Three in a row for Drysdale, Karsten and van Eupen at the World Rowing Champs

 Single scullers Ekaterina Karsten (BLR), Mahe Drysdale (NZL) and Marit van Eupen (NED) won their respective races and with that sealed their World Champion status with three consecutive wins.
In slight tail wind conditions and cloudy cool temperatures, times on the water were a little off World Best Times as the cool, 18 degree Celsius water, affected the speed of boats. Despite the cool summer weather, crowds came out in force with a noisy 10,000 plus beating drums and creating a warm atmosphere. Not since the 1972 Olympic Games has this venue seen such a large audience.

Women’s Single Sculls (W1x)

Wow. What a way to start the A Finals. What was Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus doing looking exhausted at the finish line? What went on before? Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic must be sick of always coming second, always being the bridesmaid. Her strategy: to beat the two-in-a-row World Champion, Karsten. Usually Karsten jumps out to a handy lead, drops her rating and holds on, rarely having to sprint. Today, Knapkova leapt out at the start to take the lead over Karsten. It was now up to Karsten to keep up. Usually rating in the high 20s through the body of the race, Karsten found she had to rate 34 to keep up with Knapkova.

Knapkova comes to the World Rowing Championships having missed the final Rowing World Cup in July to concentrate on some altitude training. The altitude work must have been paying off. Going through the third 500m Knapkova still had the lead. Could she hold it in the final sprint? Suddenly, coming from the back of the field, former World Champion and World Best Time holder, Rumyana Neykova of Bulgaria, was charging. With her came Michelle Guerette of the United States. Karsten was under pressure from all sides. She had to sprint.

At the line Karsten had made it three in a row. World Champion: 2005, 2006, 2007. Can she make it three Olympic gold medals in the single next year? Second was Karsten’s original rival, Neykova, and third was Guerette, who overtook Knapkova in the last four strokes. Knapkova’s brave risk did not pay off. But she will continue to be a threat in the future.

Ekaterina Karsten – Khodotovitch (BLR) – Gold medallist
“Of course I am very happy and I was concentrating during the race. The atmosphere was brilliant, and I want to do the same next year.”

Rumyana Neykova (BUL) – Silver medallist
“I rowed form my two kids, one for each grip. I am very happy. The atmosphere at the grandstand woke me up and gave me a big boost for the last 200 metres”

Michelle Guerette (USA) – Bronze medallist
“I looked over, saw Mirka and knew I could lift more weight. I think I just got up to her with a last couple of power shots. This race was a different race than the once before. It was like running. I just kept a steady breathing. It was exciting to see I can go with the others. I am so excited to be up there. See you in Beijing…”

Results: BLR, BUL, USA, CZE, CHN, NZL

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x)

Can New Zealand’s Mahe Drysdale make it three in a row? Will he be able to move out of the shadows of Rob Waddell? This is how the race unfolded. Alan Campbell of Great Britain shot out into first at the start with a high 43 stroke rate with Olympic Champion Olaf Tufte of Norway also going out for a fast start. Using a different race strategy, Tufte had found the lead going through the half-way point and remaining within striking distance were Drysdale and Synek. Surprisingly, known locally as El Matador, on his home training ground, Marcel Hacker of Germany was back in sixth.

Using a steady 33 stroke rate Drysdale started to move up on Tufte. Tufte, rating 37, tried to hold on. He couldn’t. Drysdale’s comparatively conservative first half was now paying sweet dividends. Drysdale had the lead. Tufte then had another problem coming at him. Winner of this year’s World Cup series, Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic was charging for the line. Synek had raced averagely through the initial rounds, looking like he might not be a medal chance. But that was all changing in these now last 300 metres. Going to three-quarters slide Synek was rating a high 42 stroke rate. At the line Drysdale, under the guidance of new coach Calvin Fergusson, had done it. Three World Championship gold medals in a row. Never before has this been done in the history of the World Champs and the men’s single. Crossing the line Drysdale celebrated – hands punching the air. So did Synek in second. Tufte takes the bronze medal. After crossing the line Hacker rows across to congratulate Drysdale. Today was not Hacker’s day.

