Evening finals debut at the Rowing World Cup II

Opening up the evening of racing the B Final of the lightweight women’s single (LW1x) had France’s Clemence Willaume dominate from the start with Laura Ralston of Great Britain trying to keep up and Finland’s Ilona Hiltunen pulling out a solid second half to move up to third from the back of the field.

The B Final of the lightweight men’s single (LM1x) followed with former basketball player, six foot tall Hiu Fung Law of Hong Kong overtaking Estonia and Slovakia to finish first. But Denmark’s Jacob Moeller forced Law into a sprint to the line and a photo finish adding to the intensity of these B Finals.

Lightweight women’s single (LW1x) – A Final

At the Munich Rowing World Cup Hua Yu raced in two events, finishing first in the double and running out of steam in the single, only able to make the C Final. Today Yu demonstrated that she is one of China’s best lightweights by winning the single. This win came after Yu overtook Katrin Olsen of Denmark and pulled away from her in the second half of the race. Challenging Olsen from third was the experienced Pamela Weisshaupt and Switzerland’s sole entry at Poznan.

Yu now goes back to China where the crews will regroup and return again internationally at the World Rowing Championships at the end of August. Olsen goes to Denmark to fit back into the lightweight mix. Weisshaupt goes away to celebrate her first ever international medal in the single in her 11 year international rowing career.

Lightweight men’s single (LM1x) – A Final

Stefano Basalini is on the list of 2005 top ten athletes, with World Champion medals covering his wall. Today the Italian sat at the back of the field with an open water gap between him and the leaders. But as the race progressed Basalini started to come alive. Meanwhile at the front of the field Olympian, violinist, Tim Male of Great Britain was showing that fatherhood hadn’t slowed him down. Overtaking Maxime Goisset of France Male found the lead.

But Basalini continued his charge and it was only an awesome 42 – 43 stroke rate sprint by Male that gave him World Cup gold. Basalini added silver to his collection while 1992 Junior Champion, Michal Vabrousek of the Czech Republic picked up third.

Lightweight men’s pair (LM2-) – A Final

There was nothing in it between Under-23 Champions and Munich winners, Ole Rueckbrodt and Felix Otto of Germany and Great Britain’s number two crew of Chris Bartley and Richard Chambers. Sitting next to each other these two boats matched each other stroke for stroke at a healthy 35 rating. This left Great Britain’s number one crew of Nick English and Dave Currie to try and hold on.

The gold was Germany’s, then it was Great Britain’s, then Germany’s. With just 30 metres left to row the higher rating Chambers and Bartley broke away to grab first. The effort and heat showed. After receiving his medal Chambers collapses and had to be helped off of the medals podium. With English and Currie finishing in third, Chambers had plenty of Great Britain team support around him.