B Finals Open the Day at the Munich World Cup

B Finals

The crews that were unable to qualify in the top six came back today to contest the B final and competition was a mixture of intensity and virtual procession of skill levels at Munich, Germany’s regatta venue as crews challenged for spot seven to 12.

The lightweight women’s single panned out into a procession as Emmanuella Sarda of France took over from a fast start by Tunisia’s Olympic representative, Ibtissem Trimech. Sarda remained in front, increasing her lead as the race progressed. The male counterparts put up more of a battle as Turkey, then Switzerland and finally Austria all challenged for the top spot. At the line Stephan Steiner of Switzerland maintained the upper hand over Austria.

Austria and Portugal paced each other in the lightweight men’s pair with Austria remaining just enough ahead to become seventh overall at the second World Cup. They were followed by the women’s single that sorted out who was superior early in the race and no challenge was ever presented to Sweden’s Frida Svensson.

Aly Aly Ibrahim of Egypt qualified for the Olympics last month at the African Olympic Qualification regatta and today he continued his quest towards Athens by winning the B final of the men’s single. However, he did it the hard way. Aly Ibrahim was trailing in last place going through the half way point and had to pull out an impressive sprint to take first over Ireland’s Sean Casey who will now prepare for Olympic qualification in Lucerne, Switzerland in June. 

The United States took over from an early lead by Germany in the women’s pair and spent the rest of the race battling with an aggressive New Zealand challenge. The US stayed in front with New Zealand finishing in second. The Kiwi’s are using this regatta as preparation for their Olympic qualification bid at the final qualification regatta in Lucerne.

Great Britain got out in front and stayed there in the men’s pair. Toby Garbett and Rick Dunn are both accomplished rowers and, in their first season in the pair, they are hoping to improve as the season progresses. They held off a sprinting Argentina in second.

Italy gained a World Cup point for their country in the women’s double by leading and widening their lead over France down the 2000 metre course. The men’s double followed with last year’s lightweight silver and bronze medallists leading the way. At the line Ireland remained just ahead of Poland in a reverse order from last year.

The men’s four continued to see the rise of Croatia as they stayed a comfortable length ahead of Italy right until the line.

Ireland and the United States conducted their own battle at the head of the field in the lightweight women’s double. Both boats had a lot to prove as Ireland still have to qualify for the Olympics while the US crew must still prove that they are the top double in their country. It was not until the final 10 strokes that the United States pulled into first.

The lightweight men’s double had Japan’s Ura Kazushige and Daisaku Takeda lead over the Czech Republic. Japan, however, could not hold off the superior sprint of Canada and the United States who finished one-two.

The women’s and men’s quad did not ignite much excitement and both races formed a procession with little in the way of challenges. Ukraine took the women’s race and Switzerland finished first in the male equivalent. Three boats in the men’s eight had the French lead the charge to the line with the Czech Republic tussling with Germany’s number two crew.

By Melissa Bray