Repechages mean a second chance at Munich

 Crews returned to the water for their second race of the day as they raced to keep their chances of making Sunday’s Final alive.

Men’s Double Sculls (M2x) – Repechage

The one repechage of four boats required a top three finish for crews to advance to the semifinal. After this morning’s heats the Czech Republic looked to have the toughest job judging by their finishing time. Estonia took off in the lead followed closely by Belgium, but, between the entire field there was little in it. By the half-way point, Vladimir Latin and Igor Kuzmin of Estonia still had the lead, with only the Czechs falling slightly behind. China (Fan Li and Fei Li) then challenged Estonia and managed to push into the lead. Estonia started to fall back with Belgium also getting the better of them. The Czech Republic then made a last effort, taking their rating to 36, but they had waited too long. China, Belgium and Estonia are in the semifinal.

Men’s Four (M4-) – Repechage

This one repechage contained six boats with the top three getting the chance to move on to tomorrow’s semifinal. After this morning’s performance, Great Britain’s number two crew and Russia looked in good positions to qualify but it was Croatia who raced out to an early lead. Stroked by Olympic medallist in the pair (2004) Niksa Skelin, Croatia took the edge over Great Britain and Russia. Going through the middle of the race Great Britain took over in front with China now moving up.

Coming into the home stretch it had turned into a four-boat race. All crews sprinted. Russia’s push was not quite enough. Great Britain, China, and Croatia’s number two crew will go to the semifinal.

Women’s Single Sculls (W1x) – Repechage

After the withdrawl of Germany3 (for medical reasons), the remaining three boats qualified directly for the semifinal and thus the race was cancelled.

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) – Repechages

The four repechages in this event required these single scullers to finish in the top two spots for a chance to go through to the semifinal. Heat one saw the return of the cow bell ringing supporters and Andre Vonarburg of Switzerland on the water. Vonarburg led from the start while Switzerland’s coach, the newly married Tim Foster, followed the race on his bike. Germany’s Rene Bertram sat in second. Bertram, better known for doubles and quad rowing, remained in second and easily ahead of Estonia and India who were battling it out for third. At the line Vonarburg and Bertram were the qualifiers.

Taking off at the head of the field in Repechage Two, Warren Anderson of the United States took a slight lead over Norway’s number two crew Nils Jakob Hoff. Anderson was the spare for the US at last year’s Olympics and currently leads the singles trials racing in his country. Hoff, 24, has been racing internationally since his junior days in 2002 and must feel the huge shadow of his fellow countryman Olaf Tufte hanging over him. Anderson and Hoff moved away from the rest of the field comfortably in the two qualifying spots, with Hoff now ahead of Anderson. At the line a very happy looking Hoff had qualified along with Anderson. At the back of the field the incredible Jueri Jaanson, 43, returns to the single after taking a medal last year at the Olympics in the double.

Repechage Three was led from start to finish by Mindaugas Griskonis of Lithuania. The 23-year-old from Vilnius was the toast of his country after finishing a credible eighth at last year’s Olympic Games. Griskonis has been successful at the under-23 level and seems to be improving all of the time with his senior racing. Belarus’s Stanislau Shcharbachenia slipped into second after getting the better of Austria’s rowing stalwart Ralph Kreibich. At the line Griskonis takes first to qualify with open-water, with Shcharbachenia qualifying from second, well ahead of Kreibich.

When Dutch newcomer Roel Braas gave Olaf Tufte a solid run for his money this morning in the heat, all eyes were on what he would do in this afternoon’s Repechage Four. Braas shot out to an early lead just ahead of Martin Gulyas of Germany. Braas and Gulyas then spent the rest of the race taking turns taking the lead with Lithuania back in third. A push by Braas through the third 500m gave him the lead and he moved ahead enough to be able to cruise somewhat in the close of the race. Braas and Gulyas are in the semifinal.

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x) – Repechages

The two repechages in this event required these lightweight scullers to finish in first or second or third if they wanted advance to tomorrow’s semifinal. In Repechage One, Denmark’s Helle Tibian and Mia Espersen. Tibian, 35, is a late-comer to international competition racing just two years ago for the first time. The younger Espersen comes through from five years of international competition. Together Tibian and Espersen remained in the lead through the middle of the race. But Sweden’s new lightweight combination of Emma Fredh and Karin Hoegberg was right on Denmark’s heels. With 500m left to row Sweden had the lead. Denmark held on, with the high-rating Hungarians storming down the outside. At the line, Sweden, Denmark and Hungary go on to the semifinals.

