As the leaves begin to fall and the days grow shorter, the Dutch rowing community prepares for the Tromp Boat Races. With nearly 800 entries, consisting of juniors, students and masters, Hilversum will be the setting for the first long-distance race of the season this weekend.
One of the traditional main events of the Tromp is the men’s pair. In this preview, I will discuss the men’s elite pair and the men’s U23 pair.
Men’s Elite Pair
Nereus
The club that won this event last year is sending a boat to Hilversum again this year. Jaap Worm and Floris bij de Weg were not part of the crew that won the open event last year, but they are no strangers to either the pairs or the Tromp Boat Races. Jaap Worm, a specialist in the pair, won the U23 pair at the Tromp last year and has previously won several medals in this event at the Dutch Championships.
His stroke is less experienced in this event. Floris bij de Weg came third last year in the same event he is competing in this year and came ninth with Jaap at last year’s Dutch Championships.
If this duo has been able to make enough progress recently, they will be among the favourites to win this weekend.
Triton
Another crew competing for the win in Hilversum is Triton’s pair. Last year, stroke Bart Berbers finished third in the pair at the Dutch Championships. Behind him sits Edward den Beer Poortugael, part of the eight that represented the Netherlands at the U23 World Rowing Championships last summer and someone who has posted good results in the single.
These two have enough individual experience to achieve a good result, but since they have never raced together before, it remains to be seen how fast they will go as a pair.
Prediction
Based on past results, I expect Triton to win this weekend. To do so, however, they will have to find a good click, because Jaap Worm will be keen to take revenge for last year’s Dutch Championships, since he wants to maintain his reputation as someone who lets every pair he rows go fast.
Men’s U23 Pair
Triton
Just like in the open field, it looks like it will be a battle between Triton and Nereus in the senior B field. Ruben Bahre and Mart Weultjes will be rowing for Triton in this field. Both are experienced rowers who, for example, both competed in the Amstel Cup a few weeks ago. However, they have yet to achieve any significant results in a small number, so it remains to be seen how they will perform this weekend.
Nereus
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the other favourite is Nereus. Iain Kerr and Yannick Spronk, like their competitors from Triton, are experienced rowers who have achieved good results in larger boats in recent years but have had limited success in smaller boats. This duo has achieved good results in the four last year, but never rowed together in the pair, so it remains to be seen whether they can be fast enough to come away with the win this weekend.
