Juniors Begin their Championship Quest

 

By Melissa Bray

Expect big crowds, lots of cheering and enthusiastic racing. This is the 2005 World Rowing Junior Championships in Brandenburg, Germany. This is the best of 18 years and under rowing. The Beetzsee course in Brandenburg turned on calm, flat waters with an overcast day changing to rain as the first day of heats racing progressed.

Crews raced to qualify either directly to the final or advancement directly to the semi-final and a mixture of tight racing was interspersed with veritable processions as athletes from 53 nations competed, sometimes for the first time at the international level.

Junior Men's Coxed Four (JM4+)

Take two heats, add some fired up rowers, give them calm, cool conditions and a rowdy finish line audience and you'll see some no-holding-back, tight racing. With only the top crew advancing directly to the final, the mission for these athletes was clear – win.

Germany and Canada got off to the best start in heat one with Germany pushing into the lead rating a solid 35 strokes per minute. Canada didn't quite have enough to get back up with Germany and instead were trying to deal with Serbia & Montenegro who had made gains from third. Germany gave the local audience an opening event win.

At the start of heat two it looked like a Romanian domination race. By the half-way point coxswain Gheorghe Calenciuc of Romania, at his first international event, had taken his crew to an open water lead. But at the back of the field Italy was kicking up a storm. Stroked by Francesco Fossi, who moves from last year's junior eight, the Italians were progressing through the field. With less than 500 metres to row Italy had found second and were putting the heat on Romania. Only 150 metres remained and Italy had the lead with Romania now fending off Great Britain and the United States. Italy advance directly to the final.

Junior Women's Pair (JW2-)

Three heats with the top three boats advancing to tomorrow's semi-final had the order sorted out very early on in heat one. Romania's Nicoleta Albu and last year's gold medalist from the eight, Angelica Rosus led the way followed by Desiree Burns and Kari Stenbakken of the United States with Bulgaria holding on to third. The race turned into a procession and no challenges presented themselves. Romania, United States and Bulgaria advance.

Lavinia Tinelli and Cristina Romiti of Italy finished second last year and they must be hoping to go one better this year. But Ukraine's Oksana Golub and Ganna Gutsalenko had thrown down the gauntlet early in heat two and taken the lead. Neither crew was willing to relent. In the final sprint Italy at last found the lead even though their stroke rate was a lot lower than Golub's and Gutsalenko's. Italy, Ukraine and France ? way back in third ? move on to the semi-final.

Within the first 400 metres Kerstin Hartmann and Katrin Reinert of Germany already had open water on the field in heat three leaving Latvia, Denmark and South Africa to decide the final two spots. Hartmann and Reinert are racing internationally for the first time and they confidently took their rating down to 26 as they easily cruised home. Way, way back Latvia and Denmark took the final two semi-final spots.

Smith and Law of Australia

Junior Men's Pair (JM2-)

The third heat of three was raced first to give Georgia a chance to race later in the day in the four, but with only the top two boats qualifying for the semi-final, Georgia was already out of contention after 500 metres. Instead, leading the field was a battle between Romania's Andrei Timpau (2004 gold in the men's eight) with partner Ionut Moisa and Under-23 Champions in the four from last week, Jovan Popovic and Goran Todorovic of Serbia & Montenegro. Popovic and Todorovic got the upper hand and Romania also qualify from second.

Demonstrating some of the smoothest rowing of the morning, Luca De Maria and Armando Dell'Aquila easily led heat two leaving Croatia and Lithuania to fight it out for second. And fight they did. Lithuania had finished seventh last year while Croatia are competing in their first international event. A photo finish at the line for second and third gave Croatia the edge while Italy looked comfortable moving on to the semi-final from first.

Canadian junior men's pair – Richard Anderson and Will Crotheers (stroke)

Germany's Florian Koeppen and Kay Benecke spent the first half of the race battling with Richard Anderson and Will Crotheers of Canada. But in the second half Koeppen and Benecke, well clear of the Czech Republic in third, decided finishing second was enough for them. Anderson and Crotheers, competing at their second Junior Championships, move on to the semi-final with the fastest qualifying time along with Germany back in second.

