Named after the founder of rowing in Hungary, Count István Széchenyi, the race has traditionally been the opening regatta of the season since 1991. The main patron of the event is Gergely Karácsony, the Mayor of Budapest. The patrons are the mayors of the districts concerned – namely the second and third – Gergely Őrsi and Dr. László Kiss, also the president of the Széchenyi Society, Zoltán Szemereki, Lajos Mocsai, the president of the Hungarian University Sports Federation (MEFS), and the head of the “cooperating higher education institution”, this year the rector of Semmelweis University, Dr. Béla Merkely.
Organized by the Danubius National Boat Club (DNHE), the Hungarian Rowing Federation and MEFS, 11 university teams – including 4 women’s ten-oared rowing teams – competed in the 1000m race in sunny weather, although with strong winds.
Members of the women’s ten-oared rowing team of Semmelweis University:
Dr. Anna Alliquander (Faculty of General Medicine, Institute of Public Health)
Orsolya Benda (Faculty of Health Sciences)
Réka Ekés (Faculty of Health Sciences)
Erki Csenge (Faculty of Health Sciences)
Zsófia Karancsi (Faculty of General Medicine)
Csenge Lévai (Faculty of Dentistry)
Dr. Ibolya Túri (András Pető Faculty, Dean’s Office)
Zsombor Zita (Faculty of General Medicine)
This year, Semmelweis University only fielded a team in women’s ten-oared rowing, who won the bronze medal in a close battle along with the winning team from the University of Physical Education and the team from the University of Pannonia who took the second place.
Interestingly, within the women’s department, Semmelweis University’s team was the only one built as a student-teacher “mix”. The team was further strengthened by Dr. Ibolya Túri, Deputy Dean of Science at the Pető András Faculty of Semmelweis, and the reigning Hungarian single-seater champion, Orsolya Benda, a recent graduate of physiotherapy at Semmelweis University’s Faculty of Health Sciences. The team was completed by former national team members and rowers who took part in the challenge for the first time this year.
Gallery
The organizers also provided a helmsman and two experienced rowers for the duration of the race, as requested by the teams. Semmelweis University’s boat was navigated by Máté Kiss (DNHE), the two experienced rowers were Krisztina Máthé (DNHE) and Márta Sarkadi (DNHE). Members of the women’s team expressed their gratitude to them and to Kornelia Várszegi, Director of the Centre for Physical Education and Sport at Semmelweis University, for their support in the competition as well as in the preparation and registration.
Semmelweis University Sports Centre, Balázs Hiller
Translation: Viktória Kiss
Photo: Semmelweis University Sports Centre
