7th World University Championships Underway in Nottingham

Racing began yesterday at the 7th World University Rowing Championships in Nottingham, UK. In flat conditions with a gentle headwind, Germany and Canada between them won twelve of the twenty-two heats, thereby booking places direct to the finals for most of their crews.

The previous experience of teams entered at this championships varies widely, with many having already rowed at previous junior or Under-23 world championships, but others appearing for the first time in their national vests.

World Cup single sculling champion Miroslava Knapkova was in complete control of her heat as she sculled in nearly half a minute up on the field including Dutch Challenge Cup winner Myke Mol. Her lightweight compatriot and Under-23 silver medallist Daniela Nachezelova also won with ease, while world lightweight champion from 2000 and double FISU champion Michal Vabrousek made it three out of three.

In the men's heavyweight singles, one of only three races for lanes, Under-23 and Henley Royal Regatta champion Peter Wells from Great Britain led off the start, but was overtaken by Swiss champion Andre Vonarburg, part of the 2001 World Cup runners-up double. Wells and Frederic Perrier of France then sprinted for the line, Wells finishing 0.15 ahead of Perrier.

The Canadian team is all heavyweight, and doubling up from last week's successful Commonwealth campaign during which they won ten medals. The Canadian men's eight posted the fastest time of the day, winning their heat by eighteen seconds, while in the other race (the "heat from hell"), Germany's experienced internationals blasted through the field from last to first after a terrible start, leaving the Netherlands, Britain and Poland wrangling in their wake.

Germany's other particularly impressive crew was their women's coxless four, including two Under-23 medallists and finishing ten seconds up on Britain and France. Chinese Taipei's only crew, the men's eight, will have been delighted to lead neighbours China for 600 metres, while the Ukrainian women's pair who turned up to discover that their event did not exist were safely rehoused in a double scull.

Last weekend saw some discussion about weed by the lakeside in Holme Pierrepont's water, mostly by the Australians, and officials went fishing between races yesterday, removing several large clumps of greenery from below the finishing line. The other major hazard is the starting system at the course, which emits a loud "click" just before the real start. This prompted several false starts at first, but hopefully competitors will be more accustomed to it in today's repechages.

This copy and online results for the regatta provided by the Rowing Service. www.festivalofrowing.org.uk for immediate results post-race todayand Saturday, with live-online commentary on Saturday for all A finals.