Junior Women's Four (JW4-)

Italian women's rowing has been making tremendous gains in recent years and today they led the first of two heats over last year's champions, Germany. But just to show it wasn't a fluke, Italy maintained an open water lead for the whole race and also qualify directly for the final with the fastest time. Keep an eye out for Claudia Wurzel, Cleonice Renzetti, Denise Tremul and Camilla Espana of Italy in Saturday's final.

As in heat one, only one boat would qualify in heat two and it was an all out battle between the United States and Belarus. Jordan Peek, stroking for the US, took her boat to an early lead. But the lead wasn't enough and by the 1,000 metre mark Belarus, rating two notches lower, had made up ground and continued to advance. Coming into the final 500 metres Belarus had pushed past with the US answering by taking their rating to 38 strokes per minute. It wasn't enough. Belarus advance directly to the final.

Junior Men's Four (JM4-)

Again, a reshuffle in the schedule to accommodate for Georgia doubling up in the pair and four meant that heat three of three heats left the starting blocks first. This heat needed a top two finish to qualify and going through the first 500 metre mark all five boats were up for a shot. Australia then began to run out of steam leaving Great Britain to power through with Italy taking up chase.

Great Britain, stroked by Henry Swales, kept the pressure on with a high 38 strokes per minute. Great Britain qualify with the fastest time, while Italy, coming through in second, also qualify easily ahead of Hungary.

It was no surprise to see last year's champions, Romania in the lead of heat two. This left Canada and Ukraine to fight for second. Stroked by two-time junior gold medalist Leon Ani, Romania had an open water lead with only 500 metres rowed. Canada's better second half push and a solid rating of 38 got them just ahead of Ukraine to also qualify.

Gregor Kolb, Ivan Saric, Sebastian Mueller and Richard Schmidt of Germany finished with bronze last year. Back in the boat this year they took a handy lead at the start in heat one and spent the remainder of the race trying to hold off Croatia. Croatia finished second in 2004 but have a new line-up. At the finish Germany had retained the edge with Croatia qualifying just behind from second.

Junior Women's Single (JW1X)

The waters of the Beetzsee remained calm for the singles as the first of three heats came down the 2,000 metre course. Leading the way Italy's Gisella Bascelli has already raced the last two years as a junior and earlier this season she competed at her first Rowing World Cup. Today she overtook Australia and then Martina Hilbrandt of Denmark. Hildebrandt held on to Bascelli rating 31 strokes per minute while Bascelli crossed the line first at a comfortable 26. Bascelli and Hilbrandt move on to the semi-final.

Twigg of New Zealand rows to first

Arriving in Brandenburg from a fourth place finish at the Under 23 Championships last month, New Zealand's Emma Twigg made easy work of heat two. Twigg already had an open water lead by the 700 metre mark leaving Kaisa Pajusalu of Estonia to wage battle with Latvia. Following coach Calvin Ferguson's advice, Twigg raced to get the lead and then settled to an easy 29 strokes per minute. Pajusalu meanwhile got the better of Latvia with Twigg and Pajusalu moving on to the semi-final.

Switzerland's Chantal Weibel took off at a cracking pace in heat two and had opened up nearly three seconds over Clementine Jullien of France in second. But Jullien, who raced last year in the double, was coming into her own as Weibel began to tire. With 500 metres left to row Jullien, in her first year of international rowing, had pushed through to the lead. Weibel let Jullien have it as both scullers dropped their rating down as they headed towards the line ? both well clear of any threat to qualifying.

Junior Men's Single (JM1X)

Thirty boats representing the same number of countries, an increase on last year's 27 entries, started their quest towards the final by racing in each of the six heats. A top two finish was necessary to advance directly to the semi-final and in heat one a finishing sprint between Paulo Cerquido of Portugal, using 39 strokes per minute, and Efstratios Alexidis of Greece, rating 31, had Cerquido take first. Both boats advance under no threat from the rest of the field.

Valent Sinkovic of Croatia got the lead over Rodrigo Ruiz of Argentina and left Ruiz to worry about the Bulgarian threat. Sinkovic finished 11th in this event last year and he is now in a good position to better that as he moves on to the semi-final. Ruiz managed to hold off Bulgaria and will also advance.

