Revised Format Highlights Junior Champ Finals

The Italian Junior Women's and Men's four congratulate each other on their respective victories
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Following the revised format of 1000 metres racing, the World Rowing Junior Championships got under way at 6.30am to similar wind conditions at the 2004 Athens Olympics course. Spectators moved through rigorous security checks and into positions along the finish line spreading out on both sides of the course.

A-finals opened the day as the sun rose over the Schinias course, as coaches demanded high stroke rating from their athletes in the tail wind and 1000 sprint conditions. Racing was completed by 8.30am and a fully attended medals ceremony followed. Conspicuous in their absence, the German flag was never raised as the team had to pull out of the regatta due to early week illness.

Women's Single

Italy's Laura Schiavone handled the conditions with ease yesterday and opened today's racing with a flying start of 44 strokes per minutes. But in the calm conditions of the opening part of the race, Canada and Latvia were right with her. Schiavone held onto her lead through the first half of the race using her repechage experience over her competition, many of whom had not raced since Wednesday.

But it was Julia Michalska of Poland who had qualified with the fastest time from the heats and she had found her groove in the second half of the race. Michalska was seventh last year and demonstrated the skills of another year of rowing as she crossed the line in first. Schiavone followed in second and Canada finished in a very close third over Latvia.

Men's Coxed Four

Coxed boats are popular in junior training as they give rowers a chance to focus on their technique and not worry about steering. It was Australia who made the most of coxswain Robert Williams to take the lead at the start.

Australia's bright red boat used the excellent opening conditions to hold a solid first and maintain a clear view from lane four of the tussle going on behind them.

Australia won gold in this event last year and although a new line up competed today it was almost déjà vu as they led the field, watching Italy challenge. Italy, rating a high 40 strokes per minute, remained in silver position while a very close fight for third between Great Britain, South Africa and the United States continued to unfold. At the line Australia defended their gold, Italy remained with silver and South Africa crept through to take bronze.

Canadian juniors prepare for their next race
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Women's Pair

Coaches must have been talking about rating in these tail wind conditions and the Czech Republic took it to heart. Ludmila Nekolova and Karolina Doubkova jumped to the front rating in the high thirties ahead of Australia and the Netherlands.

But high rating was taking its toll on Nekolova and Doubkova as Ellen Maas and Merel Steinweg of the Netherlands pushed into the lead taking Australians Annika Naughton and Natalie Bale with them. The Czechs were unable to answer the challenge and finished with bronze. Gold remained in the Dutch clutches and silver awarded to Australia.

Men's Pair

Estonia's Jaan Laos and Alvar Raagel, using long, powerful strokes, took an early lead from their prime spot in the middle of the Schinias course. They won their heat on Wednesday but knew they would be in for a tough challenge from Slovenia and Italy, winners of the two other heats. Italy was right behind them followed by Slovenia and there was still 500 metres of racing to go.

This is when Ciril Bizjak and Gregor Kavas of Slovenia decided to challenge. Pushing past Italy and the consistent Hungarians Slovenia went after Estonia. It all came down to the line with Biziak and Kavas just forcing out Laos and Raagel to win gold with Estonia taking silver and Hungary winning a credible bronze.

Women's Four

Four crews took up the challenge of the conditions and despite a small early lead by Italy, the three crews of Great Britain, Poland and Romania were not conceding. Great Britain then decided to make a stand. They took their rating to 40 stokes per minute and pushed foward to match Italy. But Poland and Romania also wanted first and went with the British crew.

Italy could only hold on for dear life as they crossed the finish line together with Great Britain, Italy holding onto gold ? just. The British gained silver and Romania held off Poland to take bronze.

The Italian joy on the water could not match their coach's emotions from the shore as the Italian flags waved along the edge of the course.

Men's Four

A bad stroke by Greece was all it took to go from first to last as the rest of the field took advantage of the situation with Italy deciding they would make the most of it. But the Czech Republic were also on the scene. Despite a slow start they started to move through the field, overtaking boats and going after gold. Italy was under threat as the Czechs took their rating up to 41 strokes per minute.

Luck was on Italy's side. At the line they had won by a mere half of a second over the Czech Republic with Romania and Croatia ending in a dead heat for third. Four crews stood on the medal podium at the end of racing including a very happy Romania who were originally called as fourth.

Men's Single

Italy won gold last year in this event but it was Russia's Alexander Kornilov who had qualified with the fastest time from the heats. Adding to the competition the normal six boat final had been increased to eight under the revised schedule. Kornilov took an early lead with Italy never really in the medal picture. Instead, in second place and behind Kornilov, who was rating 39, the young New Zealander Nathan Cohen was racing his own race in the far outside lane eight.

