By Rokur Jakupsstovu, Swimming World Scandinavian correspondent
BIRKEROD, Denmark. TONIGHT, Sigma Swim arranged a fun and spectator friendly “War Of The Great Danes,” in connection with their annual sponsor event.
Six of the best Danish male swimmers competed in an elimination challenge, consisting of five rounds of 50 meter sprints, starting every 3 minutes. The swim stroke was decided by luck of the draw; and after each round, the slowest swimmer was eliminated.
Four of the six competitors are members of the so-called “Great Danes” team of 13 especially talented young male swimmers. The Danish Swimming Federation have selected these Great Danes to harden with training camps and challenges abroad. Added to them were US-based Andreas Schiellerup, and five-fold Masters World Champion Claus Iversen.
In the end, it was Faroese born Magnus Jakupsson who proved the strongest, winning the final against London 2012 Olympian Daniel Skaaning. Magnus is Danish champion in the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke, and Danish record holder in the 50 backstroke, which undoubtedly was helpful when the last draw turned out to be backstroke. But Skaaning still holds the Danish junior record in the 100 backstroke, and is known as a fighter, making the duel quite even until Magnus hit the wall in 25.46 to Daniel’s 25.93 (short course meters).
Round 1: Butterfly – Anton Orskov Ipsen eliminated (2014 Europeans and 2014 World Short Course qualified)
Round 2: Freestyle – Claus Iversen eliminated (five times 2013 World Masters Champion)
Round 3: Breaststroke – Andreas Schiellerup eliminated (2013 European Short Course Semi-Finalist in the 50 backstroke)
Round 4: Breaststroke – Daniel Steen Andersen eliminated (2013 European Junior Champion in the 100 butterfly, 2014 Europeans and 2014 World Short Course qualified)
Round 5: Backstroke – Daniel Skaaning eliminated (London 2012 Olympian, 2011 European Juniors silver medalist and 2010 European Juniors bronze medalist in the 200 freestyle, 2014 Europeans and 2014 World Short Course qualified)
Winner of the 2014 War Between Great Danes and the DKK 3000 (USD 552) main prize was therefore Magnus Jakupsson from Sigma Swim. Daniel Skaaning from VAT won DKK 2000 and Daniel Steen Andersen from Horsens DKK 1000.
Arrangements were made that in case US-based Anton Orskov Ipsen or Andreas Schiellerup won, the money would fall back to the host club, as not to interfere with their NCAA eligibility.