Semi-finals Further Shrink the Field ? World Rowing Championships

28 August 2003

Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell qualify for the A final by winning their semi.
© Getty Images

Australia's Jane Robinson made no bones about the tension on the athletes when she wrote home to her supporters. This regatta is not just about aiming for World Championship status, it's about qualifying for the pinnacle of rowing ? the Olympic Games. Each boat in these semi-finals had a chance for qualifying their boat (not the athletes) for the Olympics. Depending on the event, crews had to be in the top five to eleven place. Hence qualifying for the B-final would often still keep Olympic hopes alive while getting to the A-final in all but the women's eight meant an Olympic berth was brought one stage closer. For more details on the qualification system please refer to the link Here.

 

Women's Double

?A crushing start,? commentator Paul Castle opened the day as he described World Champion identical twins, Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell of New Zealand. They grabbed an early lead using long, swinging strokes to pull ahead of Kathrin Boron and Britta Oppelt of Germany. Seven time World Champion and Olympic gold medallist Boron looked content to qualify from second as the top two boats felt it unnecessary to sprint the finish. Behind them, keeping their rating high, Elisabetta Sancassani and Gabriella Bascelli of Italy held on for third.

The second semi-final was all about World silver champions Russia. Stroke Irina Fedotova, rowing's answer to Anna Kournikova, is in the second year with partner Larisa Merk and together they led the field. But sticking to Russia's bow was Great Britain. Deb Flood finished fourth in this event last year and for 2003 she has successfully teamed up with Rebecca Romero. They remained in second while a heated contest between the United States and Australia went on for the third qualifying spot.

Women's Single

The first semi was loaded with talent and the top boats sorted themselves out with only a quarter of the race gone. Continuing in her unbeaten season Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski of Germany got her flowing red hair out in front of 2002 Munich World Cup winner, Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic followed by two-time Olympic Champion Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus. Behind them New Zealand's Sonia Waddell remained in fourth ahead of Great Britain.

In the closing 250 metres of the race there was no sprint, Rutschow-Stomporowski, Knapkova and Karsten, looked happy to conserve their energy for the final and Waddell seemed content to aim for Olympic qualification through the B-final.

The second of two semis featured the return of Bulgaria's athlete of the year, World Champion, Rumyana Neykova. Health issues this year saw Neykova struggle with her breathing during racing but Neykova looked back on form as she led from the starter gun and never looked back. Using a long finishing lay-back style, Neykova shook off an early piece by the United States and then comfortably led over Russia's Yulya Levina in second.

However, Xiuyun Zhang of China wanted an A-final spot. Working on a fast middle 1000 piece Zhang successfully challenged Levina and in a final sprint propelled her boat into second. Neykova, Zhang and Levina move onto the A-final.

Men's Single

Three semi-finals meant only the top two boats would move onto the A-final and Slovenia's most medalled athlete Iztok Cop led the field. Going with him, Vaclav Chalupa of the Czech Republic held tightly onto second. These two leaders did just enough work to remain ahead of the rest of the field, while Estonia's Jueri Jaanson will contest the B-final after finishing third.

Semi-final two brought the beast out in Australia's Duncan Free. Six weeks ago he arrived in Europe and after finishing fifth in the third World Cup, Free prepared himself for Milan by training in nearby Varese. Today he used a blistering starting pace. But it was 2001 World Champion, Olaf Tuft who was faster. Free kept in contact with Tufte, his boat overlapping as the two scullers moved over the calm waters of the Idroscalo. These two boats go onto the A-final.

Race three demonstrated the pressure of trying to make the top two and the effects of the effort. Olympian Andre Vonarburg of Switzerland is in his first international season as a single sculler and has put himself in good company by training with World Champion, Marcel Hacker of Germany. Today Vonarburg stuck with his training partner, Hacker, keeping his boat overlapping for the first half of the race with Hacker just in front. With 500 metres to go Vonarburg was still in contact. With 50 metres to go Vonarburg was still in second. It was then Vonarburg's body ?hit the wall? and he all but stopped rowing limping across the finish line in fourth place. Full credit goes to Ralph Kreibich of Austria who knows the race is not over until the final buoy. Using a strong second half pace, Kreibich kept his whits about him and in the closing sprint pulled himself into second qualifying along with Hacker for the A-final.

Vonarburg, his body burning with lactic acid was unable to hold himself in the boat and had to be rescued from the water.

