On the 2nd April rowers from more than 10 countries will gather in Budapest, the pearl of the Danube, to take part in the sixth edition of the Budapest Cup Regatta.
The race is a fast-growing head race which forms part of the 26th Count István Széchenyi Memorial Regatta. Approved by the international rowing federation FISA, the Budapest Cup regatta was established in 2011 to restart head racing in Hungary after several decades.
The event is hosted by Danubius National Boat Club, the last survivor of 11 rowing clubs which used to be based on Margaret Island. The club has attracted rowers from Serbia, Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary and Great Britain to compete this year.
The entry list includes a crew formed of Italian all-stars racing as a composite of Canottieri Minicio, Canottieri San Cristoforo, Canottieri Napoli and Canottieri Posilippo. The composite includes former Olympians Marco Penna and Marios Palmisano.
Meanwhile a men’s eight from Thames Rowing Club in London, which recently finished 3rd out of 360 boats at the Head of the River Race 2016 in London, will also head to the starting line at Obuda Island to race the 4,500m course. The foreign entries face formidable local opposition in the shape of the 2015 winners Győr Rowing Club and a junior Hungarian crew which finished 37th at the Head of the River.
Other entries include world indoor para-rowing champion Szabolcs Szokolics and visually-impaired rowers from SC Amida, Torino, Italy. Meanwhile a group from the City and River Association of (Valyo – Város és folyó egyesület) Budapest have begun rowing to be part of this unique experience.
The Hungarian Rowing Association welcomes with great pleasure all the national and international crews supporting rowing in Hungary. The association is dedicated to raising awareness of rowing as an accessible sport for everyone, and is delighted that the Budapest Cup has attracted entries from juniors to masters.
The Budapest Cup is the second leg of of the Capital Cup series, a joint regional initiative. In 2015/16 crews already competed in Zagrab and will continue for the Capital Cup title in Viena.
The Budapest Cup organizers are asking rowers from all around the world to join the Budapest Cup fundraising initiative. The region has been heavily impacted by the migrant crisis with more and more children in need. Accordingly the regatta has partnered with UNICEF to raise money in support of the organisation’s work. Funds are also being raised for the host club Danubius, which is in urgent need of major renovation. We believe that the rowing community can make a change. Please donate at: crowdfunding.justgiving.com/BudapestCupRegatta
See you in Budapest!