Race by Race Report - Group B Semis

Competitive races were predicted in Group B semifinals and the crews did not disappoint, with the crowd kept on the edge of their seats for almost every race at the Zurich Rowing World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland today (Friday).

Full results, with split times are available on the Race Tracker.

Idyllic conditions remain at the Rotsee Lake course in Lucerne, with hot, clear weather and still water.

Lightweight men's quadruple sculls: Spain pulled off a wonderful sprint finish to take the first semifinal. Denmark had led through the middle stages, with Germany and Spain battling for the places. That battle spurred the two crews ahead as they approached the line and both passed Denmark. Spain crossed the line first, 0.17 seconds in front of Germany. Denmark was 1.18 seconds back in third. It was a different story in semifinal two. Italy went out hard and stayed in front. They had nearly a length on Greece by the 500 metre mark, with World Champions Japan a further half a length behind in third. The places did not change but the margins opened up to about two lengths between each crew as they crossed the line.

Lightweight women's double sculls: Germany's Janet Radnuzel and Claudia Blasberg took semifinal one but not without a fight. They had a lead of over a length at the 1250 metre mark when Romania's Monica Stan and Irina Acsinte made their move. The Romanians advanced on Germany as the two crews headed for the line but Germany had half a length to spare. Romania was second and Kirsten Van Der Kolk and Marit Van Eupen safely in third some lengths back. In semifinal two, Kataryzna and Ilona Mokronowska of Poland led all the way down the course. Great Britain's Jane Hall and Helen Casey upped the rating in the third quarter to come within half a length, with Gen Meredith and Fiona Milne of Canada just behind. But Poland responded to the challenge and crossed the line a length in front of Great Britain. Canada was third with clear water back to the USA.

Lightweight men's double scull: Poland's Olympic champions Tomacz Kucharski and Robert Sycz took the first semifinal by a length over Olympic bronze medallist Thibaud Chappelle and Fabrice Moreau of France. The race had been very close early on but by the final 500 metres Poland, France and Denmark's Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Quist had separated themselves from the pack. Poland crossed the line first, with France second and Denmark third 0.63 seconds behind. Germany's Ingo Euler and Manuel Brehmer of Germany surprised course-long leaders Elia Luini and Leonardo Pettinari with a last sprint to row through them and win. Italy was in front for the first 1500 metres but they were never completely clear. Germany sat behind them, with Japan's Ura Kaszushiga and Daisaku Takeda battling Russia's Denis Moissev and Vladimir Sokolov for third. Germany and Italy drew level with just a few metres to go, Germany edging ahead to win by 0.49 seconds. Japan sprinted through Russia to take the third spot by half a length.

Lightweight men's coxless four: Denmark was pushed all the way to the line for its semifinal one win. Austria never let them get away, sticking with them down the course and finishing just a third of a length behind. The Netherlands was safely in third. And there were no favours for Olympic champions France on the way to their semifinal two win – they trailed Italy for the first 1000 metres. Even when the French edged ahead Italy would not let them go, eventually finishing three-quarters of a length behind. Canada was third, a length and a half over Australia.

Men's quadruple sculls: Olympic bronze medallists Germany kept a sprint up their sleeve to take semifinal one. They had been just behind Poland and Italy for most of the race but pulled on the power with 400 metres to go and surged ahead. They increased their lead to the line, finishing nearly a length in front. Poland also came through Italy to take second, with Italy staying in third. Olympic silver medallists the Netherlands took the second semifinal after a great three-way battle with USA and Ukraine. The Dutch got their nose out early but only by a canvas. The two trailing crews would not let them go. In the final few hundred metres, the Netherlands moved out to a three quarters of a length lead, with USA pipping Ukraine who were safely in third.

The day of finals begins tomorrow with Group A in action.