Lightweight Women's Single Sculls (LW1x) - Final

The fastest boat coming through from the heats was Anja Noske of Germany. Noske took gold last year at the World Rowing Championships in the lightweight women’s quadruple sculls and she is a proven sculling talent. Today, Noske took the lead at the start with Denmark’s Aja Runge Holmegaard the closest contestant. Meanwhile the reigning European Champion, Imogen Walsh of Great Britain was at the back of the field.

Noske continued to lead and, furthermore, extend that lead through the middle of the race. This is where Elisabeth Woerner of the Netherlands started to move and put Holmegaard under threat. Woerner is the spare for the Dutch lightweight double boat and she was improving with every stroke as she came into the final sprint. But then Holmegaard really started to wind it up. She overtook Woerner and closed on Noske. It was a battle of pure muscle power into these strong head wind conditions and Noske had the greater strength. Holmegaard earned silver with Woerner taking bronze.

Results: GER, DEN, NED, IRL, POL, GBR

B-final

Switzerland’s Ladina Meier only just missed out on making the A-final yesterday and today she got away quickly. Meier then moved away to a rather handy lead and continued to make the lead grow finishing with open water over 2014 World Champion, Eveline Peleman of Belgium.

Results: SUI, BEL, LAT, UKR

Anja Noske – Germany – Gold
“I am right now so happy. I will give the flower to my mom as it’s Mother’s Day.”

Aja Runge Holmegaard – Denmark – Silver
“It was a very tough race, but the conditions are similar where we train in Copenhagen, so we are used to it. It is hard to have good technique though.”

Elisabeth Woerner – Netherlands – Bronze
“It was a hard race, but I am very happy with the result. It is my first race in the single internationally and my first European medal.”