This Sunday, the Netherlands’ most notorious competition will take place: de 48e Hel van het Noorden (the 48th Hell of the North). The six-kilometre head race for single sculls and pairs usually takes place on a brutally chilly November day. With the temperatures having suddenly dropped relatively low in the Netherlands this week, this year’s Hell will be no different.
Laga/Aegir
Laga’s Willemijn Mulder and Aegir’s Ilse Kolkman are the women’s pair to watch. The TeamNL world championship medalists are by far the most accomplished rowers in their field. As most of their training is currently in the single on the Amstel, the only challenge will be finding the time to train together.
Orca One
Whilst Mulder and Kolkman might be the most accomplished athletes in this field, it is also important to acknowledge Orca’s Rosemary Jansen and Lydia Knevel. With Knevel being one of the four women who secured Orca’s beloved Varsity victory, and Jansen continuing to establish herself as a strong, competitive athlete, the duo is sure to put up a fight.
Orca Two (VSB)
The last women’s pair to look out for is another Orca pair. Although they are slightly younger than their crewmates, Anne Mare Visser and Sytske Rouppe van der Voort also deserve mention. Based on their strong performances in recent races, they are certainly ones to look out for.
Prediction
I predict that this will be a rather logical win for the Laga/Aegir combination. I do not, however, doubt that the Orca pairs, along with the eight other competing crews, will put up a determined fight.
