Flowers for the Winners – World Rowing Championships

Despite the weather forecast, Seville turned on sun, flat water and a whisper of a tail wind. The crowds were loud. Country colours and flags were prevalent. The Gualdaquivir river never looked better.

Men’s Coxed Four

This non-Olympic event is often an indication of the depth of men’s sweep rowing in a country. The crews that lined up represented many of the strong rowing nations. Today Great Britain had a point to prove. They were out to avenge their country’s slim loss to Germany in the men’s four yesterday. Avenge it they did. With Luka Grubor back in the three seat after missing out of the first round due to illness, the crew brought home Great Britain’s first gold of the day.

Italy tried to get into the gold picture, but were unable to maintain the pace of their fast start and Great Britain challenged going through the half way point. Coming into the third 500 the Brits had a slight lead when third positioned Germany made chase. Focusing on Great Britain, the Germans also had to contend with a threat from the flying Croatians. Croatia had spent most of the race sitting at the back of the field, but they were making up time with every stroke. Included in their line up was bowman and bobsledder, Igor Boraska. The only Croatian ever to compete in the summer and winter Olympics, Boraska raced at Salt Lake City earlier this year.

At the line, Germany took a leap up from last year’s seventh place to finish with the silver over the Croatian crew that took bronze. Great Britain completed their task with a gold and last year’s silver medallists, Italy, finished just out of the medals in fourth.

Lightweight Women’s Pair

As one of the most unrepresented events at the World Championships, only four crews moved into the starting blocks of the lightweight women’s pair. With no lightweight women’s sweep events in the Olympics, countries choose often not to focus on this race.

World Champions, Great Britain, took and early lead and commanded the whole race to win the second gold of the day for their country. Naomi Ashcroft and Leonie Barron of Great Britain crossed the line over eleven seconds ahead of silver medal winners, Chile. A very happy Spain received their second medal for the regatta, finishing in bronze position.

Lightweight Men’s Pair

In the first upset of the day, World Champions Ireland found themselves at the back of the field and unable to alter the situation.

Meanwhile, Christian Yantani Garces and Miguel Cerda Silva of Chile continued their winning season after dealing the first blow to Ireland by taking gold at the third World Cup in Munich. They grabbed an early lead over Great Britain and continued to move. But last year’s bronze medallists, Carlo Gaddi and Franco Sancassani, of Italy had found a new gear. Bow man Gaddi, at 40 years is the oldest rower in Seville, and today he showed the importance of experience. The duo were a huge four and a half seconds down on Chile when they moved into their final sprint. First they passed Great Britain, and then went after Chile.

Chile held on to take gold in a world best breaking time followed by Italy. But it was Ned Kittoe and Nicholas English of Great Britain who saved their best for today. The duo have missed out on medals at the last two World Cups, changed that situation with a World Championship bronze.

B-final

Last year the Netherlands won silver. This year the new combination of Michiel van Eupen and Jeroen Hilckmann made it to the B-final and won from the front. They were followed in a rush to the line by Germany, then Australia.

Lightweight Women’s Quad

Australia went into this race not only as World Champions, but also as world record holders. The new line up had quite an act to follow. In their first World Championships, the crew shook off a quick start by Italy to take the lead and moving through the middle 1000 one and a half seconds ahead of the second placed Dutch.

But, the heat was on for the Aussies. The Netherlands finished in bronze medal position last year and were going after gold. Mariel Pikkemaat, Mirjam ter Beek, Judith Van Os and Maud Klinkers, chiseled Australia’s lead down to a mere second and continued to move. Zita Van der Walle, Marguerite Houston, Miranda Bennett and Hannah Every of Australia responded.

In an exciting finish the Netherlands continued to gain and in the process pushed Australia back into the record books. At the line another record fell. A time of 6.29 not only put a gold around the Australian’s neck, it set a new record time. The Netherlands finished less than half a second back in silver.

Meanwhile, last year’s silver medallists, the United States were maintaining a very consistent race in third place. Stroked by Wendy Campanella in her first international event, the crew held a steady pace and crossed the line in bronze position.

B-final

Two boats started in the B-final with Denmark taking an early lead over El Salvador and extending it throughout the 2000 metres. The Danes crossed the finish line with open water ahead of the first women’s crew ever to row at the World Championships from El Salvador. The El Salvadorians spent the last month before the World Championships preparing in Spain and it is the most intensive programme they have completed.