This order remained the same as boats moved into the final sprint with Latvia's Girts Atslega throwing out the biggest challenge. But Kornilov and Cohen held onto their positions leaving Atslega to finish with bronze.

Men's Coxed Pair

A straight final saw these four crews line up for the first time at the World Championships. A former Olympic event, the coxed pair has become less popular but these athletes were taking it very seriously. The new country of Serbia & Montenegro dominated from the start and left it to the rest of the field to fight it out for silver and bronze.

Italy went through the half way point with barely a canvas ahead of Slovenia while Serbia & Montenegro were able to watch from a handy lead. At the line Vanja Komlenac, Marko Trnavcevic and coxswain Djordje Ilic won the first international rowing medal for Serbia & Montenegro with Slovenia passing Italy to take silver. An exuberant Komlenac was not concerned with boat stability diving into the waters of Schinias after finish line.

Women's Double

Sally Kehoe and Tara Kelly of Australia have impressed throughout this regatta and today they dominated the race not only taking handy lead by half way but also increasing it as they charged for the finish. Kehoe and Kelly made the water look flat as their blades easily cleared the increasingly wavy course.

Meanwhile the tussle for silver was in full swing between Italy's Lara De Stefano and Viviana Bulgarelli and Hungary. Hungary had already beaten Italy in the heat, but over a 1000 metre distance this was a different game. Zsofia Anna Novak and Zsuzsanna Hajdu of Hungary had the advantage as the final sprint came into view. Both boats matched each other stroke for stroke and it was the Italians that had the line advantage finishing with silver ahead of Hungary and behind Australia.

Men's Double

Eight boats made up the doubles final with Lithuania taking an early lead leaving an exciting race to form for the minor medals. It was anyone's guess as rowers navigated two oars each through the tail wind, bumpy conditions.

Russia had made it to the final via yesterday's repechage and today they stepped up to the mark again by sneaking into second with Romania overtaking Austria in hot pursuit. The struggling Austrians could not hold off a second challenge from Romania and at the line Marius Ravinskis and Eimantas Grigalius of Lithuania remained in gold position with Russia in second and Romania in third.

Women's Quad

A boat problem inside the first 100 metres for the Italians forced the six boats to stop racing and row back into the starting pontoons for another go. It caused a slight racing delay as the Italians went for repairs. With the Italian boat fixed crews started again 30 minutes later.

The Czech Republic were gold medallists in 2002 and with two of the same crew members as last year they were surprisingly not at the front of the field. The front belonged to Romania and Spain, both boats handling the conditions and keeping their rating high.

The lead remained with Romania who had qualified for the final by posting the fastest time in the heats and they continued to open their lead demonstrating fine sculling in these testing conditions. This left Spain to hold onto second with a fast finishing Italy overtaking Poland to win the bronze medal.

Men's Quad

The adjusted progression system caused another eight boat final and it was Russia that used their fast start to get a slight lead. But Latvia had 1000 metre practice from the repechage and, rating 39, were making a push. They were not alone. As boats moved through the half way point France had managed to get their nose in front of Latvia with Russia, Belarus and Greece matching each other stroke for stroke.

This was how the race remained in one of the closest duels of the day as no boat was willing to relent in the final sprint. Full credit goes to Latvia who pushed back into the front and despite a bad stroke with 100 metres to go, they recovered their rhythm and finished with gold ahead of Russia in silver position and France with bronze.

Women's Eight

These 54 athletes had waited all week to contend the eight and the field was impressive. Romania are the World Champions and had four returning rowers in their boat. They lined up against the United States who finished third last year but contended this race with a completely new crew.

There was no surprise when Romania and the United States took an early lead leaving the rest of the field to go for the bronze.

With 300 metres left Romania still had a canvas lead over the United States as their coxswains kept their respective crews informed from opposite sides of the course. The United States retained the pressure and in an exciting finish Romania just managed to hold off the US with Russia sprinting past Belarus to win bronze.

Athletes prepare for their races
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Men's Eight

It has been a tumultuous lead up to this final but as the green light flashed in the starting blocks each boat began on an even footing. Six crews were off with Italy getting away the quickest, rating an impressive 50 strokes per minute over France. But Great Britain were not letting an early week sinking hinder them and they had soon overtaken France and Italy. It was still anyone's game as only a third of a boat length separated the whole field.

At 500 metres Great Britain, rating 41, were just in the lead followed by Russia and the United States. Italy, maybe burnt by their fast start, dropped back to fourth. In the closing sprint Great Britain held onto the lead with United States and Russia finishing right on their tails in second and third respectively.

