11 May 2014 was marked by a sports competition: the JU Rector's Cup International Regatta (coxed eights) on the Vistula River by Wawel Castle. Nine European sports teams, including the famous teams from Cambridge University Boat Club and Oxford University Boat club as well as Polish team from Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Wrocław, Warsaw and Kraków, competed for the JU Rector's Cup at a distance of 1000 metres.

Prof. dr hab. Maria Flis, JU Vice-Rector for University Development, opened the Regatta. After a short official opening ceremony, during which flowers were lain underneath the statue of Prof. Walery Goetl, the competition commenced.

In the first phase, the teams competed in three groups, in a round-robin tournament.

Group A:

Cambridge University

Nicolaus Copernicus University (winner)

AGH University of Technology

Group B:

University of Wrocław

Kazimierz Wielki University (winner)

JU Collegium Medicum

Group C:

Oxford University (winner)

University of Warsaw

Jagiellonian University

In accordance to the competition rules, the Jagiellonian University was qualified to the semi-finals.

The semi-finals were organised in a play-off system: the Nicolaus Copernicus University won against the Jagiellonian University, while the Kazimierz Wielki University prevailed over Oxford University. The teams from the JU and the OU then fought for the third place, with the winner being Oxford University.

In the Grand Final, the Nicolaus Copernicus University team proved to be the best in this championship.

Prof. dr hab. med. Wojciech Nowak, JU Rector, presented the winners with the Rector's Cup. Additionally, the team also received the Chancellors Cup, as they were the fastest to complete their runs. Every team received commemorative medals.

Since the Regatta met with such an enthusiasm, it was announced that they will be organised again next year.

Aside from the regatta, all those who visited the banks of Vistula River were able to attend various sports shows and even test their mettle in "dry paddling" – 650 metres on stationary ergometres. The participants were able to compare their results with the results of Olympic medallist and world champion Adam Korol, who was present at the Regatta.

photographs: Jerzy Pajor