Women's Pair

Romania's two-year domination is being eaten away. Last year they finished as World Champions and World Best time holders with a clear three and a half seconds over second place. Today they found themselves in the unusual spot of second when Yuliya Bichyk and Natallia Helakh propelled themselves into the lead and remained there for half the race. But Romania did not want to break their winning streak and pulled ahead with 500 metres left to row. Belarus finish in second and the new Chinese combination of Xiaoxia Yan and Xiaobei Yin had a comfortable third.

Off the pace France, who impressed earlier this season but then suffered from injury, will go to the B-final along with last year's fifth placed finishers South Africa.

Great Britain came fifth in 2001 before Cath Bishop took a year off from competitive rowing while partner Katherine Grainger joined the quad. But the Brits are back ? and back in style. Leading the second semi-final, Bishop and Grainger clocked a finishing time, faster than the Romanians under calm Idroscalo conditions. But it wasn't all roses for the British. In the final 500 metres Katie Hammes and Lianne Nelson of the United States poured on the sprint, as the two remaining qualifying spots were still an open slate. Canada and Germany wanted them as well. But the higher rating Americans gave it their all, pulling ahead of World silver medallists, Canada. All Jacqui Cook and Karen Clark of Canada could do was hold off Germany to finish in third.

Men's Pair

The string of medals for both Great Britain's Matthew Pinsent and James Tomkins of Australia reaches back to the 1992 Olympics and both rowers have declared that the depth of this event means just making the final will be a challenge. Today only the top two crews from three semi-finals would qualify for the A-final.

Today three semi-finals meant that only the top two boats could move on and with nothing in the winning times of each race reaching the medal podium will be huge. Opening the races Pinsent and partner James Cracknell used a blazing start to open up a lead and, from the front, hold off the rest of the field.

Behind them Canadian's Wayne Pommen and Scott Frandsen showed that training and studying in England has done them no harm. They tucked in behind the Brits and hung on. Both boats will qualify.

The second heat saw the return of Croatia's sportsmen of the year. Brothers Niksa and Sinisa Skelin won Olympic bronze in the eight and have their sights firmly set on 2004 Olympic gold in the pair. Today they faced the Italians for the first time since the first World Cup when Italy finished second to the Skelins and it was Italian's Giuseppe De Vita and Dario Lari who led the field. But the Skelins were confident. Rowing an even-split race the Croatians rowed through Italy in the last 400 metres. Both boats will qualify for the A-final while the Czech Republic will race in the B-final.

The third semi-final posted the fastest qualifying time. The remainder of the ?Oarsome Foursome,? Drew Ginn and James Tomkins of Australia have been keeping a very low profile this year after finishing a disappointing fourth last year. They left Milan for a few days after qualifying on Sunday for this semi-final and spent the week training in Varese, Italy. Today they led the field over last year's silver medallists, South Africa. Don Cech has been working through a back injury this season and with partner, Ramon Di Climente, they have had an inconsistent season. But today the South Africans established themselves firmly in second and qualify for the A-final.

The effect of Milan's heat on athletes was apparent when Tomkins and Ginn put on cold-pack jackets directly after the race for their cool-down row. As the Australians move forward to the A-final, they are leaving nothing to chance.

Men's Double

Again three semis meant that it was all about being in the top two positions and it was Olympic gold medallists, Alessio Sartori and Rossano Galtarossa of Italy who led the way. Using a blistering start the duo had a handy lead with a quarter of the race gone and they looked content to sit there while keeping a wary eye on the rest of the field. And it was Matthew Wells and Ian Lawson of Great Britain who were making the Italians honest. After a slow start, Lawson in stroke propelled his boat past the Germans then Lithuania and finally Norway to take second and a spot in the A-final.

The second semi saw this year's yellow jersey holders, Milan Dolecek and Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic, row a very solid, consistent race to lead from the start. Behind them the battle was well and truly on for second and it was Belgium that threw out the early challenge. But Cuba, coming off the back of Pan American Games success, demonstrated a sprint through the 700 metre mark that took them to second. The Cubans held this position with less than 400 metres to go when Slovenia let loose. Olympic Champion Luka Spik in stroke seat brought the rating up and blanking out everything around him went for bust. It paid off. Along with bowman Matej Prelog Slovenia move to the A-final.

First France's Sebastien Vielledent woos their women then he beats their men on the water. This was the story in the final semi-final when Australia found themselves behind France. But David Crawshay and Peter Hardcastle had not come all the way from Sydney to be insulted by the French. With the 1000 metre mark whizzing by Australia took the lead. But France fought back and at the line both boats qualify for the A-final.