Petite Finals

Men's Coxed Four B-Final

Two boats ? Ukraine and Spain ? lined up with Ukraine getting the upper hand and using 38 strokes per minute to retain it. The Ukrainians sat just ahead of Spain who did all they could to keep in contact but finished in second.

Women's Pair B-Final

Contesting place seven to ten in the world the Russians had a one-length lead as they moved through the 500-metre mark. But the United States were challenging for first and New Zealand was going with them. In the close of the race America was in striking distance continuing to rate high with short sharp strokes. They had just enough water to take the lead finishing seventh in the world ahead of Russia and New Zealand.

Men's Pair B-Final

Determination by Canada kept them a nose ahead of Lithuania from one lane over as the two boats challenged each other down the 1000 metre course. Canada remained in first declaring themselves seventh in the world ahead of Lithuania and Great Britain.

Men's Four B-Final

Great Britain used 46 strokes per minute at the start, but it was Belarus that got away the cleanest to take the lead and hold that position. The British still looked in control as white caps added to the conditions. This control paid off as they moved into the leading position and into ranking seventh in the world. Behind them Belarus held onto second with the Netherlands in third.

Women's Single B-Final

Rankings ninth to sixteenth in the world were up for grabs with Hungary going for the lead in the white-capped conditions. Chinese Taipei was twentieth in the world last year and showing vast improvement she went for ninth position overtaking Hungary who rowed last year in the quad. The first photo finish of the day was called with Chinese Taipei taking first followed by Lithuania and Hungary.

Men's Single B-Final

Turkey's Mete Yeltepe looked good in the repechage and great today when he took the lead in the B-final. Yeltepe held off the Belgian sculler while a very close finish for third went to Slovenia over Switzerland and Chinese Taipei. Turkey places ninth in the world for 2003.

Women's Double B-Final

It was Latvia's race followed by Spain and absolutely nothing in it between the rest of the field. Latvia led from the start racing in the middle of the field with Spain in second. Switzerland took third after the United States faltered at the line and lost an oar.

Men's Double B-Final

Sweden used 37 strokes per minute to hold an early lead over the rest of the field as the scullers went for ninth in the world. But Sweden were under challenge by Italy who managed to gain the lead with 200 metres to go. All it took was one bad stroke from Italy and Denmark and the Czech Republic pushed to the front finishing first and second respectively. Italy recovered well to take third.

Women's Quad B-Final

A battle between Denmark and France was the story of this b-final. The two boats rated exactly the same going stroke for stroke together. At the line France took out first place, Denmark second and Canada finished in third.

Men's Quad B-Final

Positions ninth to sixteenth were decided with Denmark getting in front by ating 38 strokes per minute. They continued to increase their lead as South Africa consolidated second position. South Africa managed to hold off a fast sprinting Slovenia who finished just behind them in third.

Men's Eight B-Final

Three boats lined up for seventh to ninth spot in the world and it was Switzerland who started well rating 46 strokes per minute. They had won the Junior Champs in Munich earlier this season but today contended the B-final of the World Champs. Romania, however, were going for the front and with 500 metres to go took the lead. Switzerland stuck with them while South Africa challenged them to demand a photo finish. Romania remained in first followed by Switzerland and South Africa in third.

Men's Pair C-Final

It was the Australian pair with their rating at 38 strokes per minute who took out a win ahead of Ukraine and Norway in third.

Men's Four C-Final

The leading crew was Ukraine throughout the race as they stamped their mark on first and continued to hold a length over Austria in second and Serbia & Montenegro in third.

Women's Single C-Final

Facing tougher conditions than their counterparts earlier today three singles lined up and it was the Japanese sculler Sachie Nasu who took the lead, rating 35 strokes per minute down the course. In second Serbia & Montenegro was being challenged by Palestine. Japan, using aggressive strokes remained in first with Palestine in second.

Men's Single C-Final

Leading the field was the United States with Kazakhstan, Georgia and Japan fighting it out for second. Richard Visinski held his position keeping his rating up. But a crab stopped him dead just before the finish line and Kazakhstan stole first, Estonia took second and the United States had to be content with third.

Men's Double C-Final

Four boats with Estonia holding a confident lead followed by the United States and Monaco was the line up. But it is not over until the line and with 30 metres to go Estonia caught a boat-stopping crab and the United States challenged by Monaco slipped past. But it was Monaco that handled the last few metres the best winning over United States with Kazakhstan in third.

Men's Quad C-Final

In the stronger wind it was all about keeping the blades clean and the Hungarians did it over Switzerland in second and Spain in third. Norway continued to row to the finish despite losing an oar.