At this year's dragon boat festival on Fühlinger See near Cologne, the "Rohrlegers" from Stadtwerke Gießen managed to get revenge for 2013. In the final, the team beat the "Moneydragons" from Wuppertal and brought the winner's trophy back to Central Hesse.
33 teams took part in the popular dragon boat festival on the Fühlinger See near Cologne on Saturday 14 June. As in previous years, there was strong competition for victory. In 2013, the "Rohrleger" team from Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) took third place. "With a starting field like that, third place was a success," assures team captain Oliver Lassika, adding: "Nevertheless, we wanted to go one better and repeat our victory from 2012."
A goal that was not set too high. In all four races - from the heats to the final - the SWG dragon boat left its opponents behind. On top of that, the women and men managed to get revenge against the "Moneydragons" from Wuppertal, who they had narrowly lost to in 2013. In the new edition, they turned the tables. In the 2014 final, they crossed the finish line with a wafer-thin lead of 0.22 seconds.
Training pays off
Even though he prioritises having fun, Oliver Lassika admits: "Our sporting ambition drives us to improve year on year. That's why we train together once a week on the Lahn, and have been doing so since March. Individual and different units are always part of it." The team receives help from coach Björn Lehrmund, to whom the SWG dragon boat crew would like to express their sincere thanks. "He has played a big part in our success," emphasises Oliver Lassika.
The "Rohrleger" want to celebrate their successes on home waters again soon - including at the city festival in Marburg on 12 and 13 July and at the Giessen city festival in mid-August.