03 May 2012
Boosted adaptive numbers at Italy’s Gavirate Regatta
At this sixth edition of the Gavirate Regatta, the number of rowers was nearly double on last year with 17 nations competing, up from a total of 11 in 2011. A fair quantity of the best adaptive rowers in the world raced over three days with finals taking place on two of the days.
Most of the rowers competed in both finals days with sometimes differing results. The reigning World Champions from Great Britain in the LTA mixed coxed four showed that they still had winning speed by finishing first on both days of finals. Germany came in second while Ireland finished third one day and were then pushed into fourth by France on the second day.
The TA mixed double sculls had France’s Pearle Bouge and Stephane Tardieu taking control in both finals. Australia’s Kathryn Ross held onto second both days but with two different partners. On day one she competed with Gavin Bellis and on day two Ross raced with her 2008 Paralympic partner, John Maclean. Ukraine pushed Brazil into fourth on day one, but Brazil came back on the second day of finals and took third.
Great Britain’s Paralympic and World Champion, Tom Aggar raced on day one in the AS men’s single sculls beating Russia’s Vadim Morozov by two seconds. China’s Cheng Huang was third. On the second day Aggar did not race and Huang came through to take first over Morozov. Morozov’s teammate, Aleksey Chuvasheu was third.
Former World Champion, Nathalie Benoit of France took first in the AS women’s single sculls on the first day. Behind Benoit was Claudia Santos of Brazil in second and Israel’s Moran Samuel in third. Samuel went on to win on day two with Santos in second and newcomer, Joan Reid of Canada in third.