Finals C, D and E finish off Day 2 of racing at Eton

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x)

Final E
Following the withdrawal of the French sculler Olivier Duffet it was left to the Norwegian second sculler Espen Wingsternaes and the Egyptian sculler Mohammed Abd El Ghaffar to fight it out for personal pride. At halfway the Egyptian sculler strode ahead by four lengths, sculling comfortably at 27 strokes per minute, increasing his margin as he went down the course to capture the E Final.

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x)

Final D
Once again it was left to two scullers to compete for positions 19 and 20 at this early season contest. Struggling slightly in the increasing headwind and the wash from the television launch which was preparing for coverage of tomorrows A Finals. The sculler from Hong Kong Man Lee Ka powered off the start to capture over a one length lead over her Finnish adversary IIona Hiltunen initially. Both scullers were competing their first international contest, the Finnish sculler was not at all perturbed by the Hong Kong sculler’s initial pressure moving through her from 500m through 750m and at half-way had achieved a margin of over two lengths and looking increasingly confident as she moved out of the tricky wind conditions to win easily.

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x)

Final D
A fully subscribed D Final in the men’s single sculls saw Juliien Bahain of France spring out to an early lead in the first half over the Bulgarian Martin Yanakiev and lead by 3.5 seconds then the Bulgarian attacked and closed the gap to a metre before seizing the lead with a breathtaking surge of speed. With the French sculler falling back it was left to the Danish sculler Olav Hesseldah to mount a challenge and he closed the gap to just a few meters at the bubble line, however the Bulgarian prevailed by .45 seconds.

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x)

Final C
This race for places thirteen through eighteen saw Michela Taupe of Austria press out to the lead while the two British sculler Hester Goodsell and Antonia Van Deventer battled closely over first 1000m. The third 500m saw both challenging the Austrian sculler being joined by Solemne Hamon of France, regardless what this trio threw at her the Austrian responded with good speed leaving the battle for second and third. Hamon and Goodsell matched each other stroke for stroke throughout the last 500m but it was Hamon who prevailed by just under two seconds.

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LW1x)

Final C
Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls C Final was punctuated by tight racing in the early going, at the halfway point though the heat and wind began to take their toll on the young scullers as the Beligan, Jorgen Bauwens and Hui Fung Law from Hong Kong separated the field sculling resolutely ahead of the others who may have paid for their early bursts of speed. The third 500m saw a strong charge by Hong Kong’s top representative and his efforts paid off as he laid down the law and rowed through the Belgian. He continued to stride away as the class of this group while the Belgian athlete finished well clear of the Spaniard in third.

Women’s Single Sculls (W1x)

Final C
A face off between Europe and Asia as Tine Schoeyen of Norway and Elise Lim of Singapore drag racing in the middle two lanes of the purpose built six lane Dorney Lake race course. The Scandinavian Schoeyen made clear she expected more from herself in the coming Rowing World Cup Regattas standing into the increasing headwind and blasting away from the overmatched Lim. Norway thirteenth, Singapore fourteenth.

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x)

Final C
The French double of Srda and Ribeil looked very precise striking at a patient 26 strokes per minute while the Spanish double behind them chose a more rapid rating of 34 strokes per minute to combat the steadily increasing headwind. The roughest water that Dorney Lake has displayed all regatta challenged all three boats with the French getting the best of it, dispatching both the Spanish and the Hong Kong doubles easily.

Lightweight men’s Double Sculls (LM2x)

Final C
The final race of the second day of racing at the Bearing Point Rowing World Cup’s first leg at Eton saw three doubles battling for more than just thirteenth through fifteenth place, as national and personal pride was also being put on the line. Egypt leapt out to a two length lead tenaciously sculling at a high rate of striking ahead of the private battle between the entries from Britain and Hong Kong. In the third 500m the young combination from Hong Kong moved through the double from Great Britain and began to assert itself to the leading Egyptian entry. As the buoys changed colour signifying the last 250m the Egyptians found an extra gear and sprung further ahead. The day concluded with Egypt thirteenth, Hong Kong fourteenth, and Great Britain fifteenth.

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