International Class Semifinals ? BearingPoint Rowing World Cup, Munich

By Melissa Bray

A new system of “shoe” that the bow of the boat fits into in the starting blocks is being used at the BearingPoint Rowing World Cup for the first time. On the command of “go” the shoe drops down into the water and releases the boat. As crews got used to the new device officials declared it a successful way to line up boats. But as the day continued all would not go smoothly.

Racing started at 13h CET and the traditional order of international class boats – the races that are not in the Olympic programme – first saw the lightweight women singles start the proceedings in today’s semifinal races. Cloudy skies and calm waters made racing ideal for the rowers who returned this afternoon for a mixture of semifinals and repechages.

Lightweight Women Single Scull – Semifinal

Mirna Rajle of Croatia has an international rowing career that extends back more than 10 years back to Under-23 racing. Still in a single since those early days Rajle is part of a very small pool of Croatian women rowers. Today Rajle worked her way from the back of the field in the first of two semifinals. To achieve this Rajle had to pass two British entries as well as Daniela Nachazelova of the Czech Republic.

Coming into the Final stretch Rajle, Nachazelova and Great Britain’s Jennifer Goldsack showed that they had the best sprint. All three boats move on to the Final.

The fastest time came in the second semi when France’s Benedicte Luzuy set the pace. Luzuy raced in the lightweight double at Athens but she’s now back in the single and looking to be the one to beat. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Luzuy. Michaela Taupe of Austria and Lea Fluri of Switzerland stuck close to Luzuy throughout the race and all three crews pulled out an impressive sprint to the line. Only one second separated these top crews who will move on to the Final.

Lightweight Men’s Single Scull – Semifinal

The first semi was tight, very tight. With all rowers competing at the same weight it’s maybe not surprising the boats were still together at the 500-metre mark. By the halfway point the group of six began to spread as two boats dropped off the pace. Miani Marcello of Italy had a slim advantage while Jose Czcy of Argentina and Gerard van der Linden of the Netherlands were sticking like glue to each other. It was all going to come down to the best sprinter. Van der Linden had the tools. All three boats move on to the Final with van der Linden crossing the line first. 

Germany’s Ingo Euler is the most experienced competitor in this event. He has three Olympic Games to his credit as well as international medals from the lightweight quad, double and single. But the gold in the single still eludes him. Today, though, Euler put himself in the best position to alter his statistics by winning the second semi and recording the fastest qualifying time.

But Euler was pushed by newcomer, 19-year-old Zac Purchase of Great Britain, who in turn was tussling with Peter Loerinczy of Hungary. All three crews wanted first and Euler had to match Loerinczy’s stroke rate of 35 to keep ahead. Euler, Purchase and Loerinczy all move on to the Final with the three fastest times. Will the Final be Euler’s opportunity for his first gold?

Bine Pislar of Slovenia must also be mentioned for a fine effort that had him leading at the start of the race but despite an impressive finishing sprint that threatened the three leaders, his third 500 pace had let him down. Pislar will race the B Final tomorrow.

Lightweight Men’s Pair – Repechage

Two repchages with the top two boats advancing to the Final opened with Egypt’s Ahmed Gad and Hossam Azouz and Paul Mattick and Daniel Harte of Great Britain taking on each other at the head of the field. Egypt and Great Britain all but ignored the rest of the field as they battled each other. Even though both boats were comfortably in qualifying position neither would relent and coming into the final metres Egypt was rating 36 to Great Britain’s 37.

Despite going crooked towards the end Great Britain managed to stay in front and both boats move on to the Final.

It was a flotilla of black, yellow and red in the second repechage with German boats dominating the field. Great Britain’s one entry tried to get in on the party but by the halfway point had slipped into third and, despite a solid sprint, they had lost too much time to make it up. Alexander Bernhardt and Stefan Locher of Germany One finished first rating 38 as they crossed the line with Germany Two at 36 finishing second and also qualifying for the Final.

Lightweight Men’s Quad – Saturday Final 1

A practice for tomorrow’s medal winning Final saw France sandwiched between two Italian entries with Italy One leading from start to finish in what turned into a procession by the last 300 metres. Italy One looked comfortable while France looked rushed.

RELATED LINKS
International Class Heats Break the Water – BearingPoint Rowing World Cup Day 1
Munich Photo Gallery
Detailed Results

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