Semi-finals - 2004 World Rowing Championships - Senior Events

Start zone on Lake Banyoles
© Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

By Melissa Bray

Lightweight Women's Single Scull

Nina Gaesler of Germany continued her 2004 winning streak in the first of two semi-finals although she had to achieve it by working her way past last year's fifth placed Daniela Nachazelova of the Czech Republic and then through Jo Hammond of Great Britain. Hammond was executing a very solid race which saw her in the lead through the middle 1000 of the race and comfortable enough to bring her rating down slightly with 600 metres left to row.

This gave Gaesler the opportunity to push into the lead and with three qualifying positions available Hammond appeared to be content to stay in second. Meanwhile a dying Nachazelova was overtaken by Viktoriya Dimitrova of Bulgaria. Dimitrova missed out on Athens qualification last month in the double, but today, in third position, she moves on to the final.

After spending the last couple of years in the double former triathlete and 2001 World Champion, Sinead Jennings of Ireland is regaining her single sculling form. However, Jennings had to deal with Minna Nieminen of Finland and Liliana Niga of Romania to demonstrate that form. In the second semi-final Nieminen had a slight early lead over Niga as the two scullers led the field through the middle of the race. Then Jennings decided to test out her sprinting abilities and as the last quarter of the race came into view, Jennings poured on the power and pulled into the lead.

Nieminen finished just back in second and Niga held on to third over Denmark. Nieminen and Niga will meet again in Sunday's finals along with Jennings.

Lightweight Men's Single Scull

He has won every race that he has entered this year and today Germany's Peter Ording continued on his winning ways in semi-final one. Taking a slight lead over Oleksandr Serdyuk of Ukraine, Ording started out at the head of the field. Serdyuk, who has moved from the double to the single, was hanging on to Ording while being closely followed by Stephan Steiner of Switzerland. At the head of the field, Ording, Serdyuk and Steiner were completely outclassing the remainder of the competitors and carrying on their own race of almost identical 500 metre splits. As finishing horn blared Ording had won yet again with Steiner sprinting into second and Serdyuk finishing in the third and final qualifying spot.

Semi-final two was all about Pawel Randa of Poland, Denis Moiseyev of Russia and current World Champion, Stefano Basalini of Italy with France's Fabrice Moreau not far off. Randa started out with his nose at the front, but was soon conceding to the speed of Basalini. Then Moreau decided to get in on the act. From fourth position Moreau pulled out a piece at the 1200 that accelerated him to the head of the field with Basalini holding on. In the final four way sprint a photo finish had to be called as nothing separated Moiseyev, Randa, Basalini and Moreau. The higher stroke rate of Moreau paid off. He finished first with Basalini a mere one onehundreth of a second back in second and Randa just pipped Moiseyev to take the last qualifying spot.

This is shaping up to be the final to watch as only one second separates the times of the six qualifying boats.

Men's Coxed Four

Current World Champions the United States retained their cox, Marcus McElhenney from last year's winning crew but boated a new combination of rowers to win the first semi-final. Stroked by Joshua Inman, the crew had taken the lead early on and continued to creep ahead of nearest rivals, Slovenia, as the race progressed. Matej Prelog in stroke seat for Slovenia finished fourth in the double at last year's World Championships but lost his Olympic seat to Slovenia?s top sculler, Iztok Cop. Today he stroked his crew to a World Championship finals berth but not before fighting off the Australians.

Australia, with Under-23 silver medalist Karsten Fosterling in bow stuck with Slovenia in an attempt to stay ahead of Denmark. It worked. The United States, Slovenia and Australia move on to the final. Denmark just missed out on Olympic qualification last month in the straight four and will now contend the B-final.

Canada's men's sweep programme showed its strength by recording the fastest qualifying time in semi-final two. But to get to that position they had to work their way past France and Romania. Once Canada got the lead they felt comfortable enough to work at their long layback style until a charge by Italy from the back of the field caused them to sprint. At the line Italy had grabbed second and France also qualified by finishing third.

Last year's silver medalists, Germany will have to contend the B-final after finishing fourth.

Lightweight Men's Pair

Denmark's Bo Helleberg and Mads Andersen are the current World Champions but have had an up and down 2004 season through the World Cup races. Today, however, they looked back on form when they led the first semi-final. Behind them newcomers Tim O'Callaghan and Michael McBryde of Australia held on to second in a battle with Jean-Christophe Bette and 2001 World Champion Erwan Peron of France. At the line Denmark remained in first, Australia in second and France qualify from third.

Nicola Moriconi and Salvatore Di Somma of Italy come off a win at last month?s World Cup in Lucerne and today they led semi-final two over Ireland in second. But with 600 metres to go Canada?s Mike Lewis and Douglas Vandor had used a powerful piece to get their bow in front. Lewis and Vandor are the spares for their country?s Olympic lightweight four and today they showed their worth.

The final results saw Canada holding on to first over Italy and Germany qualifying another boat for the finals by finishing in third.

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