Adaptive rowing in Munich

Wrapping up the first day of racing, the arms only women’s single sculls (ASW1x) took to the waters to race the standard adaptive 1000m distance. A two-boat race between Alla Lysenko of Ukraine and Nathalie Benoit of France had Lysenko outclassing Benoit. This bodes well for the beginning of Lysenko’s venture into international racing.

The arms only men’s single sculls (ASM1x) followed and it was no surprise to see reigning world champion and Paralympic champion Tom Aggar in the lead. Aggar, from Great Britain, is part of a solid adaptive programme that saw them training as full-time athletes leading up to last year’s Paralympic Games. Aggar, however, did not dominate. Ukraine (Andrii Kryvchun) and Great Britain2 (Andrew Houghton) were right on Aggar’s tail and will certainly give Aggar a good run in Saturday’s Final.

Next up was the trunk and arms mixed double (TAMix2x). Out in front were James Roberts and Samantha Scowen rowing for Great Britain. Roberts finished fifth in this event at the Paralympic Games but Scowen is a new partner for him. The combination looks to be going well with Scowen showing real form in her first ever international race. Poland finished second and Israel was third.

The final race for adaptive rowing, the legs, trunk and arms mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+). This event turned out to be reasonably spaced with Great Britain in the lead. Great Britain has retained two of their athletes that finished third at the Paralympic Games last year. Victoria Hansford and Naomi Riches are back in the boat for another year. Germany and Ireland followed behind Great Britain and never really got close enough to challenge the leader’s position.

These athletes will return to the water at the end of Saturday’s day of racing when they will race for medals.