjoy the feeling of racing on a high level.
This year, the field of the first-year women’s eight is more exciting to watch than ever. In earlier rankings, it was clear by the first four or five who would be the leader in the ranking and eventually be the overall winner of the first year’s championships. Currently, the top four has a difference of less than ten points. Even though the Holland Beker does not count for the ranking, it is still important. With the NSRF slotwedstrijden coming up, where the points count as double, the Holland Beker is the perfect final rehearsal for that final moment where we all look up to in this season.
G. S. R. Aegir
One of the leaders in the ranking is Aegir. The club from the north of the Netherlands has performed relatively consistently past season. They have the perfect combination of some more technical rowers who have learned their first technique at different open clubs throughout the country, and more newly discovered athletes who are conditionally really strong. However, the risk they carry is the fact that they are more sensitive to physical injuries. The past few weeks, there has been some rotation with a reserve since they cannot always row with their fixed rowers. This influences the quality of training, of course. It is now a question as to whether this uncertainty will affect the race’s outcome.
A.S.R. Nereus
Whereas the women of Aegir have to travel at least two hours to the Bosbaan, the girls from Amsterdam have to bike only a few minutes to the water for the race. Not only will this home advantage work in their favour, but the confidence they got from the last race at the Willem-Alexander Baan (and the general confidence the members of Nereus have) will help them to race fearlessly.
K.S.R.V. Njord
A bit more surprising actor in the spectacle of the freshmen’s eights are the ladies from Leiden. Before the Covid-19 lockdown, they were pretty successful. However, they suffered a bit and came into a slump. This year, they climbed up again and even won some races in the freshmen’s category. Even though they did not win the previous race at the Willem-Alexander Baan, they are still at the peak of their season.
Prediction
It is going to be a really exciting race to witness, especially since the crews are so close together in terms of already existing results. However, I think the ladies from Aegir will prevail and will cross the finish line first. This does not mean that the ladies from Nereus and Njord will not make it easy for Aegir; they will fight until the bitter end.