Mahe Drysdale (NZL) – Gold medallist
“I knew I was fast. But there are so many quality guys in this race that you never know what people will do on the day. Tufte was the surprise today, starting off so fast. And I thought Hacker would be stronger at home. This was much better than last year. I hate losing so this was big test coming here as a double World Champion. Winning here tops off a great year. Now I will have to keep working and come back even stronger next year. ”

Ondrej Synek (CZE) – Silver medallist
“It was fun. I was tired in the heat, quarter and semifinal. But this race was a satisfaction for me.”

Olaf Tufte (NOR) – Bronze medallist
“Considering the problems I had before the champs the third place is really not that bad. I gave everything I could. The atmosphere was one of the best I’ve ever experienced.”

Results: NZL; CZE, NOR, GBR, GER; SWE

Women’s Pair (W2-)

Back together after taking bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Yulia Bichyk and Natallia Helakh of Belarus gave an indication of their speed in earlier rounds. Up against Olympic Champions, Georgeta Damian-Andrunache and Viorica Susanu of Romania and last year’s silver medallists, Nicky Coles and Juliette Haigh of New Zealand, what would they be able to do?

But jumping out to take a full boat-length lead at the start were the Australians, Kim Crow and Sarah Cook. Stroke, Cook has come along in leaps and bounds only just starting in the sport in 2005. Since then she has already earned a World Champ medal and she continued to prove herself through this year’s Rowing World Cup season. Going through the half-way point the Crow-Cook lead was an impressive three seconds over the best of Germany, Elke Hipler and Nicole Zimmermann. But all was about to change. Going through the third 500, the Australians were being swallowed up. To the delight of the crowd Germany was gaining ground and taking Belarus with them.

Sprinting to the line Bichyk and Helakh kept their wits about them, so did Germany with Andrunache and Susanu now coming back. A crab by Crow just 100m from the line was the final blow to knock them out of medal contention. Belarus takes gold, Germany silver and Romania bronze.

Yuliya Bichyk, Natallia Helakh (BLR) – Gold medallists
“There is not much too say, except that it was a really, really good race.” (Yuliya Bichyk)

Nicole Zimmermann, Elke Hipler (GER) – Silver medallists
“We were already super happy that we made it to the final. There were certain expectations from us but we just did our thing and this was our race and this is our medal. But we didn’t expect it. When we passed the Australians I knew this could become a medal. Then I thought shut your eyes and row and row and row.” (Nicole Zimmermann)

Viorica Susanu (ROU) – Bronze medallists
“I am very happy. We had a two-year break, as Georgeta had a baby. This is a huge success for us. Georgeta’s baby is at home with her husband.”

Results: BLR, GER, ROU, AUS, NZL, CHN

Men’s Pair (M2-)

This event is turning into an ongoing Australasian battle. In 2005 New Zealand’s George Bridgewater and partner Nathan Twaddle became World Champions. In 2006 Australians Duncan Free and Drew Ginn took it off them, pushing Bridgewater and Twaddle into silver. This year the two countries met at the Lucerne Rowing World Cup. Free and Ginn won.

Today they met again and Bridgewater and Twaddle decided the only way to do it was to beat the Australians at their own game. Take the lead at the start and hold on. In stroke Bridgewater took the start with full aggression, still rating 41 strokes per minute through the 500m mark and on. The lower rating – but still high at 37 – Australians were sticking with them. By the 1000m mark Australia and New Zealand had turned it into a two horse race.

