World Cup International Event Finals

Women's Four (W4-)

The World Best time for this event was set way back in 1991 by Canada. That didn't change today although Great Britain, Germany and China did set an opening solid pace. Turning the event into a three-boat race, Germany had a slight lead over Great Britain and China. China must have been working on their endurance lately as they started to move through in the second half of the race. With 500 metres left to row China had the lead and then started to leave the rest of the field in their wake.

China finish clear winners followed by Germany and Great Britain.

Lightweight men's single sculler Tim Male from Great Britain

Lightweight Men's Single (LM1x)

Japan's Daisaku Takeda raced at Athens in the lightweight double. So did Germany's Ingo Euler. So did Vasileios Polymeros of Greece. Tim Male of Great Britain was in the lightweight four. These four rowers lined up today as solo rowers. Euler comes into the race as Munich winner, but it was Takeda that took the lead. Takeda is Japan's most successful rower and with the World Rowing Championships being staged this year in his home country he was definitely after a win.

Euler hung on to second with a slower starting Polymeros beginning to push through. Coming into the last quarter of the race Takeda remained in third with Euler having closed the gap in second and Polymeros, in third, had some ground to make up. Takeda kept the pressure on rating 38 with both Euler and Polymeros sitting on 37. With two strokes to row an exhausted Euler took the pressure off. This was enough for Takeda to retain first with Polymeros slipping through to second.

Lightweight Women's Single (LW1x)

After yesterday's semifinal Marit van Eupen of the Netherlands looked like the one to beat and she made sure of it today by enjoying a slight lead at the start over Teresa Mas de Xaxars Rivero of Spain. Behind them last year's silver medallist in this event, Great Britain's Jo Hammond started to come into her own and had soon pushed past Mas de Xaxars Rivero.

Van Eupen retained the lead but Hammond was closing the gap. In the final sprint, leaders van Eupen, Hammond and Mas de Xaxars Rivero looked spent. Ven Eupen's blades were barely clearing the finish of her stroke, but she still gave it all that she could. Van Eupen picked up her winner's medal to the sound of Dutch supporters singing from the grandstand. Hammond won another second and Mas de Xaxars Rivero came home in third.

Lightweight men's eight crew from Netherlands

Lightweight Men's Eight (LM8+)

This event has not been well patronised at recent World Rowing Championships and only a vote by the FISA Congress members earlier this year retained it as an event. Today four crews showed up. Italy looked to be the crew to beat after winning the preliminary final yesterday.

True to form the Italians took off at the head of the field being chased by nine Japanese. But the Italians looked smoother and longer and had soon moved to an open water lead leaving Japan to contend with a sprinting Ireland. The Irish had an incentive. New Irish coach Harald Jahrling had told his crew a first place finish was necessary if they were to go to the world champs. The Irish sprinted but Italy's lead was too much.

The finishing order: Italy, Ireland then Japan.

Men's Coxed Four (M4+)

After an initial challenge from the Netherlands it was all about Italy and Germany. First Germany had the edge, then Italy took over through the body of the race with Germany coming back in the final sprint. Just like a good game of cricket, fairness prevailed 6 min 17 sec later. The race ended in a draw – a dead heat.

Lightweight Men's Pair (LM2-)

Last month in Munich Catello Amarante and Salvatore Amitrano of Italy finished first, three seconds ahead of Miguel Cerda and Felipe Leal of Chile. Today Chile had a new lease of life and a new race plan – to win.

Getting out ahead of Denmark's Bo Helleberg and two-time Olympic medallist Thomas Ebert, the Chileans edged away to just a smidgen of a lead with Italy back in third. The high-rating Italians held the leaders advantage going through the middle of the race as Helleberg and Ebert tried to keep up. Cerda and Leal weren't slowing down. Rating 39 strokes per minute Chile held off the Danes who had raised their rating to 40. Denmark remained in second with the Italians holding onto third despite taking the pressure off in the last 50 metres. 

Lightweight Women's Quadruple Sculls (LW4x)

Stroked by Olympian Juliane Rasmussen, Denmark has made the quad the priority boat this season and together with Katrin Olsen, Kristen Jepsen and indoor rowing champion in her age group, Maria Pertl, the Danes got off to a flying start. But they were being closely monitored by two Chinese entries.

China One and China Two are formed by provincial crews who will then be selected for the national team later in the season. Today China Two had the edge. Overtaking Denmark, China Two, stroked by Weijuan Zhou took the lead. Denmark fought back and coming into the final sprint Denmark lifted their rating to 41. But China's strokes were more effective. Rating 37 China Two crossed the line first followed by Denmark and China One.

Lightweight Men's Quadruple Sculls (LM4x)

Italy are having quite a day today and it continued in this event as Italian stroke Filippo Mannucci led his crew to the head of the field over Austria with Belgium slipping back in third. Italy's lead continued to grow through the body of the race as Austria slipped back. This gave Belgium the boost they needed and coming into the final sprint the Belgians went after the Austrians.

Belgium took their rating to 42. A tired Austria tried to hang on at 39. Belgium's aggression paid off. They finish in second behind Italy whose hard work had all been done earlier in the race.