The competition was tough, however, as nearly 300 rowers from 36 universities of twelve different countries competed against each other in Zagreb. Solid victories at last year’s German Universities Championships in the women’s eight (W8+) and women’s coxless pair (W2-) had earned the University of Bonn rowers the privilege of representing the German University Sports Federation in these two boat classes in Croatia.
Nine rowers were on the University of Bonn team. Competing in the eight were (from bow to stern): Lilly Schröder, Kathrin Grunthal, Katharina Hunold, Marie Dapper, Lara Mellin, Sarah Marenbach, Esther Böning, Charlotte Hentschel and Paola Però as coxswain. Charlotte Hentschel and Esther Böning competed in the women’s pair, meaning they were in twice as many races, also setting the pace as stroking stern pair in the women’s eight.
These two excellent performances put the University of Bonn in first place among German universities in the medal table, sharing fifth place with other universities overall. Next year the team will have a chance to build on its success. The victories in W8+, W2- and W4- at this year’s German Universities Championships mean three boats from Bonn have qualified for the EUC 2025 to be held in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
