Dutch four finally crack gold at the Rowing World Cup

The afternoon opened with the Dutch men’s four finally winning gold and finished with Canada continuing what appears to be the making of a winning streak in the men’s eight. Action was as hot as the 30 degree Celsius temperatures at Lucerne’s famous Rotsee rowing course.

Men’s Four (M4-) – Final A

Great Britain took a big psychological blow in the semifinals yesterday when New Zealand broke their 27-race winning streak. New Zealand took a huge confidence boost. Today Great Britain shot out of the blocks at the start and, following a race plan that must have been something like, “hold on for dear life!” the Brits had an early lead. It didn’t last long. By the half-way point not just New Zealand had overtaken but also the Netherlands. Great Britain, however, fought back and with just 500m left to row Steve Williams, Peter Reed and replacement for the injured regular teammate Alex Partridge, Tom James with Andrew Hodge in stroke, had regained the lead.

There was nothing in it. Three boats charged for the line. New Zealand with the knowledge of their semifinal win. The Netherlands with the knowledge that they had spent two years collecting no golds and far too many silvers and bronzes and Great Britain with the knowledge of their legacy. On the banks of the Rotsee the crowd rose to their feet. On the water stroke rates rose. The Dutch had finally done it. Cirkel, Vellenga, Gabriels and Vermeulen earn their first gold in the four. Great Britain hold off New Zealand to take silver and the Kiwis earn bronze. Less than a second separated these three crews at the line.

Andrew Triggs Hodge (GBR) – 2nd place
“Obviously we wanted to win but still it was a good race.”

Team Manager David Tanner (GBR) – 2nd place
“I am really really pleased with their race because they have a substitute – he has done a great job! If we can come second by that close a margin, in that way he has raced his game and we are very happy with him (referring to Tom James – seat 3). They showed a big fight today. Well done to Tom James, well done to the guys. It was not an easy one and well done to the Dutch crew, they are always tough competitor.”

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) – Final A

Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic seems to be maturing as a racer. He saves himself through the early rounds. He goes hard when he needs to. He can be fast at the start and still sprint at the finish. Alan Campbell of Great Britain comes into this race having beaten the World Champion Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand for the first time (Henley Royal Regatta last weekend). Drysdale comes to this final feeling that he has done good work between not medalling at the Amsterdam Rowing World Cup and today’s race.

Today Synek shot out at the start ahead of usual starting leader Alan Campbell of Great Britain. But Synek’s margin was tiny. Campbell was right there and so was Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand.

By the half-way point Synek had extended his lead over Campbell in second and Drysdale in third with Olaf Tufte of Norway not far back in fourth. Synek must have been feeling a little nervous. Coming into the final 500 metres both Campbell and Drysdale were within striking distance. The race was going to come down to the best sprinter.

All crews charged. Synek didn’t quite have enough in reserve. Drysdale wins gold, Campbell earns his first Rowing World Cup medal this season with silver and Synek must accept bronze. Tufte in fourth will be re-evaluating his race plan while Sjoerd Hamburger of the Netherlands in fifth must feel good to be up in the A Final.

Mahe Drysdale (NZL) – gold medal
“This is my first Lucerne win and I will be celebrating tonight. I really enjoyed the last two times here. It’s funny when you’re winning how much it hurts. Before Munich (World Rowing Championships) we’re going to Greece and Germany. We’ll be up in the mountains. Definitely the plan is to win a gold medal in Munich, but looking at the splits here the first 4 are within 2 seconds of each other. And it’s not going to get easier when you get to Munich. Especially with those 4 (from the final) plus Marcel (Hacker). Anyone could have the opportunity to win.”

Ondrej Synek (CZE) – bronze medal
“It was very difficult. I tried a new strategy for this race. I was very fast at the start. Before Munich I am going to St. Moritz for 2 weeks for preparations. After that I am going back to Czech Republic and finally to Munich.”

Lightweight Men’s Four (LM4-) – Final A

In the absence of current World Champions, China, the gold medal spot could have gone a number of ways as no other crew has been really dominating the medals podium lately. Great Britain may be changing this. Under former Cambridge University coach Robin Williams, the British lightweight men have been showing quite a resurgence. Today the Brits took to the lead of this A Final and worked and holding it. The rest of the field, however, had different ideas.

