Just pass under two bridges and you’re nearly there – World Rowing Championships

A cross tail wind started off the day of repechages. Ripples covered the Guadalquivir River as crews prepared for their last chance to make the final or semi-final of the 2002 World Championships.

Men’s Coxed Four

The road to the final was going to end for one crew in the men’s coxed four and the crews treated it like a final. The United States took an early lead and held it for 1500 metres. But Germany had only one finishing position in mind and, increasing the rating they outsprinted the Americans to take first. Meanwhile a fast starting Australia did not have the juice to hold on to their second spot and faded out of a qualifying position in the closing waters of the race. This left the field open for Croatia and Slovenia to take the remaining spots in the final.

Lightweight Men’s Pair

Today’s repechages indicated that the world best time may be under threat as crews clocked some fast times in a field that has dramatically increased in numbers.

Four repechages and the top two boats continuing to the semi-final put the pressure on these athletes. The first race was a procession with the top two crews stamping their position in the first 500. Canada and Germany go on to the semi-final while Denmark will contend the C-final.

Australia and Russia chose to make a race of it right to the bubble line despite the security of their top two positions. In the closing 250 metres of the race Russia pulled out a sprint and closed in on Australia’s lead. Both crews will come back for the semi-final.

The Netherlands won silver last year and with the second fastest qualifying time from the repechage, this new crew looks to be on track. They led the French crew down the course who were meanwhile contending with a strong middle thousand attack from Guatemala. But France’s superior juice at the end assured them of second place and a spot in the semi-final.

In the fourth and final heat, the United States and Romania made the second half of the race a mere formality. Simon Carcagno and Michael Altman of the United States recorded the fastest qualifying time after trailing Romania for three quarters of the race. These two crews will continue to the semi-final.

Lightweight Women’s Quad

Crews had to finish in the top four to join Australia and the United States in the final and it was the Netherlands and Italy who moved ahead through the first half of the race. These two crews came third and fourth respectively in 2001 and today paced each other ahead of Spain and Great Britain who will also qualify. Denmark and El Salvador couldn’t match the pace and will contest the B-final.

Lightweight Men’s Quad

Two repechages lined up for the lightweight men’s quad with the race on to be in position one and two. Great Britain and Germany have been racing each other all season and did the same today in the first heat. Going through the 1000 barely half a second separated them with Germany having the advantage. Great Britain kicked in to take a slight lead and held it to the finish. Argentina put in a solid fight but left their sprint a little late and will have to contest the B-final.

In the second repechage the Netherlands grabbed the lead at the start and never looked back. The United States held onto second and will also qualify for the final. 2001 bronze medallists, Japan, could not match the pace and will head to the B-final behind Greece.

Lightweight Women’s Double

Also having to make weight this morning were the athletes in the lightweight women’s double. Their job today was to finish in the top three spots to advance to the semi-final.

In the first repechage the top three crews were decided in the first 500 metres with Canada, the United States and Romania taking these spots. Canadian, Fiona Milne took fourth in this event last year and is joined by Shona McLaren to challenge for a medal this year. Mary Obdinski of the United States is also back with new partner, Stacey Borgman. The US finished seventh in 2001. Monica Stan of Romania spent most of this year in the single and is joined by Mihaela Niga.

The Danish lightweight women's double
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Marit van Eupen and Hedi Poot of the Netherlands won the second race in the fastest qualifying time of 7.01. They will go to the semi-final along with Denmark and Greece.

They won silver in 2001 and today won the third repechage. Katarzyna Demianiuk and Ilona Mokronowska of Poland have kept a low profile all season, but look ready to defend their position. France’s new combination of Emmanuelle Bergeret and Adel Maddaloni-Gouelle are also debuting at the World Champs and coming second puts them through to the semi-final. Finland also qualified.

Lightweight Men’s Double

Racing in the biggest event of the 2002 World Championships meant competition was intense in the lightweight men’s double. Crews had to finish in the top two spots for advancement to the semi-final.

The wind switched from a cross-tail to a solid tail wind as the first of the four heats got under way. Greece and Japan battled it out with Greece taking an early lead. But with 500 metres to go less than half a second separated the two crews with Greece ahead. These two crews qualify for the semi-final while last year’s bronze medallists, France, will have to race the C-final.

Ura Kazushige and Daisaku Takeda of Japan
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Tom Kay and Time Male of Great Britain have raced every World Cup this season, always making the final, but yet to medal. Today they dominated the second repechage leading from the start. Meanwhile, the battle was going on behind them for the second spot. Belgium led the Netherlands under the second bridge on the Guadalquivir River. But Ivo Snijders and Gerard Van der Linden were not giving up. The Dutch combination changed gear and not only passed Belgium but went after Great Britain. Belgium was denied a spot in the semi-final by less than half a second.

The one hundredth race of the 2002 World Championships was led for 1500 metres by Spain. Ruben Alvarez and Juan Zunzunegui secured a spot in the semi-final for their effort although it was Russia’s solid second 1000 that put them into the lead and top qualifying place.

