Champions in Top Form in Juniors Heats

Many of last year's medallists proved they will be tough to beat in 2001 as heats kicked of in the FISA Junior World Rowing Championships in Duisburg, Germany today (Wednesday).

The young rowers braved conditions that ranged from torrential rain to brilliant sunshine at the Duisburg-Wedau Regatta Course.

Defending women's single sculls world champion Julia Heitmann of Germany won heat four convincingly but her biggest rival, Georgeta Cracuin of Romania, was also in form.

Cracuin, who is to row in the elite Romanian women's eight at the World Championships in Lucerne, took heat one after shaking off Miglena Marrova of Bulgaria.

Irina Zvereva of Russia and Lidia Veroci of Hungary won heats two and three – each with open water.

German 2000 junior quadruple sculls gold Harald Heller made a strong start to his campaign to go it alone in 2001, with a convincing win in heat three of the men's single.

Scott Brennan of Australia and Matthew Langridge of Great Britain took their heats by a comfortable margin while Hungarian Kornel Szabo had to hold off Davide Pignone of Italy to claim his place in the semifinals.

Defending champions Yuliya Bichyk and Maria Varona of Belarus claimed heat two of the women's coxless pair with clear water over Romania.

Bichyk is this year's Zurich Rowing World Cup champion in the event, while Varona is to row in the elite women's eight at Lucerne. Bulgaria took heat one over France.

France had its turn for success in the men's coxless pair with the 2000 junior coxed four champions Germain Rondeau and Benjamin Chardin taking heat two.

There was a tight race in heat one, with Slovenia beating Belarus by 0.5 seconds, while Latvia displayed tidy technique to dominate heat three.

In the coxed pair event, Romania took heat one over Germany while the powerful Ukrainian crew had to row through early leaders Peru to take heat two.

Competition is tight in the men's coxless four, with 19 entries.

Belarus rowed down early leaders Australia to take heat three, while Canada powered through Italy to take heat four. Romania and France took the first two heats with clear water.

In the men's coxed four, Germany took heat one by two lengths over Ukraine and Great Britain, while Romania surged through a fast-rating Italian crew to win heat two.
Germany shook off early challenges from Australia and France to take heat one of the women's coxless four while Belarus looked impressive as they come through for two.

Latvia pulled off a stunning victory in heat four of the women's double, exploding in the final 1500 metres to catch leaders Hungary and pass them with just 15 strokes to go.

The first two heats saw clear water wins for Sweden and then Germany, while Italy rowed through Russia to take heat three.

The men's double produced some great fights for first. Italy stalked Austria for the first 1500 metres before rowing though to take heat two.

In heat four, early leaders Croatia were rowed down by an audacious attack from the Czech Republic who took the race. Bulgaria won heat one and Germany heat three, each crew through by an easy margin.

In the women's quadruple sculls, rivals Romania and Germany are surprised by a late attack by the Czech republic who takes heat one. The Netherlands looked technically sharp as they crossed the line after dominating heat two from start to finish.

Italy saved the best to last in heat one of the men's quadruple sculls. They had trailed Ukraine for the first 1700 metres but powered through to win in the final stages. Germany recovered from a crab at the 300 metre mark to win heat four, while France and Greece took heats two and three.

Two of the strongest nations in the elite women's eight at the moment look to be just as powerful in the junior leagues. Romania took heat one by 5.82 seconds over Germany, while Belarus was 17 seconds ahead of Russia in heat two.

In the men's eight, defending champions Germany held off Italy to take heat one, Romania beat Great Britain in heat two and Russia finished first in heat three over New Zealand.

Full race details are available on the official event website www.wedau-rowing.com which also features detailed results in PDF.