Primátorky
At 111. ČEZ Primátorky was dominated by resort crews
3. 6. 2024

The Dukla Prague eight dominated the 111th Primátorky. The crew consisting of Jan Fleissner, Daniel Nosek, Filip Zima, Václav Baldrián, Jakub Podrazil, Jan Cincibuch, Tomáš Šišma, Dalibor Neděla and the cox Zuzana Vabroušková first made their fans a bit tense thanks to a mistake, when they pushed the German crew from Munich off the course.

Dukla got a yellow and a card and the start was repeated. On the second attempt Dukla left no one in doubt who would be the winner of the 111th edition of the famous race.
"Unfortunately, our first start didn't go well and we got a little bit in the Germans' way, so we met the oars. They moved out of our way and went off the track," Zuzana Vabroušková told Czech Television.

In general, conditions on the Vltava were difficult this year, not only because of the high flow, but also because of the free starts. The starting blocks were damaged by a floating log just before the start of the race and there was not enough time to repair them.

"It's a huge experience for me and to be honest I still can't believe it," added Vabroušková, who replaced the legendary Oldrich Hejdusek at the helm of Dukla this year.

"I think it was challenging, but the whole crew kept their cool. After all, we're used to some pressure from bigger races and Zuzka managed it too. It's more difficult without solid blocks. All the boats were going sideways. It wasn't just Zuzka's fault, it was tough. She gained experience and managed it," said Dalibor Neděla, who was stroking the boat.

The women's eight was dominated by the favoured Olymp, whose crew unexpectedly included Mirka Topinková.Mirka had to fill in for the sick Alice Prokešová.

"The girls rode great and I have never sat in such an eight in the Czech Republic.I hope they have a great future ahead of them," said Mirka immediately after the race. "Everything came about because I pushed the coach Tomáš Kacovský as the president of Olympus to put together an eight.He fulfilled my wish, only one girl dropped out, so I had to step in," said Topinková.As expected, the defending champion Lenka Lukšová and Anna Šantrůčková competed for the win among the female skiffers. Anna fared better in the prestigious battle of the crew that qualified for the Olympic Games two weeks ago on the double skiff.

She followed in the footsteps of her grandmother Václava, who dominated the same race exactly 60 years ago."I'm so happy I did it because my grandmother was cheering me on the shore and I was cheering her on yesterday.Family support is so important.Not just here, but towards the Olympics," said Anička.The key moment of the Podolí Ribbon race was Lenka Lukšová's contact with the buoy in the turn.

Among the skippers, Milan Viktora was the fastest in the Rössler-Ořovský Spring Skuller Race, made easier by Jan Potůček, a three-time winner who was disqualified on Saturday for not passing the buoy.
"It was very difficult, but we all had the same. Rowing is an outdoor sport," said Milan Viktora, who had already finished second and third on the skiff, assessing the conditions."I said I would quit when I won the Primaries.That's not going to happen.Honza Potůček made it much easier for us by not passing the buoy in the race," added Viktora with a smile.