Calm conditions for junior world rowing heats

Brive hosted the 2004 World University Rowing Championships and now the juniors took over the waters of Lac du Causse Corrézien. Conditions were near perfect with almost flat waters, warm temperatures and barely a breath of wind. Today was heats day and often one boat would establish themselves in a handy lead, challenging the rest of the field to catch them.
JUNIOR WOMEN’S FOUR (JW4-) – HEATS

The first of two heats in the women’s four broke the calm waters of the Lac du Causse Corrézien in Brive-la-Gaillarde. Both heats required athletes to finish in the top position if they wanted to go directly to the Final. Both races panned out in a similar fashion with the leading boat dominating.

In Heat One Great Britain started in the lead and finished in the lead rating a comfortable 32 stroke rate as they crossed the line in first. Following a similar tact in Heat Two, Australia took over at the head of the field and finished in a much more dominating fashion. This domination that had them over 11 seconds ahead of Germany in second gave them the fastest qualifying time.

Great Britain are the current bronze medal holders and Australia finished fifth in 2008, so both countries look like they have stepped up a notch already this year.

These two crews go to Saturday’s Final taking charge of the two centre lanes. All other crews will return for a second-chance repechage tomorrow.

JUNIOR MEN’S COXED FOUR (JM4+) – HEATS

The 11 countries lined up and divided into two heats were aiming for a first place finish to get a direct path to the Final. Last year Germany and Great Britain were the two leading nations. Would they be back on top this year? These two nations were drawn in the first heat together, Germany in the outside lane and Great Britain in the middle of the field. Right from the start it was evident who had the speed.

Germany leaped into the lead in Heat One and by the half way point had nearly a boat length lead over Australia in second. Meanwhile Great Britain was desperately trying to work their way back from a very slow start. Great Britain, coxed by first timer, Rory Copus worked their way up into fourth position, but were never in striking distance of Germany.

Germany took out Heat One and will go directly to the Final.

Heat Two presented the rowing spectators with the first real race of the morning. The race unfolded with South Africa taking a small lead over Canada. These two boats then proceeded to go head to head through the body of the race with New Zealand also very much on the pace. A huge push by the United States in the third quarter got the Americans into striking distance of the three leading boats. A big sprint to the finish line was necessary.

South Africa did not have enough left and they found themselves being overtaken when the United States and Canada charged for the end. Canada, rating 36 strokes per minute, got there first despite a speedy finish by the Americans. Canada are going to the Final. 

JUNIOR WOMEN’S SINGLE SCULLS (JW1X) – HEATS

This huge field of 31 countries featured nations from around the world – Peru was there as well as Iran and, of course, the nations known for their junior rowers including Germany, France and Italy. Last year the top two nations were Germany and the United States. Today Germany lined up in the first of six heats. The goal here was to finish in the top three positions to ensure a direct path to tomorrow’s quarterfinals.

Lisa Schmidla of Germany won a medal last year in her country’s women’s eight. In Heat One of the single Schmidla got off to a great start and used her comfortable lead to extend her dominance. Hungary followed in second with Korea slotted into third. The differences in skills appeared evident as the field remained very spread out right to the line. Germany, Hungary and Korea go to the quarterfinal. Schmidla recorded the fastest qualifying time.

Spain and Belarus were the two leading crews in Heat Two. Virginia Diaz Rivas of Spain is on her first national team and at her first international regatta. Despite this Rivas looked in control and as the race progressed she managed to extend her lead over Belarus. At the line Spain, Belarus and South Africa took the qualifying spots for the quarterfinal, Spain sneaking in just below the magical eight minute time.

China’s Ting Cao led the way in Heat Three. Cao, like Rivas, is competing in her first international event and she made sure that she got off to a fine start by remaining in the confidence-enhancing front position. Slovenia followed in second and kept Cao honest, but the Chinese, rating 26 strokes per minute, looked relaxed in the final stretch. China, Slovenia and 13 year old Natalia Sanchez Roias of Chile are in the quarterfinal. Russia originally finished third, but boat weighing after the race recorded an underweight boat and hence Russia is relegated to race in the repechage. 