Free and Ginn then began to stretch out and started to move away from the New Zealanders to take a clear lead. Bridgewater and Twaddle had to take stock. Winners of the first Rowing World Cup, Great Britain’s new-this-season combination of Colin Smith and Matthew Langridge were moving on the New Zealanders in an all-out sprint. Meanwhile Olympic bronze medallists South Africa were having steering problems and Serbia had all but given up at the back of the field. At the line Australia’s flagship boat wins the first medal for their country at these World Championships. The New Zealanders hold on to second and Great Britain take third. Bridgewater, completely spent, could not make it to the medals ceremony. A volunteer had to row his boat away.

Drew Ginn (AUS) – Gold medallist
“It was very hard, was a very tough race, of course the toughest one of the champs. We wanted to go first straight from the start, we didn’t even want to give an inch advantage to the others. Our plan for tonight is to celebrate with lots of friends and families.”

Nathan Twaddle (NZL) – Silver medallist
“We had a good first 1000 then the Australians started pushing away and after that it was hard to follow them. Still, I enjoyed the race. The atmosphere is awesome; half of my family is here. It is great to have so many supporters here in Munich.”

Colin Smith, Matthew Langridge (GBR) – Bronze medallist
“It was a great race. We focused on the French and beat them. The Aussies are a different story. Don’t know what they did. They blew us away. ” (Matthew Langridge)
"Great race. My partner is one of the top guys. Now I am looking forward to harder things next year.” (Colin Smith)

Results: AUS, NZL, GBR, FRA, RSA, SRB

Women’s Double Sculls (W2x)

Olympic Champions Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell of New Zealand were under no illusions on how tough a race this would be to earn back their World Championship status they lost in 2006. They had been beaten by Qin Li and Liang Tian of China – eighth place finishers in 2006 – in the semifinals and earlier in the week by Elise Laverick and Anna Bebington of Great Britain. Today the New Zealanders got out to a solid start, but the smooth Li – Tian combination had the edge. The Evers-Swindells, fighting back going through the middle of the race, had taken the shine out of China’s lead. Li and Tian reacted back and again moved away.

The Kiwis kept the pressure on, but then found a new threat from Bebington and Laverick who had overtaken Romania and were sprinting at 38 strokes per minute. New Zealand went to 41. At the line China had first. New Zealand and Great Britain were stuck in a photo finish. Just 0.20 seconds separated the two crews. New Zealand add silver to their collection.

Qin Li, Liang Tian (CHN) – Gold medallists
“We felt very confident during the race. As long as we keep the high performances we can stay together in this double.”

Georgina Evers-Swindell, Caroline Evers-Swindell (NZL) – Silver medallists
“This was a really tough race, but we didn’t expect it to be any easier.” (Georgina)
“The atmosphere is amazing, there is a huge amount of celebration on the grandstand. It’s great to have so many supporters coming all the way to Munich to support us. It’s great to be here, but after three months in Europe you miss home, so I am really looking forward to go home.” (Caroline)

Elise Laverick, Anna Bebington (GBR) – Bronze medallists
“Don’t know how close we were. We left ourselves too much to do. This wasn’t planned.” (Elise Laverick)

Results: CHN, NZL, GBR, ROU, CZE, GER

Men’s Double Sculls (M2x)

Leading up to today’s finals it was becoming increasingly difficult to pick who was top dog. Current World Champions Adrien Hardy and Jean-Baptiste Macquet of France were looking back on form after an average season. Tonu Endrekson and Jueri Jaanson of Estonia continued to be a threat. Iztok Cop and Luka Spik of Slovenia were racing very consistently. At the start Macquet and Hardy took the leaders' edge with New Zealand’s new combination going for broke. But the leaders were soon under threat from the Slovenians, in their eighth year of racing together. Moving through the middle of the race France and Slovenia were neck and neck out in front. Great Britain and Estonia were also holding the pace with Estonia closing the gap on the leaders.

Spik and Cop were looking strong. Macquet and Hardy were looking in synch. The sprint was on. Slovenia went to 42 strokes per minute. France attacked as Estonia and Great Britain accelerated. Spik and Cop win gold. France takes sliver and Estonia wins bronze. Spik stands up in the boat and salutes the crowd. France looks happy.

