WURC: Poland on top as Canada, Czech Republic also win three golds

The 7th World University Rowing Championships ended with Poland, Canada and the Czech Republic heading the medals table on three golds each, Poland topping the list with an additional three medals. Poland's two men's fours and men's double sculls were the main stars, each winning by a length after leading for almost the full course.

The day wasn't entirely problem-free, a decision being made by the umpires to change to crosswind lane draws after the breeze picked up, and the first couple of races heavily delayed when it became obvious the Russian men's pair had not yet boated with 10 minutes to go. Swans delayed the men's eights final, too, a flock refusing to move from the start even when herded by the safety boats. The unluckiest crew was probably the Hungarian women's four, who came down to race only to discover their borrowed shell already derigged and loaded on the trailer belonging to its rather over-enthusiastic owners, Durham University. Once the misunderstanding was sorted out they went ahead and raced, fortunately.

The award for outstanding individual performances must go to the Czech Republic, whose three single scullers, Miroslava Knapkova, Daniela Nachazelova and Michal Vabrousek shone brilliantly, leading their races home with ease. 2000 world lightweight champion Vabrousek in particular cruised calmly over the finish line rating 30, dominating his race without having to push and picking up his third WURC gold medal. Under-23 silver medallist Daniela Nachazelova also sculled through unruffled to claim the women's lightweight gold, while heavyweight World Cup champion Knapkova was effortlessly 12 seconds clear of Canada's Jane Rumball, and 100 metres up on the sixth-placed Russian.

The women's singles silver was Canada's only second-class spot, as all three of their other crews won gold. The women's four held off Germany to improve on the silver medal each oarswoman won at the Commonwealth Championships last week, and the women's double also impressed. Crew of the day, however, was the Canadian men's eight, a class above the field as they steadily drew out to two clear lengths over everyone else and marched home in great style, converting Commonwealth silver to FISU gold. Behind them, the men's eights final provided one of the closer decisions, the Netherlands (Nereus) going off well but being rowed through by Germany's internationals in mid-race. The Dutch were having none of this, and put in a tremendous push, bringing them back into second place contention in the last few strokes and grabbing the silver from Germany by 0.22 seconds.

In the men's singles, Sydney Olympian Andre Vonarburg, who won't be sculling for Switzerland at the Worlds this year as they coincide with his exams, gave his season a good finale with a classic win over Britain's Pete Wells. Wells, Henley Royal Diamonds winner and Under-23 champion this year, is coming back after a difficult year struggling with coeliac disease, which has seen his weight vary by up to 14 kgs. He led the race from the start, but when Vonarburg turned the screw at 750 gone, he had no answer to the more powerful Swiss oarsman. A great regatta, with for once relatively well-behaved British weather, and marked by serenely competent organisation, although chairman Nigel Mayglothling was heard to remark that his team were nevertheless "paddling furiously underneath the surface". Here's to the next World University Rowing Championships, to be held in France in 2004.

Report contributed by and copyright to the Rowing Service.