Heat Four presented the boat speed of Nataliya Dovgodko of Ukraine. Dovgodko is one of the most experienced rowers in this event. She has raced for the last two years at the junior worlds although she is yet to make an A-final. Last year Dovgodko finished ninth overall but her win today in Heat Four was accomplished in the second fastest qualifying time. Rating 31 at the finish Dovgodko will go to the quarterfinal along with Austria and Japan who finished second and third respectively.

A big cheer went up for Helene Lefebvre of France as she came into the finish line in Heat Five. Lefebvre is on the French national team for the second time after racing last year in the double. Lefebvre did not have an easy race of it. Nicole Bielawski of the United States led at the start and the two countries remained head-to-head through the body of the race. Bielawski then seemed to give it away in the final sprint, satisfied to finish second. Lefebvre kept the pressure on to the end. France, United States and Hong Kong China go to the quarterfinal.

The finishing order was sorted out early on in Heat Six. Great Britain’s Rachel Gamble-Flint had the fastest start and established herself in the lead with Cuba and Bulgaria slotting into second and third respectively. Gamble-Flint was fifth last year in the double and looks to have switched successfully to the single for 2009. It looks like Gamble-Flint will be the big challenger to Schmidla and Dovgodko over the coming days of racing. Great Britain, Cuba and Bulgaria move on to the quarterfinal.

JUNIOR MEN’S SINGLE SCULLS (JM1x) – HEATS

The biggest field of the regatta, 36 countries lined up for the men’s single. Last year the top three boats were Bulgaria, Germany and Australia. This year two of these countries have reappeared. Today the 36 boats were divided into six heats with the top three boats in each heat earning a direct path to the quarterfinal.

Germany’s Felix Bach lined up in Heat One. Seventeen year old Bach is on the national team for the first time and he looked very able to uphold the high German junior standards as he overtook Greece, then Brazil and then held off strong challenges from the unrelenting Fabio Moreira of Brazil. The German – Brazilian battle meant that both countries were still going for it into the final sprint, Brazil rating a couple of beats higher. Germany, Brazil and Belarus went to the quarterfinal.

In Heat Two Poland’s Kamil Zajkowski did a fine job of cleaning up his opposition. Zajkowski, 18, is on his first national team and he got off to a great start by leading the entire race. France’s Clement Duret did a fine job of attacking Zajkowski, but the Pole was just that bit stronger. Poland, France and Cuba went to the quarterfinal.

Milos Vasic of Serbia was the leader of the pack in Heat Three. Vasic raced last year in the coxed four and just missed out on a medal. Today he looked comfortable as he moved away from Denmark to earn an open water lead. Coming into the line, Denmark’s Emil Laursen threw down a last 100m sprint, upping his stroke rate to 41. Vasic, on 31, continued to hold the lead. Serbia, Denmark and Bulgaria are in the quarterfinal.

It is not often that Tunisia has the lead at an international event, but today Med Houssem Laouiti of Tunisia stepped up to the mark and overtook Georgia at the start to be the leader for the rest of the race in Heat Four. Slovakia challenged Laouiti, but Laouiti was stronger. Tunisia, Slovakia and Russia went to the quarterfinal.

Olexandr Nadtoka of Ukraine had an absolutely devastating start in Heat Five. This gave the Ukrainian a clear water lead with only 500m rowed. The United States then slipped into second with China following in third. Nadtoka raced in the quad as a junior last year – perhaps this helped him to establish fast starts. Throughout the race Matthew Maddamma of the United States closed the gap on Nadtoka, but could not reach him in the remaining water. Ukraine, United States and China went to the quarterfinal.

Heat Six was led by Daniel Matyasovszki of Hungary. The Hungarian got his nose ahead of Croatia who initially remained on the leaders pace. But the Hungarian never really had to push it and his finishing time was far off any real international boat speed. Hungary, Croatia and El Salvador went to the quarterfinal.