On the winners' podium toddlers nearly outnumbered rowers: Hardy and Cop both presented their two children to the 10,000 strong crowd.

Luka Spik, Iztok Cop (SLO) – Gold medallists
“This morning I had the first place in my head. But in a field like this you never know. I was nervous and the race was very close. It’s a good finish of the 2007 season which looking at the World Cup results wasn’t our best. But I think we have quite good chances to improve for next year. Especially with regard to rowing technique and more kilometres.” (Luka Spik)

Jean-Babtiste Macquet, Adrien Hardy (FRA) – Silver medallists
“It was a great race.” (Macquet)
“At the last 500 the Slovenians got away. We tried to catch them, but we couldn’t." (Hardy)

Tonu Endrekson, Jueri Jaanson (EST) – Bronze medallists
“I was tired. The last 250m were very hard. The GB double wanted to catch us, but luckily for us we were in front.” (Tonu Endrekson)

Results: SLO, FRA, EST, GBR, BLR, NZL

Men’s Four (M4-)

Ask anyone who they thought would win this race, the name Great Britain would have been regularly mentioned. They come to these World Rowing Championships and Britain’s flagship boat for the men and World Champion status from 2005 and 2006. With that knowledge Great Britain took off in the lead at the start. But, unlike their usual races, where they lead for the entire race, by the half-way point Great Britain had slipped to third.

Instead it was the Netherlands in the lead with Slovenia in second. But there was very little between all six crews going through the middle of the race. Less than two seconds separated the entire field with New Zealand at the back. The New Zealanders then pulled out a piece that took them from last to second and right up there with the Dutch in first. Still very little separated the entire field, with the line coming into view. Could the British come back? Stroke rates rose. Twenty four athletes charged for the line. New Zealand had won. Italy take silver and the Netherlands earn third. The Kiwis couldn’t have been happier. They made it to the final of the Athens Olympics and with one remaining member of that crew, they have lined themselves up for a potential Olympic medal in 2008.

Andy Triggs Hodge, GBR (4th): “There are a whole host of themes to say why we didn’t medal. We still have to have confidence in the people behind us. We know we’re strong guys. We know change has to happen between the World Cups and the World Championships. This year we came in trying to start again (with new technique). Everyone is pushing forward. I don’t know what we have to do, but there is something out there. It’s about next year.”

James Dallinger, NZL (Gold): How do you feel about beating the undefeated Brits? “No one is unbeatable.”

Carl Meyer, James Dallinger, Eric Murray, Hamish Bond (NZL) – Gold medallists
“I expected the British to lead, but Italy went so fast. We were going back and forth during the whole race. Surely, there will be a big party tonight. Thanks to the Germans for their great hospitality, I really enjoyed it. (Meyer)

“It was totally amazing, we gelled together really well. We trained really well, we all had the same goal. I was U23 World Champion last year, but this is another level! We didn’t know where we were going to get, but knew it would be close and we had a chance with our sprint.” (James Dallinger)

Geert Cirkel, Matthijs Vellenga, Jan-Willem Gabriels, Gijs Vermeulen (NED) – Silver medallists
“It would have been great to win Gold. But winning Silver is also great. The last 300m were good for us. The Italians came flying in once they got to the grandstand – don’t know if it was the wind condition there or the spectators. The British result is a bit surprising.” (Geert Cirkel)

Carlo Mornati, Alessio Sartori, Niccolo Mornati, Lorenzo Carboncini (ITA) – Bronze medallists
“Great race. We are very happy to have taken a medal. Very much so.” (Carlo Mornati)
“It was a great race and very intense.” (Lorenzo Carboncini)

Results: NZL, ITA, NED, GBR, SLO, FRA

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Women’s Four (W4-)

As one of the smaller fields at this regatta, these athletes have only raced once – four days ago. In between they would have been keeping fresh with morning and evening rows and getting to know the course more intimately. Today they raced for the second time in the final and at the start it was home favourites, Germany who had the fastest start. Going through the middle of the race Germany hung on to first with the United States and Australia the only other boats really in challenging contention. The United States challenged. Stroked by Olympian Megan Dirkmaat, she is the most senior member of the crew and was high school coach to three seat Rachel Jeffers.