Going through the half-way point just 2.5 seconds separated the top five crews. Great Britain continued to push the pace and managed to get a gap on Australia and Canada. France and the Netherlands, though, were not letting go. Great Britain, the Netherlands and France charged for the line. The three-way closeness took the race to a photo finish. Great Britain had won – just. France takes silver and the Netherlands earn bronze.

Richard Chambers (GBR) – 1st place
“We’ve been together only nine weeks – there is more speed to come. All four of us are getting better and fitter and the two of us are quite young. Before Munich we will be preparing to the best of our ability.”

Paul Drewes (NED) – 3rd place
“The main goal was to stay together because we didn’t know each other very well. I feel like a bull which has to ballet dance – it’s only 8 or 9 weeks that we’ve been rowing together. Four of us – we all have different rowing styles.”

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x) – Final A

Great Britain are the current World Champions but a loss to China at the Amsterdam Rowing World Cup did not go down well. Despite China not being at Lucerne, Great Britain decided they wanted to stamp their name well and truly on this event and send out a message to both China and former women’s quad dominating nation – Germany. They shot out of the start at 46 with Germany trying to emulate on 45.

The British then, stroked by Katherine Grainger, opened up a boat length lead over Germany by the first 500m mark. Germany, with the great Kathrin Boron now sitting in bow seat, fought their way back. Great Britain increased their power. Coming into the final sprint Great Britain and Germany had opened a good gap over the rest of the field with Romania sitting in third well ahead of Australia in fourth. Great Britain sprinted for the line to earn gold. Germany take silver and Romania win bronze.

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x) – Final A

Russia have created a mixture of new talent and experience to make their new-look quad. Alexander Kornilov won the single as a junior in 2003. Nikael Bikua-Mfantse, with Kornilov, won bronze last year as under 23 athletes. Along with Nikita Morgachev and Alexey Svirin the Russians shot out of the start in first. But a slight stutter in just one stroke by the Russians gave second place, the Czech Republic the lead. Russia regained their composure and held on to the Czechs and by the last 500m the Russians had clawed their way back into the lead.

But the race was not over.

Coming from behind France was charging for the line. Russia and the Czech Republic held on. At the line only one second separated first, second and third. Russia had done it – gold. France, who may be wishing that they sprinted sooner, take silver and the Czech Republic earn bronze.

Cedric Berrest (FRA) – 2nd place
“We usually start a little behind the others because the field is so fast off the line so we wanted to stay with the pack from the start of this race. And in the middle of the race more back up the field ant then hold on for the last 500m.”

Women’s Eight (W8+) – Final A

The United States are reigning World Champions and last year they set a World Best Time. The Germans are currently number two in the world and already have a gold and silver medal from this season. Germany wants to take the Americans down. The United States just wants to win. Together these two crews shot out of the starting blocks glued to each other. The United States had a whisker of an advantage, but going through the half-way point there was barely anything between the two leading crews. Meanwhile the Netherlands had slipped into third ahead of a battle between Great Britain and New Zealand.

Coming into the final sprint the United States, with Mary Whipple in the coxswain’s seat, decided enough was enough and that they really wanted to shake off the Germans. In the space of about 10 strokes Whipple took her crew from 35 strokes per minute up to a mighty 43. The US opened up a boat length lead. The US take gold. An exhausted stroke, Susan Francia lies down in the boat. Germany remain in silver position and the Netherlands take bronze.

Lenka Wech (GER) – 2nd place
“We wanted to win, of course! Wanted to be fast off the start and maintain speed through the middle of the race and that didn’t quite work out as we imagined but it has only been a couple of weeks training together.”
Q: Training leading up to Munich?
“Couple of things we have to work on: technique, strength, coordination and of course speed – although we are still in selection process. But we are definitely excited about our racing.”

Men’s Eight (M8+)

With a win at the first Rowing World Cup and then a win last weekend at the Henley Royal Regatta, Canada must come into this race with a level of confidence. The same can probably not be said for current World Champions Germany. So it wasn’t completely surprising to see Canada in the lead at the start. What would Germany do? Under the guidance of Peter Thiede, the uber-coxswain who doubles as a coaching assistant, Germany held tightly to the Canadian pace. However, by the half-way point Canada had a boat length over the Germans with Germany now more concerned about the threat coming from a rejuvenated Russia.

Sprinting to the line Germany tried to hold off the Russians but also go after Canada. The result was Germany held on to the silver medal spot. Canada take gold and a very happy Russia earn bronze.