JUNIOR WOMEN’S PAIR (JW2-) – HEATS

The three heats required boats to finish in the top two positions if they wanted a direct path to the semifinal. Last year Bulgaria finished fourth in this event. Today the nation raced in Heat One. Petrya Mavrova and Luiza-Mariya Rusinova of Bulgaria are one of the only crews today to be the same as 2008. This must give them a huge advantage. Although the duo came out in third at the start, they managed to get in front of South Africa and the United States to finish first. In one of the tightest races of the morning, these three countries remained locked together for the entire race. The United States was the unlucky one and will have to return for the repechage. Bulgaria and South Africa go to the semifinal.

Romania won silver last year in this event. Today they raced in Heat Two and found the strongest challenge coming from China and France. By the half way point, Mihaela Petrila and Andreea Boghian of Romania had shaken off France and then worked on getting away from China. The Chinese were unrelenting. The boats remained neck-and-neck in the final sprint, Romania staying just a fraction in front. Romania and China are in the semifinal.

Heat Three featured last year’s bronze medallists, Belarus. Both rowers, however, are new to international rowing so a different combination to the 2008 medallists. They showed confidence and style by racing at the head of the field over Germany. Belarus rated 30 strokes per minute in the close of the race and will go to the semifinal along with Germany.

JUNIOR MEN’S PAIR (JM2-) – HEATS

The five heats in this event required a top four finish for crews to advance to the quarterfinal. Last year’s results had Greece, Germany and Australia as the top three boats. Could these countries do it again this year?

In Heat One India got off the line first with Azerbaijan the closest threat. Going through the middle of the race, Azerbaijan had pushed into the lead. India remained right on top of Azerbaijan with Lithuania now trying to push on through. A solid 34 stroke rate sprint by Lithuania gave them the first place position at the end. India held on to take second and Azerbaijan and Chile qualified for the quarterfinal from third and fourth respectively.

As each race comes down the course at six minute intervals, Heat Two was already the 21st race of this regatta and it featured last year’s silver medal country, Germany. Paul Habermann and Kevin Rakicki of Germany got their nose ahead of Belarus and Cuba and worked to establish their position. Both Habermann and Rakicki are racing at their first junior world championships.

Coming into the final sprint Germany, Belarus and Cuba all sprinted. A bad stroke by Cuba put them back, but the duo remained in the qualifying third position. Germany, Belarus and Paraguay will also go to the quarterfinal.

The start of Heat Three was close and intense between the top four crews. Croatia’s Karlo Udovicic and Domagoj Dumancic held a slight lead but there was very little in it. By the half way point the Croatians had established nearly a boat length lead over the United States, now in second. Meanwhile Great Britain and Brazil continued to challenge hard. Coming into the line Croatia and Great Britain both sprinted, Croatia on 34 and Great Britain at 37. The United States and Brazil appeared content to qualify from third and fourth respectively. Croatia, Great Britain, the United States and Brazil will go to the quarterfinal.

Heat Four had Serbia’s Igor Lucic and Luka Djordjevic in the lead at the start. Through the body of the race the Serbians moved away from the field and race 23 began to resemble a procession to the line. Then France, hearing the crowd support, opened up a huge closing sprint. This sprint completely closed the gap between them and Serbia. Serbia rated 32 to hold off the French. Serbia, France, Bulgaria and Sweden will go to the quarterfinal.

Current junior champions, Greece featured in Heat Five, but with two new rowers. Christos Koutsiaftis and Evripidis Sklivanitis of Greece raced last year together as juniors in the four and have switched to the smallest sweep boat this year. The duo got out in front and by the half way point they had established a full boat length lead over the Czech Republic in second. As the nearest threat, the Czechs challenged Greece in the final sprint but despite rating 34 to Greece’s 33, the Czechs remained in second. Greece, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Argentina will go to the quarterfinal. 

JUNIOR WOMEN’S DOUBLE SCULLS (JW2x) – HEATS

This event had 20 countries participating and they were divided into four heats with the first two in each heat earning a spot in the semifinal. Following in the footsteps of her successful rowing sister, Lenka Antosova of the Czech Republic led Heat One in partnership with Denisa Cvancarova. Greece tried to hold on at the start, but by the half way point the Czechs had an open water lead. Antosova and Cvancarova retained a comfortable 30 stroke rate pace to the line. The Czech Republic and Greece are going to the semifinal.