Men's Four

World Champions Germany had their winning streak broken at the third World Cup when Canada turned up in Europe. The Germans didn't like it. Today they took a slight early lead over Canada and held the front position. But from one lane over Canada were sticking with the Germans and with three-quarters of the race gone both boats still overlapped.

However, behind them all sorts of games were unfolding. The United States and Slovenia were pacing each other and aiming for the final qualifying spot. This was a big ask as lane draws meant the two crews were three lanes apart, hence knowing the position of your closest rival was extremely difficult. So Slovenia simply sprinted. Coach Milos Jansa must have been smiling from the shore as the best sprint of the day put Slovenia into third position and moved then on to the A-final.

The second semi followed with another three positions up for grabs. Great Britain won in 2001 and they want the top position back. Today they followed Germany's example by getting out in front at the start and shaking off early season slow-start blues. But getting in front was no easy task. Italy has consistently been on the medals podium and from second place the two boats were still locked together with only 400 metres left to row. The order remained the same at the line while behind them Australia and New Zealand were waging a downunder battle.

New Zealand used a strong middle 1000 to gain a one second advantage over Australia. However, with more than a minute of racing to go, the new Australian combination pulled out their sprint. New Zealand tried to hang on but were unable to match the pace. Australia came out on top and now move on to the A-final.

Lightweight Women's Double

World Champions Sally Causby and Amber Halliday of Australia have left the good stuff until the end. Beaten at the third World Cup, by the Netherlands and then earlier this week in the heats by Romania, the Aussies today were leaving nothing to chance.

By half way Australia had opened up a boat length lead over Kirsten van der Kolk and Marit van Eupen of the Netherlands with Germany in close contention. The Australians continued to widen their lead leaving Germany and the Netherlands to battle for second. It was Germany that rose to the occasion. All three boats will qualify with Australia remaining in first, Germany in second and the Netherlands in third.

Romania may be out not only to put Australia's World Champions spot under threat but also their World Record time. In the second semi Constanta Burcica and Camelia Mihalcea of Romania shook off a fast starting United States duo to take the lead. But it was the Canada/Great Britain battle for third that was bringing the crowd their feet. Helen Casey and Tracy Langlands of Great Britain had pushed past Mara Jones and Shona McLaren of Canada by demonstrating a powerful middle 1000. However the push had cost them dearly and Jones and McLaren still had some juice.

With 50 metres to go Langlands body gave out and Canada, rating more than 40 strokes per minute, rowed through the Brits to qualify for the A-final. Ahead of this battle, the United States finished in second and Romania remained in first.

Tom Kay from Great Britain takes the LM1x semi qualifying for final A on Sunday
© Getty Images

Lightweight Men's Double

 

The requirement was a top two finish and it there were no surprises when Italy's Elia Luini and Leonardo Pettinari put themselves in the position they love ? at the front of the field. Behind them Spain's combination, who had finished ninth at the 2000 Olympics, snuggled into second. But the Olympic Champions, Tomasz Kucharski and Robert Sycz of Poland decided to show their world best form. In the final sprint, Kucharski and Sycz came from fourth position, passed Denmark and then stole the number two spot from Spain. Italy and Poland now qualify for the A-final.

As the second semi-final got under way the television monitors and big screen at Milan's World Championship rowing course showed Ireland and Japan going stroke for stroke. But Japan, despite finishing second at the third World Cup, could not hold the pace. This gave Australia the chance to move up and they not only overtook Japan but moved past Ireland. This is when France decided to move. Frederic Dufour and Fabrice Moreau definitely wanted to qualify and together with Ireland and Australia the three boats sprinted for the line.

In a tight finish, Ireland got their nose in front with France in second. Australia in third will return to race the B-final.

Nineteen year old Zsolt Hirling of Hungary is having a wonderful season along with his partner, champion single sculler, Tamas Varga. Together they got their bow into the lead of the third semi-final holding off Greece then Belgium. But it was Ingo Euler and Manuel Brehmer of Germany who were dealing the biggest challenge. Having found their rhythm the Germans not only challenged Hungary but also took the lead. This forced the Hungarians to sprint and at the line there was nothing between these two crews and both qualifying for the A-final, Hungary from first position.

Lightweight Men's Four

Call it the skill of coach Thor Nilsen, or call it the magic of preparing at Belgium's Bloso training centre or is it just the luck of the Irish? In the very competitive men's four, Ireland led from the start and never looked back. But behind them three boats were fighting for two spots. Australia, Canada and the Netherlands all contained world-class athletes and no one was willing to concede. These three boats remained locked together and with less than 500 metres to go only a second separated them.

