Lesser finals at the Rowing World Cup

It is also a chance to try new combinations and see how the rowers handle the pressure of racing at an international event.

Today those that did not make it through to the semifinals in their event came back to race in the lesser finals – F Finals through to C Finals.

The men’s single started the biggest number of entries – 41 before scratches – and today’s lesser finals opened with their F Final. Sweden’s late starter in rowing Paul Rosenquist pushed his way from the back of the field to take first over Great Britain. Winner of the E Final, Gabor Bencsik of Hungary has been competing internationally since 1998 swapping between the double and single with also a stint in the quad. In the D Final Germany2, Falko Nolte crept up on the magic seven-minute mark winning in 7:02 after holding off a late sprint by Valentinos Sofokleous of Cyprus. Nolte moves into the single after spending his first senior season, 2006, in the quad recording some respectable results.

The lightweight men’s double had a huge number of entries as countries prepare the best of their lightweight rowers for this sole Olympic event for lightweight men scullers. The F Final was easily won by Slovenia with former Under 23 World Champion, Bine Pislar in stroke. Italy’s number two boat, Michele Petracci and Gennaro Gallo had a close fight with Hong Kong China to win the E Final in 6:32.

Francois Libois and Justin Gevaert of Belgium claimed the D Final for their own. Until Uruguay pulled out a huge second half sprint and took first. Belgium fought back with a 40 stroke rate to win. Chile’s Felipe Leal and Miguel Cerda had a great heat, but did not do so well in their second round relegating them to the D Final. In a close race with China1 Chile win the C Final.

Racing in the lesser finals for the women’s single, Slovakia’s Anna Markulinova finished first in the E Final. Markulinova debuted internationally last year when she finished 15th at the World Rowing Championships in Eton. Spain’s Nuria Dominguez Asensio was the first Spanish woman to make an Olympic final when she finished sixth in the single at Athens. Today she raced to first in the D Final leading for the majority of the race.

Four-time Olympic gold medallist Kathrin Boron of Germany raced in the C Final from the front after a delay due to problems with Denmark. Norway challenged Boron in the final sprint, but the German prevailed.

The women’s pair E Final was led from start to finish by Irena Neffeova and Libuse Bruncvikova of the Czech Republic who last year finished 11th at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships. D Final winners China2, Tong Li and Yanfeng Yan are a new combination, Li won silver in the women's four last year while Yan is an international newcomer. The C Final was a battle of the Dutch. Netherlands2 of Nienke Kingma and Helen Tanger led over Netherlands1 who tried their best to sprint back but couldn’t catch up.

In the lightweight women’s double the E Final opened, surprisingly with Sweden’s Lena and Sara Karlsson. The Karlsson twins have been moving up through the lightweight ranks last year but this regatta must not have been going their way. They win the E Final. Poland’s second crew of Weronika Deresz and Karolina Widun overtook France to lead the rest of the race. France fought back but Poland are D Final winners. A photo finish between China2 and Switzerland gave Lihong Chen and Jing Jia of China the edge.

Barbaros Gozutok of Turkey2 led from start to finish in the D Final of the lightweight men’s single. Gozutok is at his first international regatta. A very happy crowd watch local Christoph Affenzeller of Austria row home first in the C Final despite a strong challenge from Richard Coakley of Ireland. Five-time World Champion (lightweight men’s quad), Luca Moncada of Italy meanwhile finished back in fifth.

Judging by the original entries in the men’s double, there was no doubt racing would be hot. In the D Final, former World Champions (2001 and 2002) Hungary’s Akos Haller and Tibor Peto battled with David Sain and Valent Sinkovic of Croatia before getting the upper hand. Coming from the back of the field, Belarus (Dzianis Mihal and Stanislau Shcharbachenia) pushed through to take first over Belgium’s regular line up of Stijn Smulders and Christophe Raes.

The men’s four D Final opened with Spain in the lead but a strong second half by Italy and Portugal meant a very tight finish. Portugal, turning on a huge sprint, finish first. The C Final was led by Italy2 who were not only aiming to beat their nation’s number three crew but also to stay ahead of Denmark. The faster legs of Italy2 prevailed over Denmark.

Talent in the lightweight men’s four has seen a huge leap since last year and today the D Final staged a very tight race between Portugal, Guatemala and Brazil. The field remained overlapping for the entire race with Brazil prevailing in the final sprint. The C Final had Canada in the outside, less favourable lane, but way out in front. Perhaps their repechage had not gone to plan. They finish four seconds ahead of Austria in second.

France and Turkey’s Neylan Oeztuerk held a close battle at the front of the lightweight women’s single C Final. This is Oeztuerk’s first year as a senior rower after finishing 12th last year at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships.

The men’s pair has seen many new rowers and combinations at Linz/Ottensheim and today in the C Final, Poland2 (Sebastian Kosiorek and Slawomir Kruszkowski) fought their way ahead of Germany3 to win.

Leading the whole way in the women’s double, Natallia Haurylenka and Anastasiya Fadzeyenka of Belarus One take the first spot well ahead of Poland. Haurylenka and Fadzeyenka finished second in their country’s eight at last year’s World Rowing Under 23 Championships.

The men’s quad was a tight battle between Russia and Canada in the C Final. Russia are the current Olympic Champions but haven’t really fired in the last couple of years. Canada is a brand new crew. Russia finished first but Canada looked happy to have given them such a good run.