Stroked by the very experienced single sculler Michaela Taupe-Traer, Austria took off in the lead in Repechage Two. Mexico’s Gabriela Huerta Trillo and Lila Perez Rul followed in second. Taupe-Traer with partner Stefanie Borzacchini remained comfortably in the lead until the end. Meanwhile, in second, Mexico found themselves under huge pressure by a closing sprint from Denmark. Mexico just held them off. Austria, Mexico and Denmark are in tomorrow’s semifinal.

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x) – Repechage

After this morning’s heats, 17 boats returned to race in the four repechages. A top two finish was necessary for advancement to the semifinal and in repechage one Poland1 took the lead. Two-time Olympic Champion Robert Sycz has a new partner in Lukasz Siemion and together they tried to hold off Denmark1. By the half-way point Steffen Jensen and indoor rowing world record holder, Henrik Stephansen of Denmark had the lead. Sycz and Siemion held on. The two boats challenged stroke for stroke. Poland then looked content to let the Danes go. Denmark and Poland will both be in the semifinal.

New to the international scene, Chenggang Yu and Fangbing Zhang of China took the lead at the start of Repechage Two. The Czech Republic then did a burst to gain the lead before Germany’s Larss Wichert and Michael Wieler pushed in front. Coming into the final sprint Germany1 looked to have it as China2 pushed back. Germany and China will be in the semifinal.

Repechage Three saw a second Polish crew through to the semifinal when Mariusz Stanczuk and Bartlomiej Lesniak took the lead and never looked back. Denmark’s number three crew of Andreas Ramboel and Christian Nielsen tried to hold on to Poland’s pace using a high rating and this helped keep them ahead of Great Britain2 in third. The British tried to catch up right at the end, but it was a little too late. Poland and Denmark both added another boat for their country to the semifinal.

Repechage Four opened with Hungary in the lead. Bow for Hungary, Tamas Varga is a former world champion in this event and he is now partnered up with 22 year old Peter Galambos. By the half-way point Hungary remained in front of Austria (Madecki and Ruttmann) who were being challenged every stroke by Norway. Coming into the final sprint there was very little between these three countries. Hungary managed to cross the line just in front with Austria and Norway taking it to a photo finish. The final outcome gave Austria the second qualifying spot.

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x) – Race for Lanes

Three Chinese entries in this event gave the race a red and yellow colour domination and maybe some confusion for the starter as a false start called the boats back for a second go. This time all six boats got away cleanly with Germany, stroked by 2008 Olympic medallist in this event Stephanie Schiller in the lead. Schiller is with an entirely new crew but still with familiar sculling names like Peggy Waleska in bow. Going through the middle of the race Germany remained in the lead with Great Britain in second and being strongly attacked by New Zealand’s new crew. This British crew is a change of two scullers from their crew that raced at the first Rowing World Cup last month. Together they were just holding off the New Zealanders. Meanwhile Germany had moved clean away from the field and crossed the line a clear water six seconds ahead. Great Britain held off New Zealand for second. All of these crews will race again for medals on Sunday.

Women’s Eight (W8+) – Race for Lanes

Of the two Chinese boats lined up for this race, 15 of the athletes have never raced internationally before. This made China2’s lead at the start quite incredible. Romania, however, decided that they were not having any of this and had pushed into the lead by the half-way point. China doggedly held on with Germany now moving up through the field. Through the third 500 China’s rating was at 34 with Romania’s at 36. The race to the line continued. A big push by Romania gave them a bit of a margin as they crossed the line first, China finished second and Germany third. These boats will return for Sunday’s race for the medals.

Men’s Eight (M8+) – Race for Lanes

Earlier this year Germany declared their intentions to medal in this event at the 2012 Olympics. Under new head coach Hartmut Buschbacher, this race is the first test of their plan. The plan appears to be working. Germany, with just two remaining members of their 2008 Olympic eight, took off in the lead. China1 did their best to hold on and got away second in the process. As all five boats went through the middle of the race Poland moved ahead of China into second and went after Germany. Poland has retained a majority of the same line up that have rowed together through the last four years. In a sprint for the line neither Germany nor Poland would back down, with China giving it their all in third. Germany finished just in front of Poland. They will do it all again for the medals on Sunday.