Students of the Volga region Academy of sports returned from Saint Petersburg as leaders of the team competition of the Student rowing League-2020. The University team, the current SGL champion, won the competition in two types of the first stage program.
The coronavirus pandemic has made adjustments to the competition schedule. In St. Petersburg, as part of the first stage, it was planned to hold from September 11 to 13 races of "eights" in three types of program at once. The second and final stage will be held on October 8 in Kazan.
The organizers of the St. Petersburg stage again had to adjust their plans, but this time because of the weather-a storm hit the Northern capital the day before. A strong wind felled trees, tore off tin roof decks, and because of the danger of rising water in the Neva Delta to a critical level, it was necessary to close the dam gates.
As a result, the first part of the Fontanka Cup program was moved to a calmer water area and the distance was halved to 2,500 meters. The Academy team won this race, ahead of the hosts-the team of ITMO University "Kronverkskie bars".
On September 12, the 200-meter sprint competition was held as part of the Golden oars international regatta in the Kronverk Strait. The competition was held according to the Olympic system (single-elimination), "academicians" entered the fight at the 1/8 final stage and after overcoming all the stages in the final again fought for first place with ITMO students and won.
On the final day of the competition, the winner of the Sestroretsk Cup was to be determined. However, the race on lake Sestroretsky Razliv was canceled due to adverse weather conditions.
It is worth noting that the "academicians" went to St. Petersburg seriously updating the composition. Six rowing students from Kazakhstan are still unable to return to Kazan due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, a team completed with three newcomers went to St. Petersburg. The team was joined by team Manager Mikhail Gorbunov, who finished his sports career long ago, and a first-year kayaker. The coach of the national team Vladimir Gogolin had three weeks of training camps organized on the basis of the Volga region Academy of sports for the" run-in " of the updated team. Assist in the preparation for the start of the "academics" and Shamil Ageev, Chairman, chamber of Commerce and industry of the RT, the long time head of the rowing Federation of RT.
Thus, according to the results of the first stage of the Student rowing League, the team of the Volga Academy is in the lead, with a total of 150 points. The closest pursuer, ITMO-135. The next champion Cup winner will be determined at the rowing sports Center in less than a month. In Kazan, the League participants will compete in the classic 2000-meter race.