B-Finals at the 2004 World Rowing Junior Championships

By Melissa Bray

To follow are the race reports for the B-Finals at the 2004 World Rowing Junior Championships where athletes raced for positions seventh to twelfth in the World.

Junior Men's Coxed Four

Romanian men have been showing the way in the sweep events but in this event they could only vie for spot seven to 12 in the B-final and demonstrating the importance of this race, Romania took an early slight lead over France. But rowing powerhouse Germany wanted to get in on the leaders action and set out to challenge France through the middle of the race. All three crews were level with 250 metres left to row. As crews sprinted for the line Germany shortened their stroke, took their rating up and went after Romania. They got close, but not close enough. Romania finishes first, Germany second and France third.

Junior Women's Pair

The Czech Republic and South Africa controlled this race with the Czech's holding the advantage. Despite South African challenges and loud crowd support the Czech Republic remained in front with their higher 36 strokes per minute rating.

Junior Men's Pair

Estonia's Alvar Raeaegel and 15 year old Rauno Talisoo, the youngest male competitor at this World Championships, had gained a one second lead over Lithuania's Saulius Ritter and Sarunas Skuodis. Raeaegel and Talisoo held on to this lead despite a strong challenge from Argentina. The Estonians still held the lead coming into the final sprint. Meanwhile Lithuania was driving for the line and Croatia was flying down the outside lane. Estonia could not match the pace. Ritter and Skuodis finish first, Croatia second and Estonia held on to third.

Junior Men's Four

Austria took off to a flying start. They went on to retain the lead right through the middle of the race. However the winner is not decided until the last metre and coming into the final sprint Poland and Denmark were charging. Austria could not hold off the challenge and with 50 metres to go the Austrians died. Poland took first, Denmark finished second and Austria drifted across the line in third.

Great Britain scratched due to illness.

Junior Women's Single

Kristine Gosa of Latvia finished fourth last year but had not been performing so well in Banyoles and today contested the B-final. Gosa had a small lead over Paraguay early in the race but then had to work at holding off a challenge from Kaisa Pajusalu of Estonia. Gosa, rating a low 28 strokes per minute, could not hold off Pajusalu rating 30. Pajusalu took first, Gosa second and Chile came through to finish third.

Junior Men's Single

In the biggest event of the regatta just to make the B-final was a challenge and going for seventh to twelfth spot were a group of up-and-coming scullers led by Klemen Kogler of Slovenia. Single sculling however requires 100 percent concentration and it only takes a few strokes for the lead to change. Kogler had to keep his whits about him. First it was Greece that challenged for the lead. Then Aliaksandr Dudar of Belarus brought his rating up and got his nose ahead of Kogler.

As boats sprinted for the finish Dudar, Kogler and a very consistent Joseph Medioli of the United States all charged for the top spot. At the line Dudar held on to the lead, Kogler had second and Medioli finished third.

Junior Women's Double

Switzerland and Lithuania went out hard. But Switzerland and Lithuania could not maintain it and a more even paced Katie Steenman and Marije van Amersfoort of the Netherlands soon found the lead. The Dutch held that position until the finish followed by Hungary and Great Britain.

Junior Men's Double

After a fast start by Norway, Great Britain?s Zachary Purchase and Daniel Tipney got their bow in front and never looked back. Behind them the only real challenge came from Slovenia who had worked their way past Norway and in to second. The Slovenian's however were unable to get close to Purchase and Tipney's handy lead. At the line Great Britain remained ahead with Slovenia in second and Denmark came through to take third.

Junior Women's Quad

"You don't need a lot of crews to make a good race." Commentator John Boultbee summed it up as Japan and the Czech Republic carried on a neck and neck two horse race. Japan challenged, The Czech Republic fought back. The Japanese rechallenged, the Czech's reacted. Japan at 35, the Czech's at 37, the race was still all on. As the two crews sprinted for the line a slightly better pace by the Czech Republic put them just in front and in first position.

Junior Men's Quad

Belarus stamped their domination on seventh in the world early in the piece and left the rest of the field to go for eighth. And that is exactly what all five of them did. Going through the middle of the race with Belarus in front, Argentina, Italy, Great Britain, Lithuania and Estonia were separated by less than two seconds. But then the fatigue of the second 1000 metres began to show. Argentina, however, showed their stamina with Estonia also holding on. At the line Belarus remained in first with Argentina in second and Estonia taking third.

Junior Women's Eight

The United States are well know for their eights domination at the senior level and last year the juniors finished as silver medalists. Today they led the B-final after recording average results throughout the week. This left Italy – boating their first ever junior women?s eight – and New Zealand to battle it out for second. A piece by New Zealand at the 1000 metre mark rating 39 strokes per minute brought them into Italian territory, but Italy held on. At the line the United States stayed easily in front, Italy finished second and New Zealand finished third.

Junior Men's Eight

When you have the Spanish men's eight racing you know there is going to be excitement and when the Spanish men's eight are in front you know the crowd is going to go wild. As Spain moved through the half way point they got their nose ahead and did not look back. Meanwhile Italy's early lead turned into second with Great Britain and New Zealand sticking by the Italian azzure's side. It all came down to a charge for the line. With Spain in front three boats were neck and neck for second. In the final two strokes New Zealand did it. Italy finished in third.