Swift B Final racing at the World Rowing Champs

It may have taken all week, but the summer finally arrived with sun and warm temperatures. The water on this side of the Danube rowing course remained calm and perfect for rowing.

Women’s Four (W4-)

Leading at the start did not work for Ukraine in this two-boat race. Despite getting out to a full boat length lead by the middle of the race, Ukraine had not saved enough to keep up their pace in the second half of the race. Germany overtook them and rowed away to a comfortable win.

Results: GER, UKR

Men’s Coxed Pair (M2+)

In 2001 Hungary’s Akos Haller was at the top of the world. He had become the World Champion in the men’s double. Since then Haller’s results have been sporadic. This year the Hungarian reinvented himself as a sweep rower and raced to a B-Final first in the coxed pair. Haller did this with partner Janos Tari and coxswain Sandor Baka. After overtaking a fast starting USA, Hungary held the lead until the line.

Results: HUN, SRB, USA, SLO, CRO, IRL

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x)

Michaela Taupe-Traer of Austria probably did not expect to be racing in the B Final. She has a world of international experience, has medalled at a number of World Cups and was on her home course. But Taupe-Traer narrowly missed out in the A Final two days ago in the semifinal. Today Taupe-Traer made the most of her race by getting out in front and holding on. In second Laura Milani of Italy pushed Taupe-Traer hard but could not catch the Austrian. Great Britain followed in third.

Results: AUT, ITA, GBR, HUN, SWE, DEN

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x)

Slovakia’s Lukas Babac may have thought he had the race wrapped up when he raced out of the start in front and got nearly a boat length lead over Joerg Lehnigk of Germany in second. Babac held his pace, so did Lehnigk. Both Babac and Lehnigk sprinted for the line. It was impossible to pick the winner. Lehnigk had done it by a mere two-hundredths of a second. Japan followed in third.

Results: GER, SVK, JPN, BEL, SRB, ESP

Lightweight Men’s Eight (LM8+)

Austria and Australia may get their country name confused by some, but the Austrians are always quick to point out that there are no kangaroos in Austria. Today the two countries went head to head with Austria having a slight upper hand. Australia tried to reverse this situation and in the final sprint the Australians lifted their stroke rate to 41 to get a smidgen ahead of Austria. The Austrians, much to the crowd’s delight, fought back. At the line Austria was ahead of Australia.

Results: AUT, AUS, HUN

Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-)

In the outside lane Switzerland’s Simon Niepmann and Mario Gyr took off in the lead. Gyr had barely made it to the finish after racing an awesome semifinal, but they were back showing that they had A Final talent. The Swiss took off in the lead and held on. But coming through the third 500m the Irish brothers, Richard and Eugene Coakley, took over in the lead. The Coakleys had tried to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in the lightweight double earlier this season, but on missing out they changed to the pair. Niepmann and Gyr, however, pushed back. The Swiss got to the line first. Denmark overtake the Coakley’s to take second and Ireland are third.

Results: SUI, DEN, IRL, NZL, USA, GBR

Lightweight Women’s Quadruple Sculls (LW4x)

A two-boat race between Russia and Hungary saw Russia, rating 33, lead from start to finish, gaining more of a margin as the race progressed. Hungary, rating a higher 36 stroke rate, was unable to eat into this lead and Russia finish the 2008 World Rowing Championships in seventh overall.

Results: RUS, HUN