World Rowing Masters 2024 in Brandenburg an der Havel: Emigrants back at Beetzsee

Brandenburg an der Havel. Uwe Dombrowski, now 50, was not a rower when he was still living in Brandenburg. But he has always been fascinated by water. As a student at the former Otto Grotewohl High School, he first played handball and then athletics. “Both were too performance-oriented for me.” “I liked the orienteering diving in Marienbad much better,” says the emigrant.

“We were often outside with the people and camped by beautiful lakes.” But that didn’t keep the young man in the city. He was simply drawn to the world. “I’ve already been to the USA on a student exchange and I’ve had an urge to go ever since,” says Dombrowski.

At the age of 25, with an apprenticeship as an industrial electronics technician in a steelworks and a digital marketing degree in Berlin under his belt, he went to London in 1999 and earned his first money there. “You can do digital marketing from anywhere in the world,” he says. “That’s the best thing about this job.”

He moved to Ireland for a year with his current wife, an Australian who was also working in London through “Work and Travel”. Then Australia followed.

Uwe Dombrowski trains and rides together with Jens Beilfuß (l.), Guido Kutscher (2nd from left) and Lars Beilfuß (r.).

Source: Heike Schulze

World Rowing Masters on Lake Beetz from 11 September

The first ten years were spent in Sydney, then Adelaide, where he still lives today and has a family with two daughters. “There was no real reason to leave Brandenburg,” Dombrowski recalls. It was like an inner restlessness, curiosity and a desire to travel. “My wife and I stayed where it was nice. You feel at home anywhere if you let yourself go. Moving was no problem. We left Ireland with two suitcases. Today, a truck and trailer would be full of all our things.”

He liked coming back home, and every two years Dombrowski moves to Brandenburg. His parents have lived in the same apartment in Hohenstücken since 1975. “I still have my room there,” he says. “It’s cheap for me. Especially now during the Masters. You spend a small fortune on travel, costs, accommodation and entry fees.”

The Masters Regatta was not the only reason for him to come here. “First, my niece got married and there’s a class reunion too.” What is it like to be back in Brandenburg after such a long time? “What annoys me every time, because I quickly forget about it in Adelaide, is the cobblestones. But other than that? It’s beautiful here.”

His father-in-law once got him into rowing – during the Covid period. He needs a good balance. “He himself did it as often as possible until he was very old.” And it is nice to row early in the morning when nature awakens and the water is still as smooth as glass.

Uwe Dombrowski emigrated from Brandenburg 25 years ago and has lived in Australia for 23 years. He came home for the Rowing Masters Regatta.

Source: Heike Schulze

Rowing Masters on Lake Beetz: There are only gold medals

A few weeks ago, Dombrowski contacted Lars Beilfuß, who is part of the Masters’ organization team. “Since everything is clear and Uwe is here, we’ve been training together,” he says. They will compete in four races, twice in a four-man boat and twice in an eight-man boat, always in an international line-up.

At the Masters regattas, only the winners count. “There are only gold medals, no second or third places,” explains Beilfuß. “2400 gold medals have been ordered,” confirms Volker Garmatter, head of the organization team. “At the moment we have just over 3600 active athletes aged 27 to 98 from 51 nations who are taking part in 640 races.” But this number is not exact, because people can still register for the mixed races at the weekend.

The 2024 World Rowing Masters Regatta will run from September 11th to 15th at the regatta course in Brandenburg. The official opening is on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday at 6 p.m. the flag will be handed over to the next host of the Masters, along with a special award for participants over 80 years of age. The oldest starter is 98 years old.

The races take place every three minutes with up to eight boats at the same time every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Wednesday from 12 p.m.). Entry to the competition area is free.

Further information is available at www.wrmr2024.com/Language/de.

MAZ