Lightweight Men’s Quad

With only one change from the 2001 World Champion crew, Italy went into this event as favourites. New stroke, Filippo Mannucci, was making no mistakes. Setting a high stroke rate, Mannucci moved his crew into a commanding two and a half second lead by the end of the first 500. The Netherlands followed them in second.

But it was Spain that was grabbing the crowd’s attention. A solid start held them in bronze medal position before Germany and Great Britain reacted. In the closing 500 metres of the race Spain was in fourth behind Great Britain and the Netherlands. As they came near the finish line grandstand the roar of the crowd gave Spanish stroke, Albert Dominguez Lorenzo a second wind. Along with crew mates, Jose Martin Martin, Juan Aguirre Barco and Carlos Loriente Perez, the yellow and reds sprinted for the line. Passing Great Britain then the Netherlands, a very happy Spain finished in second. The Netherlands held onto a medal in third, while the Italians won gold from the front.

B-final

The early lead by Argentina turned into second when Japan flew past in the final sprint of the race. Last year’s silver medallists, Greece finished third – or ninth overall.

Lightweight Women’s Double

Earlier in the day Sally Causby and Amber Halliday of Australia watched their world record quad time fall to the new Australian line up. They were inspired.

Going into this event Causby and Halliday had yet to race World Champions, Janet Raduenzel and Claudia Blasberg of Germany. The German duo had led racing all season but missed the final World Cup due to illness. Today the two crews met. Fast starting Germany grabbed a slight early lead but moving through the 1000 Australia took the lead and continued to make gains.

Meanwhile Germany not only found themselves in the unusual second spot, but were being challenged by Great Britain. Helen Casey and Tracy Langlands came into the World Championships as yellow jersey holders and wanted to cap off an impressive season. With 500 metres to go Australia and Great Britain led over Germany. Then the Germans turned on the juice. In the closing strokes of the race Raduenzel and Blasberg pushed ahead of Casey and Langlands to take silver, while Causby and Halliday held on to first to win gold. Casey and Langlands added bronze to their collection.

Last year’s silver medallists, Poland, could do nothing but hold onto fourth.

B-final

They were fourth in 2001 and today they grabbed an early lead. Canada’s Fiona Milne and Shona McLaren were still in front going into the last 500 of the race. But the United States had moved through France then Greece to take second and challenge Canada. A battle of the Americas finished off race number 189 with the USA coming out on top with Canada second and France third.

Lightweight Men’s Double

Italy and Poland won gold and silver respectively in 2001, but after a week of racing, the new German combination looked like the crew to watch. Winning their semi-final over Australia, Germany was in a centre lane.

Italy win the LM2x and set a new world best time
© Getty Images

But today it was all about experience. World Champions, Elia Luini and Leonardo Pettinari, jumped out at the start, took an early lead and made gains throughout the 2000 metres of the race. Meanwhile, Tomasz Kucharski and Robert Sycz of Poland were firmly establishing themselves in silver medal spot.

It was the bronze position that was causing the heat. Germany had a grasp on it going through the half way point when Denmark’s Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Hansen made a move. Germany could not answer the call and the Danes inched ahead. However, Germany was not giving up. As the finish line came into sight, the battle for third was intense. A very happy Denmark crossed the line a slim toenail ahead of the Germans to win bronze.

Italy retained World Champion status for a second year, while 2000 Olympic Champions, Poland took silver.

B-final

Competing in the B-final meant that you had already finished ahead of half of the field. Twenty-two boats began in Monday’s heats and today the 7 – 12 best raced each other. Spain came out on top by a slim bow ball over a fast finishing Russia. Great Britain finished in third just under two seconds back from the winners.

Lightweight Men’s Four

Denmark were taking no risks this year. Finishing with silver in 2001 was not their greatest moment for a crew used to seeing gold. With Soeren Madsen rowing in the eight, the crew worked in new member, Stephan Moelvig. He joined Hans Kristensen, Tomas Ebert and Eskild Ebbesen in the crew famous in Denmark as the Gold-four.

The Danes grabbed the race by the horns and, from a slim lead, kept an eye on the rest of the field, waiting for challenges. But with Italy in second, the real battle was going on for third.

Canada had come out of the blocks in fourth behind Australia and doing a piece through the 1000, stroke, Gavin Hassett, moved the crew into third position. Denmark and Italy, however, were firmly established and all Canada could do was to hold on to the bronze in the final sprint. At the line Denmark won back their ‘gold-four’ title and were followed by Italy in second, with Canada in third.

