Sulkavan Suursoudut
{{Expand Finnish|topic=sport|date=February 2020}}
Image:Finnish Church Boat in Sulkava Finland.jpg
Sulkavan Suursoudut (English: {{Literal translation|The Grand Rowing Races of Sulkava}}) is Finland's biggest rowing race, held every July in Sulkava, Southern Savonia, Eastern Finland.{{Cite web|title=Sulkava Rowing Race 2017| accessdate=2017-03-15|url = http://www.suursoudut.fi/sulkavarowingrace2017}} It is organised by the Sulkava Association. The 1st race was held in 1968.
History
The first competition was held in 1968 with 38 competitors. The winner was 67-year-old Einari Luukkonen in a time of 8 hours, 29 minutes, and 40 seconds.
The boats used in competitions are Finnish traditional style wooden rowing boats, normally now made of plywood. Since 1984 there have been competitions in 40 foot 'church-boats', 14 seat craft plus a cox that were traditionally used in church trips. Today the four-day competition involves approximately 8000 rowers with roughly 20,000 people visiting to watch the race. In 2007 the 40th anniversary of the race was held and the four-day competition extended to six days.
The race route is approximately {{convert|60|km|mi|2}}. In most years the start is Hakovirta, circling Partalansaari island and finishing at the Sulkava rowing stadium. Current{{when|date=February 2020}} records of the competition are 5.05.50 for men singles, 6.05.53 for women singles; the church boats travel the distance in about 4 hours.
Between 7- and 8,000 competitors and 20,000 spectators take part in Sulkavan Suursoudut every July. The World Masters Rowing Event for church-boats was introduced in 2010, attracting 13 crews from abroad. The competition was held over distances of {{convert|2|km|mi|2}} and {{convert|60|km|mi|2}}. The fastest foreign crew over the latter distance was the squad Eco from Russia, finishing in 4 hours and 48 minutes, 45 minutes behind the winning squad, Joutele from Helsinki, Finland.
References
{{Reflist}}
- [http://www.suursoudut.fi/tietoa-souduista Soutujen of participants] Sulkava Society. Retrieved 11/07/2011.
- Keränen, Kalle: Results. Sulkava-Journal, 17/07/2008, No. 29, p 34
- http://www.suursoudut.fi
- (40 Sulkavan results) Sulkava-Journal , 12/07/2007, No. 28, pp. 36 ISSN 0782-6583 .
- (40 Sulkavan results) Sulkava-Journal , 12/07/2007, No. 28, pp. 32 ISSN 0782-6583 .
- [http://www.suursoudut.fi/tietoa-souduista Route Records] Sulkava Society. Retrieved 11/07/2011.
External links
- [http://www.suursoudut.fi/en/ Competition homepage in English]
Category:Rowing competitions in Finland
Category:Tourist attractions in South Savo