Cuba's Angel Rodriguez and Janis Timofejevs of Lativa left the rest of the field behind in heat three. Rodriguez had the first half advantage before last year's 13th place finisher, Timofejevs took over the lead. Rodriguez did not challenge back. Both boats advance.

Blitzing the qualifying times Milan Uzunovic of Serbia & Montenegro finished the race in a fast 7.06 and, according to his coach, Uzunovic still has more to give. Coach Sacha Mimic said after the race, Uzunovic, who finished third last year, has only come here for gold. Will this be Uzunovic's year? But Estonia's Kaspar Taimsoo did manage to give Uzunovic a decent run for his money and finishing behind Uzunovic in second gave Taimsoo the second fastest qualifying time overall.

Michael Schmid of Switzerland had to work his way up from the back of the field in heat five and it was only in the last 400 metres that he found the lead. This meant leader Kakla Kandelaki of Georgia, had to settle for second ? both boats rating 33 to get to the line. This is a great effort for Kandelaki who started his international rowing career at the Under 23 Championships last month.

Making it the first boat to qualify from Africa, Shaun Keeling of South Africa led the final heat. Italy's Francesco Rigon held onto Keeling's pace, but the order remained the same. Both boats will advance to the semi-final.

Junior Women's Double (JW2X)

Four heats lined up and a top two finish was necessary for advancement in each heat. Twins Lisa and Melanie Baues of Germany made easy work of heat one. After taking off to get a bit of clear water the Baues' maintained a consistent 33 strokes per minute. This left Romania to have to push past Ukraine to find the second qualifying spot. They couldn't touch the Germans though. Both Germany and Romania advance.

A veritable procession played out in heat two with Hungary's Dominika Karacsony and Zsofia Bende leading the way followed by Spain with the United States way back in third. Hungary and Spain comfortably advance.

The third heat was even more of a procession with Francesca Gallo and Valeria Alleruzzo of Italy overtaking Poland to take the lead. No challenge was presented to these two crews. Italy and Poland qualify though each of their rowing strokes reflected contrasting styles. Italy used a long stroke style with body swing, while Poland had the short, upright, little-at-the catch approach.

It took until heat four for the fastest time to be recorded. Defending champions, Jitka Antosova and Gabriela Varekova of the Czech Republic were given a run for their money by newcomers, Sarah Hawe and Rachel Thomas of Australia. Over 1,000 metres had passed before the Czech's found the lead with Australia then being content to remain in second. Both boats qualify.

Junior Men's Double (JM2X)

With six heats and 31 entries the men's double was the biggest event of the championships. Crews needed to finish first if they wanted to go directly to the semi-final and the range of talent was huge. France's Quentin Colard and Maximilien Bonnier finished heat one with the fastest qualifying time at 6.36, while Kenya's Wilson Midenga and Benedict Nyangala got the biggest cheer of the day crossing the line in 8.41.

Kenya's Bow Wilson Owuor Midenga and Benedict Kole Nyangal

In heat one Colard and Bonnier had to work their way past South Africa, Israel and finally a full-on sprint with the Czech Republic to take first. The Czech Republic had been leading for the entire race, but got caught out in the last three strokes by the French.

Serbia & Montenegro's Uros Smiljanic and Igor Radakovic led for the entire race in heat two but had to hold off a solid final 500 metre challenge by Paul O'Brien and Rory O'Connor of Ireland. Ireland got within striking distance of first but Smiljanic and Radakovic held them off to remain in the qualifying spot.

Switzerland and Argentina took each other head on in heat three and although Emanuel Hoppenstedt and Adrian Naunheim of Switzerland retained a slight advantage Argentina remained unrelenting. But it is Switzerland that will advance directly to the semi-final.

Heat four featured Jan Spik, brother of Slovenia's Olympic Champion, Luka Spik. With partner Gasper Fistravec, the two already have a junior gold medal from last year's quad. By the half way point Slovenia had an open water lead and will definitely be a crew to watch out for later this week and into the future.

There was no competition for New Zealand's Daniel Darena and Joseph Sullivan in heat five. They already had clear open water with only 500 metres to row and the margin continued to grow. New Zealand move on to the semi-final at the head of a five continent procession.

