Poznan Turns on the Charm - Under 23 Regatta B-Finals

Greece wins the B-final of the lightweight double
© FISA

By Melissa Bray

It does not matter what day of the week or how you are feeling, when you have a final to race at the World Rowing Under 23 Regatta, you have to be on. Belarus's men's eight used the quiet early light on Poznan's Malta regatta course to slip in a last minute practice before their final later in the day.

The Poznan weather gods knew the importance of the day and turned on almost flat water conditions with barely a breath of a head wind. The flag of 45 nations hung almost limp.

B-FINALS

Lightweight Women's Single Scull 1 Greece – 2 Denmark – 3 Belarus

Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece used a steady 32 strokes per minute to overtake the fast start by Denmark and Belarus and get to the head of the field raising her rating to 34 to easily hold off Sine Christiansen of Denmark who had no sprint left in her.

Lightweight Women's Double Scull 1 South Africa – 2 Denmark – 3 France

The South Africans had come a long way and today their international racing continued with a seventh place finish by winning the B-final. Alex White and Catherine Shaw led from start to finish ahead of Denmark who finished only a whisker ahead of France.

Women's Single 1 Great Britain – 2 France – 3 Croatia

Latvia's Leva Semeta came from behind to get level with leader Katie Greves of Great Britain. But with only 500 metres left to race there was only one second separating the top four boats with France and Croatia pressing hard. Semeta, however, ran out of steam and Greves took the top spot.

Women's Double 1 Romania – 2 Poland – 3 Switzerland

Eighteen year olds, Andreea Oachesu and Alis Busuioc of Romania are in their first year as Under 23 participants and today they led the B-final from start to finish, keeping enough room between them and the Polish-Switzerland tussle going on behind them.

Women's Pair 1 Latvia – 2 Czech Republic

A two horse race was wrapped up by Egita Grundmane and Vita Feldmane of Latvia early on in the piece after an initial fast start by the Czech Republic. Latvia wins comfortably.

Women's Four 1 Romania – 2 Russia – 3 Germany

A convincing win to Romania came after tussling with Germany while Russia led. Stroked by junior bronze medalist, Alina Ormenisan Romania used superior power to push ahead in the second half of the race and finish first.

Lightweight Men's Single Scull 1 Mexico – 2 Great Britain – 3 Ukraine

Santiago Esparza of Mexico has been showing his determination throughout this regatta and he gave it his best today in the B-final, but not without a fight. Esparza had to shake off David Currie of Great Britain in the second half of the race and then contend with a fast sprint by Ukraine's Valeriy Chykyrinda.

Lightweight Men's Double 1 Greece – 2 France – 3 Austria

Greece just missed out on the A-final in yesterday's semi-final and today they were going to accept nothing less than first. After overtaking a fast starting Austria, Greece got the lead and remained there, opening up a gap on the rest of the field as the race progressed While Austria and France raced head to head for second.

Lightweight Men's Pair 1 France – 2 Ukraine – 3 Greece

It was all about Ukraine in the first half of the race. Yevgen Skomorokh and Roman Remiga, rating a steady 34, were holding off Franck Le Mauff and Sylvain Livernois of France. But then the second half of the race shifted the focus to France. Le Mauff and Livernois took their rating to 36 strokes per minute to row through Skomorokh and Remiga. But in the final sprint France had to take their rating up again to 38 to hold off the sprinting Ukraines. A close finish had France just taking out first.

Lightweight Men's Four 1 Russia – 2 Czech Republic – 3 Ireland

Russia stormed out of the start, got the lead and stayed there. The Czech Republic slipped into second while Australia, Ireland and Austria tussled for third. Coming into the final sprint the Czechs got themselves overlapping with Russia, but Russia held them off – just. Ireland pulled out the best closing sprint to grab third.

Men's Single 1 Belgium – 2 Estonia – 3 Slovenia

A late entry by Belgium's Christope Raes paid off when he won the B-final by superior pacing over the rest of the field. Raes was back in fourth coming through the half way point but he was saving the best for last and had the lead over Allar Raja of Estonia with 500 metres left to row.

Men's Double 1 Poland – 2 Greece – 3 Lithuania

Poland's Marcin Brzezinski and Arkadiusz Stepka got off to a solid start over Australia and aimed to hold on to the slight lead in front of their home crowd. But Greece was coming through and had worked their way from a slow start to challenge Poland with 500 metres left to row. Poland was ready. Raising their stroke rate to 38 Brzezinski and Stepka went for the line. They made it. Meanwhile a three boat line of Greece, Lithuania and Australia all went for second. Greece pulled through.

Men's Quad 1 Russia – 2 France – 3 Romania

With Russia in front France and Romania went head to head for second and in the process all three boats were well in touch for first. Russia just held them off and the three boats charged for the line.

Men's Pair 1 Great Britain – 2 Latvia – 3 Croatia

Great Britain was out-rating Latvia but Latvia stuck to them and together they moved away from the rest of the field. Latvia, staying long in the water, then pushed in front with 500 metres left to row. But Great Britain had found another gear and took the lead with 30 metres to go.

Men's Four 1 Italy – 2 Russia – 3 Netherlands

Italy had a slight lead over the battling Russia and the Netherlands as the men's four charged through the first 1000 metres of the race. It all came down to the second half as Italy and Russia moved away ahead of a tiring Dutch crew.

Men's Eight 1 Russia – 2 New Zealand

The New Zealanders had traveled a long way from the southern hemisphere winter and never really found their speed. Today they were outclassed by Russia who take out the B-final.