The Year 2000 Race

East meets West in Essential British Kit
This year the race was officially called the 'Hackett Thames World Sculling Challenge', as our relationship with our sponsor Hackett developed into a solid partnership - in the typical tradition of Hackett's support given to British sporting events and its participants. Since the 1999 race Ekatarina Karsten had added another world gold medal and a world record to her name, and she won in 2000 after coming fourth in 1999. The threat to Iztok Cop (1999 winner) came from the East rather than the West, and proved too strong for him as he was beaten by Vaclav Chalupa. The Ł2000 Millennium prize fund marked the first prize money offered in the sport since the 1950's. The race day was again a great success, with exciting racing and the BBC broadcasting the race on Saturday the 25th March.

Men's Race: 24th March, 15:45. Umpire: Greg Searle

Lane Name Nationality Weight Rowing record

1 (Surrey) Vaclav Chalupa Czech Republic 98.6kg 1999 World Cup Winner

2 Michal Vabrousek Czech Republic 78.6kg 1999 Ltwt World Cup Winner

3 Aquil Abdullah USA 85.9kg Pan Am Games silver medallist

4 (Middlesex) Iztok Cop Slovenia 93.5kg 1999 World Champion

position

Final position Name Finish time Milepost H'smith Bridge Chiswick Steps Barnes Bridge
1 Vaclav Chalupa 21:44 4:25 7:50 12:43 17:48

2 Iztok Cop 22:03 4:25.5 7:51 12:50 18:00

3 Aquil Abdullah 22:12 4:27 7:56 13:09 18:10

4 Michal Vabrousek 22:33 4:35 8:03 13:17 18:36

Men's Race: 24th March, 15:45. Umpire: Greg Searle
Lane	Name	Nationality	Weight	Rowing record
1 (Surrey)	Vaclav Chalupa	Czech Republic	98.6kg	1999 World Cup Winner
2	Michal Vabrousek	Czech Republic	78.6kg	1999 Ltwt World Cup Winner
3	Aquil Abdullah	USA	85.9kg	Pan Am Games silver medallist
4 (Middlesex)	Iztok Cop	Slovenia	93.5kg	1999 World Champion

Final position	Name	Finish time	Milepost	H'smith Bridge	Chiswick Steps	Barnes Bridge
1	Vaclav Chalupa	21:44	4:25	7:50	12:43	17:48
2	Iztok Cop	22:03	4:25.5	7:51	12:50	18:00
3	Aquil Abdullah	22:12	4:27	7:56	13:09	18:10
4	Michal Vabrousek	22:33	4:35	8:03	13:17	18:36

Women's Race, 24th March, 15:15. Umpire: Martin Levy

Lane Name Nationality Weight Rowing record

1 Sarah Garner USA 66.7kg 1998 World Champion

2 Katrin Rutchow Germany 81.0kg 1996 Olympic Champion

3 Ekatarina Karsten Belarus 80.4kg 1998 World Champion

Christine Smith-Collins (USA) fell ill one day before the race.

Final position Name Finish time Milepost H'smith Bridge Chiswick Steps Barnes Bridge

1 Ekatarina Karsten 22:49 4:33 8:19.5 13:27 18:52

2 Katrin Rutchow 22:54 4:37 8:23 13:32 19:00

3 Sarah Garner 22:28 4:45 8:35 13:58 19:24

Women's Race, 24th March, 15:15. Umpire: Martin Levy
Lane	Name	Nationality	Weight	Rowing record
1	Sarah Garner	USA	66.7kg	1998 World Champion
2	Katrin Rutchow	Germany	81.0kg	1996 Olympic Champion
3	Ekatarina Karsten	Belarus	80.4kg	1998 World Champion
Christine Smith-Collins (USA) fell ill one day before the race.

Final position	Name	Finish time	Milepost	H'smith Bridge	Chiswick Steps	Barnes Bridge
1	Ekatarina Karsten	22:49	4:33	8:19.5	13:27	18:52
2	Katrin Rutchow	22:54	4:37	8:23	13:32	19:00
3	Sarah Garner	22:28	4:45	8:35	13:58	19:24

Information:

Czech-Mate - the report from this year's race.
Photo Album from the 2000 race.
The Year 2000 race was the 52nd Thames World Sculling Challenge, held on an incoming tide from Putney to Mortlake.
The fastest sculler in each race won a purse of Ł1,000.
List of athletes entered, with biographies and photographs.
Article Index.
More in General Information.