Advancing Through the Semi-finals at the Under 23s

By Melissa Bray

Warm water and a depth of two metres both add up to the potential for fast times on Amsterdam's Bosbaan course for the World Rowing Under 23 Championships for 2005. A small cross-tail wind also helped boat speeds with the men's quad from Belarus getting within a second of the record.

Today's racing in the semi-finals had crews aiming for a spot in the A-final and racing was regularly close as crews aimed for either a top two or three finish.

Goodsell of Great Britain on her way to the final

Lightweight Women's Single Scull (BLW1X)

Hester Goodsell of Great Britain dominated the heat two days ago and today in semi-final one of two she used the same strategy, already gaining a full boat length lead with only 500 metres of the race rowed. Behind Goodsell the second and third qualifying spots sorted themselves out early on with Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece slotting into second and holding off Eeke Thomee of the Netherlands. The order remained the same when Thomee, working the hardest in the final sprint, took her rating to 33 above Greece on 29, but the order remained unchanged. Goodsell, Tsiavou and Thomee advance to the final.

In the second semi Lara De Stefano of Italy went off the start like a Ferrari. But the Ferrari ran out of gas and Fabiane Albrecht of Switzerland was able to take over the lead with Germany's Stephanie Wagner following Albrecht's example. Then coming through the 1,250 metre mark Moldova's Tonia Iagovitina started to wear down the early fast starters as she moved into third. With 500 metres left to row the three qualifiers had sorted themselves out and no one seemed willing to upset the status quo. Albrecht, Wagner and Iagovitina move on to the final. Iagovitina becomes the first Moldovan to make an international rowing final.

Great Britain's Purchase looking good for the final

Lightweight Men's Single Scull (BLM1X)

Three semi-finals meant that the scullers had to aim for a top two finish and semi-final one opened with Great Britain's new rowing star, Zac Purchase jumping out to a handy lead over Ireland's Richard Coakley. The order hadn't changed as the last 500 metres came into sight but there was still water to cover and the big surprise was coming from the outside lane. Victor Aspillaga of Peru decided that being over eight seconds off the pace wasn't acceptable and he began to sprint.

Meanwhile Purchase, still in the lead, thought nothing of dropping his rating to a comfortable 28. Coakley, however, felt the Peruvian's heat and began to sprint. Aspillaga took his stroke rate to 40 strokes per minute but Coakley kept the edge. Purchase and Coakley move to the final.

In the second semi New Zealand's Storm Uru kept last year's champion, Marcello Miani of Italy honest by tracking him closely from the outside lane. Miani owned a bit of a lead, but a piece by Uru through the 1,200 metre mark accelerated the Kiwi into first. Miani didn't react. Coming into the home straight Miani chose to save his energy leaving Uru to become the clear winner. Uru and Miani will meet again in the final.

Semi-final three laid on one of the most exciting races of the morning bringing the crowd to its feet when three crews fought for two spots. Lukas Babac (2004 Olympian) of Slovakia, Jonathan Koch of Germany and Slovenia's Bine Pislar (bronze last year and gold in 2003) remained within spitting distance of each other for the entire race, completely outclassing the remainder of the field.

Koch, Pislar and Babac were all going to have to sprint. Charging for the line Babac was at 39, Pislar at 37 and Koch an incredible 48. In a photo finish Koch was the unlucky one and will return for the B final.

Women Single Scull (BW1X)

Julia Michalska of Poland has already built up quite a rowing pedigree with a win in the single as a junior and already one Under 23 regatta under her belt. Today she demonstrated her boat speed by qualifying from the first semi-final with the fastest time ? less than eight seconds off the Under 23 record. The only close challenge to Michalska came from 18 year old Emma Twigg of New Zealand early in the race.

At the finish Michalska had qualified from first, a steady Sybille Exner of Germany pulled through to second and Twigg takes the third qualifying spot.

In the second semi-final, Claudia Springer of Austria had the fastest start but was soon swallowed up by Kristine Gosa of Latvia. Gosa has been rowing very well this regatta and after finding the lead she easily moved away from the rest of the field. Springer followed in second and Serbia & Montenegro's Iva Obradovic was under no threat in the final qualifying position.

Men's Single Scull (BM1X)

Evgenij Igatov of Moldova got off the line in the lead of the first semi-final before Germany's Martin Lossner pushed him out. Keeping his pace constant Lossner moved away to a clear water lead with Ignatov holding on to second. Coming into the final sprint Ignatov had given it his all and had nothing left. Lithuania's Mindaugas Griskonis and Davide Pignone of Italy were both able to push past the Moldovan and qualify with Lossner remaining in front.

