Valmiera rowers triumph at Aldis Kļaviņš memorial races

The Aldis Kļaviņš memorial races were held at the Krāces rowing course in Valmiera. Kļaviņš, a gifted Valmiera rower, became Latvian and Baltic champion and competed at the Olympic Games in his short career. He died in a car accident 26 years ago while travelling from one World Cup round to the next. Since then, the competition has been organised in Valmiera every year, with winners keeping the travelling cup for one year.

This year's event drew a large field of current and former Valmiera Sport School rowers. Four travelling cups were contested, one in each boat class, and three remained in local hands.

In the women's K-1, season leader Ilze Bieziņa took first place with a stable posture, precise technique and an efficient boat glide. Gabriala Kristiana Tirzīte was second, and Karlīna Balode won the younger age group. In the men's K-1, the class in which Kļaviņš himself once competed, the fight was especially fierce. Linards Laidiņš of Ozolnieki Sport Club took the cup, followed by three Valmiera rowers: Mārtiņš Šteinbergs in second and Renārs Frejs in third. Ugo Jercums was fourth and also won the U16 group, while Hugo Eglītis won the U10 group. In the veteran groups, coach Līgonis Bečers and former school leader Mārtiņš Ločmelis were the fastest.

In the C-1 class, Mārtiņš Šteinbergs surprised everyone, winning the travelling cup only in his first season in the discipline. Krišjānis Rullis took second place. Eduards Sloka won the U16 group but was left with some disappointment after not performing as hoped. In the women's C-1, Ilze Bieziņa won convincingly, securing her second travelling cup, ahead of Gabriala Kristiana Tirzīte.

The event ended with kayakcross, a new and spectacular form of slalom that drew strong spectator interest. The men's race featured exciting battles, with Mārtiņš Šteinbergs taking the win after strong classic slalom runs. The women were more cautious, with most refusing to take part in the extreme discipline; only Ilze Bieziņa and Gabriala Kristiana Tirzīte competed. Despite Gabriala's motto of “speed at any cost”, Ilze completed the course accurately and calmly to finish first.

On August 15 and 16, the Krāces course will again welcome rowers from the Baltic states and beyond for the Latvian stage of the Nordic Cup.