Germany finished with bronze last year and the new line-up of Tim Bartels and Hans Gruhne took charge of heat six over Latvia. This is Bartels and Gruhne debut at the international level and they move on to the semi-final with the knowledge of a solid start and their first win behind them.

Denmark's women's quad will return for the repechage

Junior Women's Quad (JW4X)

Anna Kluchert in stroke and Mandy Reppner in bow return to this event after winning gold last year for Germany. Joined by two new rowers, Kluchert and Reppner had to shake off Belarus at the start before they then moved out to a huge lead over the field. Belarus remained in second with the Netherlands having to fight their way from the back of the field to take the final of three qualifying spots. Germany's time of 6.41 is the fastest qualifying time.

Leading heat two Italy have retained Veronica Pizzamus and Erika Pagliarella who finished fourth in 2004. They kept ahead of a solid effort by Japan in second. Croatia take the final qualifying spot by pushing through Hungary to finish third.

France, Romania and Great Britain all left the line together in heat three with France having a smidgen of an advantage. But Romania wasn't letting up and by the half way point the Romanians had found the lead. But Great Britain had more to give. As the final sprint came into view the order had changed to Great Britain leading followed by Romania and France finishing third. They will all move on to the semi-final.

Junior Men's Quad (JM4X)

Four heats required a first place finish for direct advancement to the semi-final and heat one had Poland written all over it. But this was not without Russia challenging the Poles. Poland, however, looked tidier and cross the line in first. A late sprint by Belgium got the crowd excited, but they had left their burst too late to change the finishing order.

There was very little between Italy and Slovenia at the start of heat two, but the technically better Italians were wearing down the Slovenians. With all of their work done in the first half of the race, Italy advance to the semi-final. Last year's winners, Slovenia will have to race again in the repechage.

In heat three Belarus had the best start. But Great Britain had a lot to give. The Brits finished second at the Henley Royal Regatta and today they executed a solid and consistent race plan. Keeping 34 strokes per minute, Great Britain moved away from Belarus to move directly to the semi-final.

The fourth heat opened with a Ukraine lead, but they only had enough for half a race and so Germany stepped up to the plate with Denmark aiming to follow suit. With just the top boat qualifying, Denmark tried to catch up with Germany. Taking their rating to 41 strokes per minute, Denmark charged. But Germany had enough of a lead. The Germans move on to the semi-final.

Junior Women's Eight (JW8+)

Romania has a lot of defending to do. They won gold last year and sitting in bow, doing it all again was Angelica Rosus. Behind Romania, Great Britain was putting in a great effort with their first junior eight to enter in five years. But the power of the Romanians kept them in the lead and coming into the final sprint Romania's coxswain Adelina Dumbrava called out for a push. With only first place qualifying directly for the final, Romania advance. Great Britain, in second, will get another chance through the repechage tomorrow.

Caitlin McGrath, Anne Gaymen, Elizabeth Demers, Erin Knoa, Lauren Hofmayer, Ellie logan, Ali Fishman, Jennifer Cromwell and Ariel Frost from USA

The order sorted itself out early on in heat two with Germany taking the lead over the United States. As the race continued Germany managed to make their leading margin bigger leaving the US, with birthday girl Lauren Hofmayer sitting in five seat, to try and hold off the Czech Republic.

Germany advance directly to the final.

Junior Men's Eight (JM8+)

The United States have a long tradition of eights racing and today they showed their skills in heat one of three heats. Leading from the start, the US extended their lead over Belarus and France as the race progressed. Looking comfortable as they crossed the line the United States move on to the final. France and Belarus also advance after Belarus had to defend their position over a sprinting Spain.

Germany, who have retained four of their crew that finished third last year, took an early lead in heat two. But their lead was not comfortable. Coming into the second half of the race, New Zealand pushed past with Greece aiming to follow suit. Coming into the final sprint all three of these boats were rating 36 strokes per minute ? Greece making it look the hardest. At the line the Kiwi's had finished first, followed by Germany in second and Greece in third.

Romania won this event last year and after a fast start by Russia, the Romanian's had the lead in heat three. Russia was tracking them closely though with Great Britain trying to hold the pace. At the line all three boats sprinted and all three advance to the semi-final.

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