After Russian Aleksandr Kornilov settled into his race pace, Sjoerd Hamburger of the Netherlands easily pushed past him to take the lead. Last year's winner Kristaps Bokums of Latvia sat back in third. The order did not change with the three leaders comfortably ahead of any threat from challengers.

In the closing quarter of the race Hamburger confidently dropped his rating down to 28 then 23 strokes per minute to cross the line first and only five seconds outside the Under 23 record. Kornilov and Bokums advance from second and third respectively.

Men's Pair (BM2-)

Poland's Lukasz Kardas and Dawid Paczes were bronze medalists last year and today they stamped their name all over the first of two semi-finals. By the half way point the Poles had two seconds over Noe Guzman and Pedro Rodriguez of Spain in second. Germany trailed in third. This order did not change throughout the race but coming into the final sprint the three leaders did not feel comfortable. With 300 metres to go Argentina attacked from the outside lane. Spain and Germany had to react.

Argentina, however, had left their attack just a little too late. Poland, Spain and Germany advance to the final.

The second semi-final had Olaf Van Andel and Mitchel Steenman of the Netherlands dominating for the first half of the race before Giorgios Tsiompanidis and Evangelos Tsourtsoulas of Greece, rowing a very consistent race at 35 strokes per minute, took over at the front. Coming into the final sprint the Greeks still kept their rating constant and remained in the lead. The Netherlands slipped back but held on to second and the final place went to superior sprinters Switzerland who take the final qualifying spot. An unlucky Canada, who had won their repechage, finished in sixth after Alan Oldham suffered from an asthma attack.

Women's Double Scull (BW2X)

By the statistics Laura Schiavone and Elisabetta Sancassani of Italy had the edge over their field. In the first of two semi-finals they showed this to be correct. Leading from the start Schiavone and Sancassani did just enough to keep ahead of Romania who had slotted into second.

Behind them New Zealand was down a length in third with Germany trying to eat into the New Zealand spot. Neither Italy nor Romania felt the need to really sprint and it was down to Germany and New Zealand to keep the crowd excited. Germany gained a slight edge over New Zealand with 100 metres to go, and remained ahead to take third after New Zealand faltered just before the line in the excitement of the finish line noise.

In the second semi-final Tara Kelly and Anna McRae of Australia paced themselves beautifully by getting to the head of the field at the start and doing just enough to hold the lead by the half way point. Once out in front Kelly and McRae's confidence grew and they pushed away from Brett Sickler and Deborah Dryer of the United States in second. Both Sickler and Dryer are accomplished collegiate rowers and their long layback style of rowing may reflect their big boat style of rowing.

Lithuania sat in behind the US taking up the final qualifying spot with nothing changing in the order. Australia, the United States and Lithuania move on to the final denying two-time Olympian Yuliya Bichyk of Belarus a spot.

Men's Double (BM2X)

For most of the first semi-final Greece led the field with France right on their pace. This all changed in the second half of the race when Colin Smith and Alex Gregory of Great Britain pushed through to the lead. Smith and Gregory raced earlier this month at the Lucerne Rowing World Cup but they had to withdraw after Gregory suffered an asthma attack. Back at full health the Brits became the crew to beat. Then Poland, from the back of the field, started to find their pace. Poland's Dawid Kubiak and Artur Sledzik followed the American women's double style of a big body swing at the finish and it worked well for them today. Poland continued to make gains and got right to the front of the field taking a slight lead over Smith and Gregory, before Great Britain regained it with 10 metres to go. Poland pushed back and qualify from first with Great Britain taking second and France holding onto third.

Italy's Federico Gattinoni, 21, is already a twice Under 23 Champion, a Junior Champion and an Olympian. Today, teamed up with Matteo Stefanini, the Italians led the second semi over Germany. Falko Nolte and Eric Knittel couldn't impact on Italy's lead with Estonia, in third, waiting until 1,400 metre mark to try and attack. Giving it all they had Estonia's stroke Vladimir Latin didn't even have time to feather his blade, rowing square blade for the final 400 metres. Italy, Germany and Estonia advance to the final.

Lightweight Men's Double Sculls (BLM2X)

It took a couple of twins from the Czech Republic racing in the first of two semi-finals to get within earshot of the Under 23 record. Jan and Ondrej Vetesnik have raced together internationally since 2002 and leading their semi-final race they covered the distance in a speedy 6.25 ? less than two seconds outside the current best time.

Meanwhile the main excitement was going on behind them as Italy, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands all battled for the remaining two qualifying spots. A big second half push by Jaap Schouten and Tim Heijbrock of the Netherlands gave the crowd something to cheer about as they moved into second over Germany.

The Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Germany qualify for the final.

