Italian swagger comes to the Bosbaan

Lightweight Men’s Pair (BLM2-) – heats

In the first heat of the men’s lightweight pair, it was a close tussle between New Zealand and Italy for the first part of the race, before Italy’s feisty rate of 41 strokes a minute took hold in the final 1000m and they pulled away. France pushed past New Zealand to take second. Italy, France and New Zealand progress through to the semi-finals.

There were no surprises in heat two, as the Munich Samsung World Rowing Cup I silver medallists Great Britain took hold of the race from the start, enjoying a length’s lead at the halfway point. The pair is already world class, Keiren Emery was junior world champion four years ago whilst Peter Chambers joined brother Richard in the senior lightweight men’s four to take victory at the third Samsung World Rowing Cup in Lucerne this year. Hong Kong didn’t make things easy for the Great British pair, but couldn’t really challenge. Argentina came in third ahead of Norway to progress to the semi-finals.

Germany displayed impressive pace in the third heat to win over United States of America and Turkey. Denmark never made a mark on the race, and will row the repechage, as well as South Africa, Norway, and Hungary from previous heats.

Women’s Pair (BW2-) – heats

The top three boats in each heat will progress to the semi-finals in this event, and the rest will have to race again in the repechage tomorrow morning. South Africa had a fast start in heat one, out ahead by a length at the 1000m mark. However, both Germany and Greece challenged hard, and Germany took a canvas lead at 1500m, which they held to the line. South Africa just inched out a lively Greek pair for second. All three crews progress to the semi-finals whilst Latvia and France will race the repechage.

A crowd-pleaser in the second heat, The Netherlands romped home four seconds clear of a racey Australia, having led from the start. Lengths down, the Czech Republic took the final qualifying position, and Sweden must race the repechage.

Defending World Champions United States of America made an impressive debut at the World Rowing Championships in heat three. With six Junior and Under 23 World Championship gold medals between them, Grace Luczak and Felice Mueller will also double up to race the eight at these Championships. The pair used this heat as a showcase in sweep rowing, certainly living up to the standard set by the senior American women in sweep rowing. Rating a cool 32 in the closing stages, they dominated the race from start to finish. Romania, three seconds down, take second and Bulgaria take third to progress to the semi-finals.

Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls (BLM4x) – heats

Defending champions Germany raced in the first heat of the lightweight men’s quadruple sculls, and as in all lightweight racing, some exciting finishes ensued.

Germany led from the start and took the first heat, but it was certainly not easy for them, finishing just 0.4 seconds ahead of Denmark. Despite a slightly slower start, Switzerland pushed through the field in the second 500m and emerged third to progress through to the semi-finals. The Netherlands and Turkey will contest the repechage.

Exciting racing ensued in the second heat. Ireland and Great Britain, second and third placed last year respectively enjoyed a mightly tussle, but were both dwarfed by a rapid Italian boat, who enjoyed a relatively healthy victory margin in lightweight rowing. Behind Italy, it was a three boat race for the final two qualifying spots and it was not until the final 50m that the outcome was clear. Great Britain hung their heads as they realized they could not catch France and Ireland who had edged ahead by about half a length. Ireland took second, and France took third, whilst Great Britain and Serbia are left in the repechage.

Spain had a cracking start in heat three and made a spirited effort to lead the field for the majority of the race, just inches ahead of Poland and Austria. However, it seemed they ran out of gas in the closing stages, and Poland overhauled them to take the top spot. Spain were second and Austria were third. The United States of America and Norway will race the repechage.

Men’s Four (BM4-) – heats

This event was a great culmination to the first day of racing and showcased some of the closest finishes so far and an incredible World Best Time of 5.52.57, despite conditions not being that fast. Once again, the top three in each heat would progress to the semifinal.

Reigning world champions Italy took the first heat out hard, leading by half a length by the 750m marker. However, Germany were not going to let them have it all their own way and powered through the halfway mark to snatch the lead from the Italians. Canada, sandwiched between the two, was pulled along with the German crew and found themselves in second, a bowball up on Italy by 1250m gone. However, Italy showed a devastating sprint in the final 500m and came from half a length down to just under a length clear of Germany – this pace was absolutely world-class, and in crossing the line, the Italians recorded the Under 23 World Best Time of 5.52.57. Germany crossed the line second, and Canada, who could not keep pace with Italy’s sprint, crossed the line third some distance down. These three crews will race in the semi-finals.

Only one crew would lose out in this second heat of four boats. It soon became clear that a fantastic race was developing, as barely a second separated the crews at the halfway point. United States of America enjoyed a canvas lead, and coming into the final 500m, very little separated three crews. Greece surged forth in the final sprint and celebrated over the line as they took a three quarter of a length victory over the United States of America in second place. Croatia and Czech Republic fought it out for the final qualifying spot; Croatia prevailed and Czech Republic will face the repechage.

In the third and final heat of the day, the Bosbaan crowds witnessed a great comeback from Norway in the closing stages. Spain, who started slow, came into some great rhythm with 1250m to go and pushed ahead, leading by a canvas through the middle 500m. They increased this lead ahead of the very colourful Romania, which left Lithuania in a seemingly comfortable third place. However, Norway, who were dropped off the back of the race at the 1000m marker, showed great pace through the final 500m to produce the tightest finish of the day, racing Lithuania hard to the line. The verdict? 0.16 seconds to Lithuania, and Norway must show the same energetic gusto tomorrow in the repechage. 

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