B-final

To race the B-final put you in the company of last year’s World Champions, Austria. But it was Ireland who made their presence known. They improved from 2001 to take first in the B-final or seventh overall after finishing fourteenth last year. Poland took second, improving five places on last year, and Austria finished in third.

Women’s Quad

In what turned in to the closest race of the day, on paper, Ukraine was the favourite. So far this season, Ukraine had won every World Cup race So far this season Denmark was yet to see the medal dais. All this changed today.

Ukraine did what they were used to doing and took the lead. They still had this position at the half way point, but only three seconds separated the whole field. No crew was dominating. No water separated a single boat. Challenges came from all sides. A powerful piece by Australia put them into first at the 400 to go. Ukraine was forced into second with Germany taking a slim third.

Still no position was secure. Nothing was clear even at 250 metres to go. The challenges continued to come from all directions. Ukraine and Australia were struggling to answer and Denmark was flying. The finishing order: Peggy Waleska, Marita Scholz, Manuela Lutze and Kirsten El Qalqili (Kowalski) of Germany were in first, Denmark in second and Belarus in third.

After an inconsistent season of reconfigurations and injury, Germany won back their World Champion position in a race that had a mere five seconds between first and last.

B-final

The bronze medal holders, United States, found their pace too late in the World Championships. Today they raced the B-final and finished in front with plenty of open water security. The procession continued with the Netherlands taking second and then more open water back to Russia in third.

Men’s Quad

The men’s quad has also been dominated by Ukraine all season. But racing so far at the World Championships had not gone to plan. They only just qualified for the final by taking third in the semi-final.

Germany had only made the medal podium once this season at the third World Cup. But they had been looking good this week through the heats and semi-finals. Today they dominated the race. At the 500 they held a small lead over Russia when Poland made a move. The sixth placed finishers from 2001, Poland wanted a medal. Adam Bronikowski, Marek Kolbowicz, Slawomir Kruszkowski and Adam Korol kept moving.

Meanwhile, behind Poland, Italy were making waves. The Italians were trying to overcome a slow start and had moved into third. In the closing 500 of the race the order remained the same with Germany taking gold, Poland silver and Italy bronze.

B-final

Estonia retained their 2001 result when they crossed the line in first place of the B-final. They were followed by Slovenia and the Czech Republic took third.

Women’s Eight

The United States and Australia went directly to the final after winning their respective heats. Australia had a world champion position to defend. The United States had yet to see a gold medal at Seville. The two crews met today.

The United States race plan was to be in the lead after the first 500 and today they raced to plan. At these early stages of the race their greatest challenge came from Olympic Champions, Romania. Then Germany made a move that propelled them into silver position. But Australia had a World Champion position to defend. By the 1500 the Aussies had moved into second and with every stroke the yellow and greens inched forward.

In a nail biting finish Germany responded as the top three crews matched each other stroke for stroke. At the line less than a second separated these crews, United States in gold, Australia in silver and Germany in bronze.

Men’s Eight

Canada had a slight psychological advantage going into the final, after qualifying from the heats with the fastest time. The United States also won their heat and had beaten Canada at the second World Cup in Lucerne. Today they met again.

Very little separated all of the top crews going into the final as each crew was stacked with accomplished rowers. Germany won bronze in 2001 and were current yellow jersey holders. Croatia had taken silver last year but had yet to see a medal this season.

But it was the Canadians, coached by Mike Sprachlan, that took a slight lead at the start. It was Canada that, fraction by fraction, extended the lead. It was the Canadian men’s eight that today won the first gold medal for their country in three years.

Meanwhile, behind Canada, Germany was feeling good. They couldn’t quite match Canada’s pace, but were doing all they could to hold silver. By the final 500 Germany’s coxswain, Peter Thiede, was making it work. Meanwhile, the United States, coming into this event with gold medal confidence were working their way up from fourth. But the speed that propelled them directly from the heat to today’s final eluded them. Today their boat speed placed them in bronze medal position and one spot ahead of last year’s fourth.

At the line Canada had the gold, Germany the silver and the United States a bronze.

Germany’s silver medal goes to the team’s psychologist, Norbert Bohmer, who died suddenly last week.

B-final

A disappointing repechage put Australia in to the B-final and today they defended their 2001 finish by winning the race from the front. The crew is a new line up to Australia’s Olympic silver crew as the team rebuilds in the post-Olympic years. Australia was in good company in this final. Last year’s World Champions, Romania, finished behind them in second, followed by Egypt.