At the line it was the Netherlands sprint and Australia's inability to hold on that saw the Dutch take second with Gavin Hassett's Canadians in third and the very happy Irish remaining in first.

Although Denmark have a slew of international gold medals to their credit and a very stable crew, the depth of talent in this event is evident as the Danes d not always win. Today they battled with the Italians who have beaten them twice already this season. Italy got in front at the start and kept half a boat length between them and the Danes. But Denmark were fed up with finishing behind Italy. In the final sprint the Danes overtook Italy and qualified with the fastest time. Italy finished in second and Germany also qualifies after rowing a very consistent race to third.

Men's Quad

The first semi-final opened with Russia moving into a lead over Australia and holding close to a two-second advantage with Italy racing hard in third. This order remained the same for three-quarters of the race as these three countries moved away from the rest of the field. But all was to change in the sprint to the line. Australia were beaten by Russia last month at the third World Cup and with the experience of Craig Jones in bow, the Aussies decided to reverse that position. The green and gold began to move on Russia. Italy, in third position, went with them. As the finish horn sounded the final qualifying order was Australia in first, Italy second and Russia content to qualify for the A-final from third.

A well-rowed quad is always beautiful to watch especially when executed by the best in the world. Commentator John Boultbee was understated when he described World silver medal Champions, Poland as ?technically very good.? Olympians Adam Korol, Slawomir Kruszkowski, Marek Kolbowicz and Adam Bronikowski are in their third season together and today they qualify for the A-final with the fastest time.

Behind them World Champions, Germany and the Czech Republic were pacing each other for the second spot. The Czechs had beaten Germany once this season at the second World Cup and today they made it two. Germany held on to the final qualifying spot by finishing third.

Men's Eight

It took them all season but they finally did it. Great Britain got ahead of Germany. You could almost see the smile on the face of coach, Steve Gunn as Great Britain moved from a slow start, passing first Croatia, then Italy and finally Germany. But it was the United States that had pulled off an awesome starting piece to take the lead and it is there that they remained. Guided by coxswain, Pete Cipollone, the five foot one steerer used his international experience that stretches back to 1989 to keep his crew in front.

Meanwhile Great Britain were revelling in second and still ahead of Germany, holding off a charge by the Germans through the 1250 metre mark. At the line the United States remained in front with Great Britain in second and Germany also qualifying from third position.

It was Australia took an early lead in the second semi-final. This new line-up must certainly be turning heads this year. Last year their crew did not make the A-final but the tide looks to be turning. Coxed by Marc Dourz the crew had a half boat lead over World Champions Canada going through the first 500 metres. But Canada, already able to hear their loud supporters and horns, know the Australians could not hold the pace. By half way Canada was in front and continued to move away from the field.

With Canada and Australia in the top two positions place three was up for grabs and it was Egypt that held the spot. But France were finding their pace and moving through the field. As the Egyptians ran out of juice the French completed their charge. Canada, Australia and France move on to the A-final.

Women's Quad

The United States opened the proceedings by sprinting to an early lead. They had burst onto the scene earlier this season when they beat World Champions Germany at the second World Cup and today they held the lead for half of the race. Australia, however, had won the final World Cup and were no slow pokes. Going into the final 500 metres of the race the Australians had gained a slight lead over the Americans.

But it was Belarus that had both single sculling Champion, Ekaterina Karsten, and a late addition of Yuliya Bichyk, in the boat. Bichyk raced earlier today to a second place finish in the pair and was taking the place of Inesa Zakhareuskaya. It worked. By the last 500 the crew had gelled together and overtook the United States and then Australia to win in the fastest qualifying time.

The final race of the day had the top three qualifiers sorted out within the first 500 metres, but the finishing order remained a mystery. Great Britain took an early lead over World Champions Germany with Ukraine following closely. With 600 metres to go the Germans decided they wanted the lead. Great Britain was unable to match the piece and Germany moved to the front. The finishing order saw Germany remain in front over Great Britain in second and Ukraine in third.

The day also saw races for C, D and E finals. Athletes in these races were already outside Olympic qualifying positions but races remained solid as future champions gained world-ranking positions.

Tomorrow, Friday, will feature B-finals. Some of these races still count as Olympic qualifiers so the heat is still on, even before the A-finals get under way this weekend.