2002 Zurich Rowing World Cup - Hazewinkel, Belgium. Afternoon Racing Day 2

Italy’s Alessio Sartori and Rossano Galtarossa winning their M2x semi-final today in Hazewinkel
© Sybrand Treffers

Conditions were similar to those this morning on Hazewinkel’s 2000 metre rowing course for the afternoon’s semi-finals. This continued day two of the Zurich Rowing World Cup. The wind persisited as a side to tail wind with water still slightly choppy.

All boats in this afternoon’s semi-finals needed to place in the top three to make it through to Sunday’s A-finals. Placing fourth through to sixth would put the crew into the B-final. Click here for full results.

Racing began with the first semi-final for the women’s single sculls. Rebecca Romero from Great Britain jumped to the lead, which she maintained until the 700-metre mark, before the dominating scullers began to establish their places. The Netherland’s new rowing force, Hurnet Dekkers struggled a little in the bumpy water but kept the pressure on two time Olympic champion Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus and Russia’s Yulya Levina. By the last 500 metres, the top 3 places were established with Russia, Netherlands and Belarus taking some of the pressure off, knowing they would qualify for the final.

The second semi-final finished with Miroslava Knapkova of the Czech Republic, tenth in last year’s World Championships, crossing the line first to gain a spot in the final. She will be joined by Viktoria Szekely of Hungary and Italy’s Elisabetta Brugo who finished in second and third spots respectively.

The fluctuating wind calmed for the fist semi-final in the men’s single scull. The line up was impressive. World Champion medallists from a variety of boats including the single, double and quad raced for a chance in the A-final. At the 1000 metre mark 2001 World Champion Olaf Tufte of Norway led the field rating a steady 32 strokes per minute, but the race was anything but over with four boats on the pace. Building to an exciting finish, the Netherland’s, Dirk Lippits, stopped suddenly with 300 metres to go. This made way for Tufte to take first place, followed by the two French scullers of Frederic Kowal and Sebastien Vieilledent.

2001 World Champion, Marcel Hacker of Germany led from the start over Vaclav Chalupa of the Czech Republic and these positions held at the finish line. Italian Franco Berra, gained the last spot in the A-final having more juice than the Swiss sculler who will go through to the B-final.

No surprises in the first semi-final of the men’s pair. The Cracknell/Pinsent combination from Great Britain showed their strong start and maintained a handy lead. They kept ahead of Germany’s Deltlef Kirchoff and Ike Landvoigt who had pressure from third place finishers Italy through to the 1500 metre mark. These three crews all earned a spot in the A-final.

The Croatian pair of Sinisa and Niksa Skelin are best known for their 2001 World Championships bronze medal in the eight and showed their rowing skills in the pair by taking the top position in the second semi-final. They will be joined by Adam Michalek and Petr Imre of the Czech Republic and 2001 men’s pair bronze medallists, Ramon Di Clemente and Donovan Cech of South Africa who were happy to cross in third position.

World Champions Akos Haller and Tibor Peto of Hungary led from the start in the first semi-final for the men’s double sculls. They gave an indication of their speed going through the 1000 metre mark at 40 strokes per minute and they looked very comfortable as they crossed the finish line ahead of second and third qualifiers Germany and Spain.

Italy’s combination of Alessio Sartori and Rossano Galtarossa won the second semi-final and set the stage for an exciting final tomorrow when they meet the Hungarians. The Czech Republic kept the pace on to finish in second, followed by Slovenia, which included Olympic gold medallist Luka Spik.

A slight side wind continued for the first semi-final in the Lightweight women’s double scull. The new Romanian combination could not retain the mantel for their country in this event and will go into the B-final for Sunday. Five crews were in front of them at the finish. Great Britain’s combination of Helen Casey and Tracy Langlands started very strongly and never let go of the lead. They qualified for the A-final and will be joined by Denmark and Greece.

World Champions Claudia Blasberg and Janet Raduenzel of Germany, comfortably filled the top spot and will qualify for the final with the fastest time in the lightweight women’s double second semi-final. The race for second and third was being fought through the 1000 metre mark, but by the 1500 metre mark Netherlands and France were easily in qualifying position, coming second and third respectively. Poland in fourth place will have to settle for the B-final.

The last semi-final for the day was the lightweight men’s double sculls. The leading boat showed why they are current World Champions. Elia Luini and Leonardo Pettinari of Italy led the whole way followed by Greece who will also go to the A-final. The real race was for third place and the high stroke rate showed the pressure Belarus and France were putting on each other. France got the edge by taking the spot in the A-final by half a second.

The lightweight men’s double second semi-final was won by Germany’s combination of Peter Ording and Manuel Brehmer. Denmark took second place while third position was a fight to the line, Great Britain winning the battle by a nose ahead of the Netherlands.

B-Finals start tomorrow at 09:00 (CET) and the A-Finals will be raced starting at 10:50 (CET).