Wet racing for lightweight singles

Day two of the final World Rowing Cup for 2011 opened with the lightweight single scullers racing in their semifinals. This meant that the number of crews had been narrowed down to 12 with these 12 going after the chance to race in this afternoon’s A-final. Familiar names like Tsiavou, Weisshaupt, Stephansen and Grant proved that they were the ones to beat. 

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – Semifinals

Day two of the final World Rowing Cup for 2011 opened with the lightweight single scullers racing in their semifinals. This meant that the number of crews had been narrowed down to 12 with these 12 going after the chance to race in this afternoon’s A-final. Familiar names like Tsiavou, Weisshaupt, Stephansen and Grant proved that they were the ones to beat.

As a lightweight woman single sculler, to go under eight minutes over 2000m in fair conditions is a significant target to reach. Today in the semifinals, six of the 12 crews went under the magical eight. Unfortunately, four of them were in semifinal two. This meant that Atsumi Fukumoto of Japan1 recorded the sixth fastest time, but will not get to race the A-final as she was fourth in her semi. Instead, Belgium’s Jo Hammond, who finished third in semifinal one can feel very lucky.

Also qualifying for the final, which will be raced this evening, is Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece. Tsiavou won semifinal two and recorded the fastest time overall to go into the final as the favourite. The 176cm tall Tsiavou carries no extra weight on her frame but has the power to be a World Champion at the senior and under-23 level. Also qualifying from Tsiavou’s semi is Weronika Deresz of Poland and Marie-Anne Frenken of the Netherlands.

Semifinal one had 2008 World Champion, Pamela Weisshaupt of Switzerland taking out the first place. Weisshaupt, 32, is well into her second decade on the Swiss national team and she regularly moves between the lightweight single and double. Behind Weisshaupt, Siobhan McCrohan of Ireland and Hammond also qualify from second and third respectively.

Qualifiers: SUI1, IRL, BEL, GRE1, POL, NED

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – Semifinals

At the Hamburg World Rowing Cup last month Henrik Stephansen of Denmark won his first World Cup gold medal. Stephansen looked absolutely elated at the finish. Today, in semifinal one, Stephansen not only won, but recorded the fastest qualifying time and became the sculler to watch.

Stephansen’s dream is to medal at the Olympic Games, but with the double being the only Olympic boat for lightweight scullers, he will have to work his way into a very accomplished Danish double to earn a spot. In the meantime Stephansen is making the most of the single as he moves on to potentially another World Cup gold. Also qualifying from semifinal one was Pietro Ruta of Italy and Maxime Goisset of France.

Semifinal two had three crews practically on top of each other going through the half-way point. Germany’s Jonathan Koch had a slight edge with Duncan Grant of New Zealand and Frederic Hanselmann of Switzerland moving with Koch. These three boats continued to stick to each other going through the third 500m. Safely in a qualifiying position, Koch decided not to sprint and slipped back. Three-time World Champion, Grant then took over the lead and held it to the end. Grant, Hanselmann and Koch qualify for the final.

Qualifiers: DEN, ITA, FRA1, NZL, SUI, GER