Semi-final two was dominated by Canada's John Haver and Morgan Jarvis who made it to the semi via yesterday's repechage. Behind them Portugal and Hong Kong China took turns at being in second. At the line Portugal had the upper edge by rating 40 strokes per minute over Hong Kong China's 36. Belgium in fourth put up a late challenge but had left it too long and will contend the B-final.

Canada, Portugal and Hong Kong China move on to the A-final.

Lightweight Men's Four (BLM4-)

Their heavyweight crew broke the Under 23 record during the heats on Thursday and today in the first semi-final of the lightweight equivalent, Germany's crew got within two seconds of the record. Featuring last year's winners, Joel El-Qalqili, Ole Rueckbrodt, Felix Otto and Lutz Ackermann, Germany had the lead by the first 500 metre mark and proceeded to extend their lead over the rest of the field. By the half way point Germany had a clear water lead with the United States trying to hold on to second in a close battle with Italy and France.

At the line Italy, who finished with silver last year, got into the second spot and France, rating 41, managed to squeeze past the US in the last 30 metres to take third. The closeness of the race had commentator Robert Treharne-Jones nearly losing his voice in the excitement.

The second semi-final was no more sedate. Greece got out in front with the Netherlands slipping into second, but behind them the real excitement was going on for the final qualifying spot between Spain, Canada and Switzerland. Spain began with a slight margin before Canada fought their way into third. Then Switzerland had the edge as all of the crews charged for the line. A very happy Switzerland got the edge and move on to the final despite Spain's aggressive 41 strokes per minute charge.

Men's Quadruple Sculls (BM4X)

In the first of two semi-finals Russia, Romania and Poland demonstrated different rowing styles and different strengths during the race when they each took turns at the lead at various points down the 2,000 metre course. But with the top three boats qualifying the finishing order of these three crews was merely academic.

Poland was in first, Romania in second and Russia following in third. However, on the opposite side of the course from Russia, the Czech Republic threw out an almighty sprint and in the last 50 metres the Czech's nearly caught Russia. But not quite. The Czech Republic will return for the B-final.

Belarus started off slowly in the second semi-final. So slow in fact that they left the starters hands in last position. Going through the middle of the race Belarus started to come back while Ukraine and France tussled at the head of the field. Coming into the final sprint Belarus was still outside of qualifying but had brought themselves up into possible qualifying contention.

Sprinting for the line four crews were going for three spots and in the last 200 metres Belarus was clocked at 44 strokes per minute. In a photo finish Belarus had pulled into first in the last 10 metres with Ukraine in second and Germany in third. France will have to return for the B-final.

Belarus will now prepare for tomorrow's final in the knowledge that their time today was less than a second outside of the Under 23 best time.

Germany's men's eight win their semi-final

Men's Eight (BM8+)

After Thursday's heats, Germany looked to be the crew to beat and a lot more polished than their competition. Today they had found the lead by the middle of the race and proceeded to move away from Italy and the Czech Republic. At the line Germany had a healthy lead in first with the Czech Republic overtaking Italy to take second and the Italians qualifying from third.

After Romania found the lead in the second semi-final they did just enough to hang onto that spot. This left the real race to go on between France, Ukraine and Canada. Canada had been sitting back in fourth but coxswain Mark Laidlaw let them know that they were still in with a chance. Only 400 metres remained of the race when the Canadians started to push through. France couldn't hold them off and Canada, getting up to 42 strokes per minute, finish second with Ukraine also getting through the French to take the final qualifying position.

C and D Finals

The day concluded with C and D finals, rowers racing for position 13 and below with the highlight coming at the very end of the events when Egypt got the crowd going by leading the C-final of the men's eight. Belgium has vowed to race and eight at the senior level and today they put themselves one step closer by racing their new Under 23 crew to place 14.

Florin Hirnschall of Austria did her country proud by winning the lightweight women's single C-final by going under eight minutes. Denmark's Maria Olesen also went under eight minutes in the women's single C-final, while Valentions Sofokleous of Cyprus moved up from finishing 23rd last year at the Poznan Under 23 Championships to finishing 13th today in the men's single C-final. This is Sofokleous's fourth season at the international level.

Ireland forced Latvia to a tight finish in the men's pair C-final with Latvia just taking first and so finishing 13th in the world. Georgia, in third, will race again at the Junior Championships next month in Brandenburg, Germany.

Winners of the women's double C-final, Angelique Darling and Kara Farquharson of Canada both race for American universities during the winter and autumn, but returned to Canada in time to make their national team. Meanwhile in the men's double C-final Volodymyr Trofymenko and Vyacheslav Luhovskyy of Ukraine have both rowed internationally before as both juniors and Under 23 athletes.

Stroke of Ireland's lightweight men's four, Stuart King took his crew to the lead of the C-final and sprinted to an open water win over Portugal. This is King's second year of Under 23 racing.

The World Rowing team values feedback