Familiarity must be an advantage. Coming into the last quarter of the race the Americans had taken the lead and were moving away from Germany. At the line the United States earn their first gold of the day.

Results: USA, GER, AUS, GBR, CHN, ITA

Men’s Coxed Pair (M2+)

There’s no doubt that Poland is on a roll at these World Rowing Championships and the roll continued in the men’s coxed four. Leading the pack of strong men was Dawid Paczes and Lukasz Kardas with coxswain Daniel Trojanowski giving the instructions and steering. No one could catch the Poles despite a fine effort by Italy and a last-minute sprint by Canada. At the line Trojanowski stands up in the boat to celebrate, Italy doesn’t look too pleased. Australia are devastated by the Canadian push that knocks them out of a medal spot.

Results: POL, ITA, CAN, AUS, GER, CRO

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x)

World Champion Marit van Eupen of the Netherlands must have gotten a scare earlier in the week when she was beaten by newcomer to the single, Jennifer Goldsack of the United States. Van Eupen must have formulated a plan. Goldsack, who was eighth in the double for Great Britain in 2005, took off at the start of the race and settled into a 30 stroke rate pace. Van Eupen, on 29, sat back and waited. By the half-way point van Eupen had easily overtaken Goldsack with these two boats now far ahead of the rest of the field. The order did not change. Goldsack hung doggedly on to van Eupen in first. The rest of the field was way off the pace including Andrea Dennis of Great Britain who had beaten Goldsack through the British trials system leading Goldsack to go to the United States, under her dual citizenship, and trial there.

At the line van Eupen becomes three-in-a-row World Champion. Goldsack wins silver for the United States and 2005 World Champion from the quad, Melanie Kok of Canada earns a bronze medal.

Jennifer Goldsack, USA (silver): “I have a house and a job in the UK so obviously I’m not just in the wrong country, but the wrong continent. I believe the U.S. does warm weather training so I’m up for that. I’ve had enough of the UK winters. I missed last season for shoulder reconstruction. It gave me time to reflect on why I love the sport. I felt I can foster that passion better in the U.S. system. Not any criticism to the British system, it’s just different and with my passion for training it suits me more in the U.S. I think that the depth of talent is quite tremendous there and I’m looking forward to be part of that, and to build for Beijing.”

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x)

With two Rowing World Cup golds from this season under his belt and a bronze from 2006, there was no doubting the money was on Duncan Grant of New Zealand to win. Grant proved the punters correct. The New Zealander led from the start working into a 33 stroke rate rhythm through the body of the race. Behind him Japan started off strong but slipped back under pressure from Lorenzo Bertini of Italy. Bertini tried to chase Grant down pulling out a 36 stroke rate sprint, but Grant was too comfortable in the lead. Japan then fell out of the medals to a charging Dutch man – Jaap Schouten. At the line Grant takes gold, the third for New Zealand so far at this regatta. Bertini earns silver and Schouten, 22, wins bronze.

To the crowd’s disappointment, unlucky Jonathan Koch of Germany caught a crab with 150m left to row.

Results: NZL, ITA, NED, GER, JPN, USA

Lightweight Men’s Eight (LM8+)

Italy has owned this race for the last two years and with that knowledge they shot off in the lead. But it didn’t last long. A smooth looking Dutch boat, full of lightweights soon hauled in the Italians and left the entire field in their wake. Germany tried desperately to respond. The Netherlands were having none of it. At the line the elated Dutch take first, Germany, looking rather despondent, earn second, and Italy find themselves in the unusual position of bronze, also not happy.

Results: NED, GER, ITA, DEN, USA, POL