Synek and Karsten complete clean runs at Munich World Rowing Cup

Women’s Eight (W8+) – Final

In the absence of World Champions, the United States, this event was open to crowning a new winner. After last year’s World Championships, Romania, who finished third, is the highest seeded country here in Munich. But the Netherlands had different ideas. The Dutch took off at the start and gained a healthy two second over Great Britain with Romania following in third. This margin was maintained through the middle of the race by the Netherlands with the order remaining the same.

Coming into the final sprint Great Britain, in second, gave it their best shot to overtake the Dutch. Taking their stroke rate to 40, Great Britain threw everything at the Dutch. The Netherlands responded with a 39 stroke rate and managed to hold off Great Britain. Meanwhile, former Olympic Champions, Romania had no more to give and remained in third.

Results: NED, GBR, ROU, UKR, CHN, POL

Nienke Kingma (NED) – Gold
“I won bronze in the pair and now gold in the eight – I’m so tired I will sleep the whole week. Our hard work this winter really paid off. We are stronger mentally and physically. Our powerful start just showed that.”

Jo Cook (GBR) – Silver
“We are a little bit disappointed that we didn´t win, because we have the potential to go out and win. But we were really focused on our boat. ”

Teodora Gidoiu (ROU) – Bronze
"We were a little surprised by the Dutch and the British. We had a good winter but we will have to work harder to beat them when it really counts”

 

Women’s Single Sculls (W1x) – Final

On her home turf, Annekatrin Thiele of Germany decided to grab the bull by the horns. In her first year as Germany’s single sculler, Olympic medallist from the double, Thiele was having a great race. Thiele took the lead over the incredible Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus with Jitka Antosova of the Czech Republic following closely.

By the half way point Thiele still held the lead while Karsten had slipped back into fourth behind Antosova and Xiuyun Zhang of China. Zhang, 35, has a rowing career that goes back to 1993 when she became a World Champion in the women’s quad. After a break Zhang has decided to continue in rowing and earlier this month she won the Essen Regatta.

Coming into the final sprint Karsten had worked up into third with Thiele still in the lead. The crowd rose to their feet as Thiele came into view. Could she do it? Karsten then began to sprint. Taking her stroke rate to 38 Karsten charged for the line. Thiele tried to hold on. Karsten despite looking uncharacteristically ragged, got the lead. Thiele held on to second with Zhang in third.

Results: BLR, GER, CHN, CZE2, CZE1, SWE

Ekaterina Karsten (BLR) – Gold
“During the race I was looking around and I saw some newcomers were quite far ahead. I looked another time and then I was really rowing as fast as I can. It is good to win, but also good that other people are coming into the field, making it interesting. ”

Annekatrin Thiele(GER) – Silver
“Being new in the single the second place is a big surprise for me. But I really wanted to row the single this year. I want to see how good I am all by myself. ”

Xiuyun zhang (CHN) – Bronze
"I made a comeback in view of winning a medal at the Games in London. In the single or maybe in a bigger boat.”

B-final

Donata Vistartaite of Lithuania did all of her good work early on in the race so that by the last 300m she could drop her stroke rate down to a comfortable 27 and enjoy the view. Genevra Stone of the United States made a good effort in second but never could get close to Vistartaite.

 

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) – Final

Coming through from the time trials and semi-finals, Germany’s Marcel Hacker looked to be in fine form and a much more relaxed figure than the Hacker of the past. Hacker had one of the centre lanes with World Champion Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic in the other centre lane.

At the start Luka Spik of Slovenia got away quickly with Synek and Hacker in hot pursuit. By the half way point Synek had gained a very slight lead followed very closely by Spik and Hacker. The third 500 then really sorted out the wheat from the chaff. Spik had run out of steam and dropped off the pace leaving Hacker and Synek to battle it out at the front of the pack in a race of their own.

Coming into the final sprint no other boat had closed on Hacker and Synek. Synek took his stroke rate to 38 and stayed ahead of Hacker. Hacker looked solid but in no attacking position on a 34 stroke rate. The order did not change. Synek continues his unbroken winning streak that began at the start of last year.

In third Lassi Karonen of Sweden won the only medal for his country at this regatta. Fourth placed Mindaugas Griskonis of Lithuania showed that he is a force to be watched and in fifth Great Britain’s Alan Campbell pulled out a big sprint (40 stroke rate) but today it was not effective.

Results: CZE, GER, SWE, LTU, GBR1, SLO

Ondrej Syneck (CZE) – Gold
“It will be more difficult to win the races this year because many competitors have worked hard to catch me up, and the winter was short after going to New Zealand. It will be tough but my biggest competitor will be my own brain.”

Marcel Hacker (GER) – Silver
“It was the perfect start for me after the break. The break was good for me. I now have fun again training. But rowing is not everything in my life anymore. I am a father now and I enjoy the time with my family.”

Lassi Karonen (SWE) – Bronze
"I didn´t expect to be up in the front. I did an even pace and I kind of focused on beating Mindaugas [Griskonis] because I got beaten by him yesterday. In didn’t get enough time on the water as we had a tough winter in Sweden. In March I went to Portugal and later I trained with Ondrej [Synek] at his place. ”

B-final

Tim Maeyens of Belgium is usually found in the A-final, but he is starting off this season a little slower. Maeyens started off at the back of the field and worked his way up through the fleet, taking the lead in the third 500m. Despite Maeyens having a reasonably comfortable lead, Maeyens still kept the pressure on and rated a high 38 stroke per minute coming into the finish line. Maeyens finishes seventh overall.

 

Men’s Eight (M8+) – Final

The men’s eight is the boat that Germans love. The boat, however, has had a chequered past. But following a sub-par 2008 Olympic Games performance, the eight has come back into prominence. In 2009 they became World Champions and did a repeat performance in 2010. This year they look like their back on top and back in favour as the flavour of Germany.

Coxed by budding lawyer Martin Sauer, Germany took the lead at the start and did everything possible to remain there. France stayed with Germany early on before slipping back to the power of Great Britain.

Meanwhile, in lane 2 and 3, Poland and the Netherlands were holding their own private battle for the silver medal. There was practically nothing in it as Poland and the Dutch charged for the line as Germany, in their big green boat, remained in front. Germany continue their winning streak, Great Britain gain another silver and Poland (only just) gets the better of the Netherlands.

Results: GER, GBR, POL, NED, FRA, CHN

Kristof Wilke (GER) – Gold
“The mental pressure before the race was quite high. We are surprised that the race went so well for us, and of course we are happy that we beat the British again. It is an advantage that six people of the crew are still the same form last year`s crew. That really helps a lot.”