Rund um Wannsee 2009: Described as ‘The regatta of the East and West’ the Rund um Wannsee took place on October 3rd, the Day of German Unity. This is the 8th year that elite national and international rowers have competed in the longest eights races in the world; a 15 km circuit around the water systems of the Wannsee in Berlin. Attracting elite rowers from across the world it was no surprise to see ICBC legends Ole Tietz and Adam Freeman-Pask on the start line. The All-Star Lightweight crew finished an impressive 3rd (00:48:58) only 24 seconds behind Iztok Cop’s winning Heavyweight All-Star 8+ (00:48:34) after an intense period of clashing with the Polish national crew.
POD: “Did you do much training beforehand?” Tietz:“Training is cheating!…OK, well we had one outing on Friday evening when we arrived, but only so that the cox could check out the course and go through the most tricky bits.” After their outing the crew was formally welcomed with a dinner and presentation in Berlin. The room was flanked by three stunning girls and by halfway through the dinner Sens had all three following him around to underline his status. POD: “What were they there for?” Tietz: “Em, well I suppose if there was a question you could ask them…” Mahony was meanwhile ogling the group perplexed as to how Sens had managed to swoop all three. The other All-Star boat (Fatweights) was stroked by Slovenian Iztok Cop. Cop made a rousing speech at the dinner about how he still successfully competes in his late thirties while only training part-time. While training full-time Cop admitted he hated it, but now feels privileged. Tietz was moved: “It sounded like he knew a thing or two about rowing.” A copy of the speech is being made for IC coach Steve Trapmore whom we all still believe in. You can do it Steve!
The race took place at 09:00 on Saturday morning and as they lined up with the boat at shoulders they found themselves next to their main competition: The Heavyweight All-Stars. Much casual banter was hit back and forth between crews, each trying to outwit the other. However it was ICBC's Ole Tietz who initiated psychological warfare on Marcel Hacker under the guise of a normal conversation; “How’s it going? Off to the Head of the Charles eh?” Sadly the plan was a failure as Hacker broke into a spasm-type dance flailing his hands in the air which could only be described as the Hacker Haka. Tietz was unable to sustain the small talk and was grateful as the boats moved on to the water.
The crews were set for a mass start with multiple rows of 10 crews in speed order with the highest seeded crews taking the inside lane which resulted in much clashing. Tietz: “Clashing? Oh yes. There was clashing. It was carnage.” As the crews sat on the start Robert Sens was commentating from one of two historic 19th century steamers and each crew member was formally announced to the crowd. Mahony had also found his way onto one of the steamers to watch the race (to avail of the complimentary booze). However it has been noted that Mahony chose to wear a London RC blazer while aboard, which was highly frowned upon by the ICBC duo.
The trick for racing the 15 km course was getting out in front early. The first 5-6 km was fairly open water with just one small bend where the inside would be favourable. After the 6th kilometre the crews had to enter a canal where no overtaking was possible due to the narrow width of the canal. Crews aimed to be in position within the first 2-3 km. After that the maximum length of open water they would see again would be less than 1.5 km. “The first two km were hammered out to make sure we got the place we wanted. It was important not to blow too hard. It gets really painful” said Tietz. There was a raging headwind over the opening 6 km which meant the All-Star lightweights were dropped early on as the Heavyweight All-Stars, German and Polish U23 crews stormed ahead. By the fifth km the lightweights had drawn them back in and as they approached the canal the clashing began.
The Lwt All-Stars pulled up on the Polish 8+ and cox Felix Erdmann pulled a spectacular manoeuvre forcing his bow inside the Polish 8+’s stern. The Poles refused to move over for the All-Stars resulting in repeated smashing of bow and stern for the next several hundred metres. Quick-thinking bowman Adam Freeman-Pask managed to deploy his blade in direct line with the Polish cox. Realizing the Poles were not going to give way to the lightweights, the only chance they had to get ahead was to knock the cox unconscious. Freeman-Pask battered the Polish cox for the next hundred metres, the two exchanging sentiments as he did so. Within minutes the All-Stars had moved forward and Freeman-Pask had a clear shot at the strokeman, each blow edging the lightweights ahead. With 50 metres to go before the canal bridge entrance a sense of urgency came over the two crews. Unable to stand the physical abuse any longer, the Poles moved out to the far buttress allowing the All-Stars to take the inside line and get ahead.
The lightweights now pushed on to catch up with the leading heavyweight crews but too much time had been lost clashing with the Poles. Some inspirational calls came from the cox throughout the race who spoke a hybrid mixture of English and German with a few Italian phrases for the sake of the Italian strokeman: “OK boys 30 minutes down, this is more than halfway, let’s go.” “Only the 8+’s head course left now!” There was not a stroke below 34 throughout the entire 48 minute race. “[The Italian strokeman] was nuts. He had no German and very bad English so didn’t really know what was going on. He enjoyed it anyway.” The lightweights finished in third, 24 seconds behind the Heavyweight All-Star winners.
POD: “Were you happy with that result?” Tietz: “Yeah, I’m happy. If the wind was different we could have had a real crack at winning. Plus the heavyweights had Iztok Cop. Apparently he’s very good.” The boat they raced in was on loan from Filippi and was the same boat that the winning lightweight Italian 8+ raced in at the WRC, resulting in mixed emotions from the German crew members. After clashing with the Poles the bows were slightly damaged and it took all of their restraint to resist from crashing the boat into the bank.
With racing over at 10:30 the crew were on the beers by 11 and found themselves at a German club on Saturday night. According to Tietz; Mahony and Freeman-Pask were very confused at the German music and even more astounded by the German dancing. Freeman-Pask is reported to have disappeared for about 20 minutes but the cause is unknown. “It’s pretty much a blank after that,” said Tietz “Sunday’s sightseeing was thrown out the window as we only returned from the club at about 05:00.”
Next up for Tietz and Freeman-Pask is the Pair’s Head on Saturday (17th October) where they will make an appearance in the elite lightweight pair’s event. Freeman-Pask will stroke the duo, which Tietz is more than happy with; “I like the bowseat in a pair, it’s just easier there.” As for the New Year it is as of yet unknown where the two will be. Freeman-Pask is currently training two days a week at Caversham with the GB squad while Tietz is aiming to finish up his Master’s at Imperial by December. POD: “So all the bigshot lightweight internationals are leaving?! Who will I write about?” Tietz: “It’s time for the new boys to step up to the plate now.”
Christina Duffy
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Coming up:
The legendary Fresher's Toga Party will take place after the Pair’s head at the Boat House from 19:30. Limited tickets available; get them now! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=247653880724&index=1
The Annual Club Dinner will be held on November 14th after the Four’s Head in the newly refurbished Imperial Student Union Queen’s Tower Room in South Kensington. A hearty meal has been promised. All are welcome. Contact us for tickets. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=184451940539&index=1