The fourth and final repechage recorded the fastest qualifying time when Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Hansen of Denmark deciding to make a point. Rasmussen finished sixth in this event last year and with his new partner he looks to be stepping up in the ranks. Brazilians, Thiago Gomes and Jose Sobral Jr Gonclaves took the final qualifying spot in the semi, finishing comfortably ahead of Turkey who will come back for the C-final.

Lightweight Men’s Four

Always hotly contested, the lightweight men’s four had four heats with the top two crews continuing to the semi-final.

The Irish lightweight men have dominated the pair and single in recent years but have yet to make a mark in the four. Today, in the first heat they finished in the top spot despite a very strong challenge from Great Britain. These two crews move on to Friday’s semi-final.

France won bronze last year and even though only stroke, Jean-Christophe Bette is returning to the boat, they not only secured their position in the semi-final but also did it in their fastest time this season. They led the new crew from Yugoslavia who will also qualify for the semi-final.

It was the Netherlands who grabbed the lead in the third heat. They retained that position through the 1000 when both Poland and Germany decided to make a move. Poland only has one change from the crew that finished twelfth in 2001 and their second 1000 did them proud. The German crew did not make the A-final in 2001 and with a completely new line up this year they are looking in a much better position recording the fastest qualifying time for the semi-final. At the bubble line it was Germany and Poland in qualifying position.

Austria retains the same line up that became World Champions last year and today they raced in the fourth repechage. Their main challenge came from the United Stated who decided to take an early lead. At the half way point they were ahead of Austria. But the race was only just beginning. Austria attacked and pulled ahead and despite these two boats both being in qualifying positions the battle continued. USA attacked back and in a photo finish Austria crossed the line a mere eleven hundredth of a second ahead of the Americans.

Women’s Quad

With less than 100 metres to go Great Britain had a slight lead in the first of two repechages when bow, Alison Mowbray, caught a crab. In a tense finish her crew mates continued rowing and had enough of a lead to cross the line in second and qualifying position. Meanwhile, Australia took

The German women's quad win their rep
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advantage of the situation and regained the lead that had been theirs form most of the race. Dana Faletic is the only change to the Australian line up that came fourth last year and today they move on to the final along with a very lucky British crew.

The second repechage decided the last two spots in the final and in the tougher of the two repechages the United States, Denmark and Germany battled it out for the top two spots. Going through the 1000 metre mark less than two seconds separated these crews with Germany in the lead and the United States in second. With less than 500 metres to go Denmark, who had more than a two second deficit in third position, made their move. The Danes just missed out on the A-final in 2001 and were not going to let that happen again. The United States with new stroke, Danika Harris, tried to react but were unable to match the sprint. From bronze in 2001, the US this year will contest the B-final. The visibly ecstatic Danes go onto the A-final.

Men’s Quad

The men’s quad had three repechages lining up with the top three crews moving on to the semi-final. In the first repechage Russia took an early lead and sat on the rest of the field, always keeping at least a second between them and the second placed crew from the Czech Republic. France finished off the top three in a race where the order never changed.

Ukraine dominated every World Cup this season, winning every race. But today it was Estonia and Slovenia who showed off their boat speed. In the second and fastest repechage Slovenia, stroked by Olympic gold medallist, Luka Spik, took an early lead and held it by a mere half second over Estonia, who won last year’s B-final. With 500 metres to go Estonia grabbed the lead and held it until the end. Ukraine tried to recover from a slow middle 1000 and came back to qualify in third position behind Slovenia.

The Dutch led the way in the third repechage. Going through the half way point they had more than a second lead on Belarus. However, Belarus, inspired by their women counterparts, moved into a piece in the third 500 and inched into the lead. The United States also decided to step up the heat and overtook the Netherlands to move into second place. With a completely new line up to last year’s fifth place finishers, the crew held onto this spot. These three crews qualify for the semi-final on Friday.

Women’s Eight

Five boats lined up, one would drop out of contention for the final and Germany knew it was not going to be them. The 2002 World Cup yellow jersey holders did not enjoy being beaten by the United States in the heat and took the lead right from the start. Last years silver medallists, Romania, meanwhile found themselves in last position and decided to rectify it. Down by over two seconds after the first 500, coxswain, Rodica Anghel, started pressuring the crew. With the help of pair champions, Georgeta Andrunache (Damien) and Viorica Susaun, first they moved through China. Then going through the half way point they took on Belarus. Canada was the next to be overtaken by the Romanians.

The finishing order: Germany, Romania, Canada and Belarus. China, in their 2002 season debut were unable to qualify.

Men’s Eight

With only the top two crews qualifying for the A-final, the pressure was on. Crews were treating this race like a final and it was last year’s silver medallists, Croatia, who took up the challenge. They led at the start and were still in the lead coming into the final 500. But the Germans wanted the top spot. With less than half a second separating them from Croatia they took up the challenge.

In the tougher of the two repechages Germany and Croatia both qualify over an extremely disappointed Australia. A clear indication of the intensity is evident in that the top three boats all finished in under 5.30

Italy and Great Britain has a slightly easier time of it in the second repechage. The Italians grabbed and early lead of nearly three seconds and held onto it throughout the race. Great Britain had to push through Poland to secure the final qualifying spot. They will join the United States and Canada in a six boat final that has crews qualifying in a time of less than 5.30.