China was very successful at the junior level in 2007 when it hosted these championships in Beijing. Last year they all but disappeared from the scene. They are back in 2009 and look to have a strong group of athletes. In Heat Two the Chinese came through to finish first and earn a spot in the semifinal. Not the fastest at the start, Rui Zhang and Yuwei Wang had to push past Bulgaria and Italy to find the lead. The duo crossed the finish line at a cruisy 28 stroke rate. China and Italy are in the final.

Ireland may have a small team here but they looked to be well prepared. In Heat Three they got ahead of Romania and remained in the lead rowing a very consistent race. Laura D’Urso and Lisa Dilleen of Ireland are both on their national team for the first time and their 32 stroke rate looked calm and confident as they pulled through to win the race. Romania, looking a little ragged but pushing hard, qualified for the semifinal from second.

The final heat, Heat Four, recorded the fastest qualifying time with Julia Lier and Marie-Catherine Arnold of Germany able to hold that honour. Lier and Arnold are both Junior World Champions with a win in the quad last year. Today they had no trouble leading the race. Latvia, in second, never had a chance to catch the Germans. The race was hugely spread out by the finish line with nearly two minutes separating first to last. Germany and Latvia are going to the semifinal.

JUNIOR MEN’S DOUBLE SCULLS (JM2x) – HEATS

This event attracted 34 nations and they were divided into six heats with the top three in each heat earning a spot in tomorrow’s quarterfinal. Germany, Lithuania and Australia finished first, second and third in 2008, but this year was a clean slate at the start of the 2000m course.

Heat One opened with Germany hoping to set the standard. Hubert Trzybinski and Timo Piontek are in their first season together with Trzybinski being a junior World Champion from last year’s quad. The Germans kept the power on through the majority of the race as they held the lead over Italy. Coming into the final sprint, Piontek and Trzybinski seemed content to just hold their spot and their 24 stroke rate made them look like they were out for a training row. Italy and Portugal qualify for the quarterfinal from second and third spots respectively.

Lithuania led Heat Two at the start and coming through the third 500 they had built up over a boat length lead. But then France, who had been sitting in second, on hearing the crowd support, upped their rating and charged for the line. Rating 35 strokes per minute to Lithuania’s 28, France’s Mathieu Lissoir and Fabien Cornier crossed the line first. France, Lithuania and Croatia advance directly to the quarterfinal.

Heat Three sorted out the top three boats early in the piece. Serbia’s Djeric Radoje and Jovan Jovanovic slipped away in first followed by Denmark and Greece. This order remained the same through the body of the race. But then Denmark pulled out a huge sprint, rating 39 strokes per minute, to bear down on Serbia. Serbia, rating 30, seemed relatively unconcerned and just managed to stay in front. Serbia, Denmark and Greece made it to the quarterfinal.

China’s Yueqi Zeng and Hongjun Hu recorded the fastest qualifying time in Heat Four. But they did not do it by leading from start to finish. Quite the contrary. China came out of the start in fourth and then managed to work their way up into second by the half way point. From here they kept the pressure on through the third 500 so that by the final sprint, China had pulled into the lead. Switzerland, in second, challenged back using a 42 stroke rate sprint. But China, on 38, held them off. China, Switzerland and Romania will go to the quarterfinal.

As the temperature continued to rise through the afternoon, junior rowers lined up in Heat Five. Oleksandr Gurzhii and Anton Bondarenko of Ukraine showed that they were in a completely different class right from the start. The duo were so far ahead, even with just 500m rowed, that it looked like two races were going on. At the finish Gurzhii and Bondarenko were nearly 30 seconds ahead of Cyprus in second. Ukraine, Cyprus and Algeria are the qualifying crews.

The final heat, Heat Six opened with Slovenia in the lead. Tadej Japelj and Gasper Kokalj of Slovenia both raced in the quad last year finishing 12th. In the double they got off to a great start leaving the rest of the field to battle it out for second and third. Going through the middle of the race, four crews still very much had a shot at qualifying. Then Moldova dropped off the pace and the fight was left between the Czech Republic, Belgium and Bulgaria. Bulgaria upped their rating to 39. The Czech Republic did not have a good enough sprint. Slovenia, Bulgaria and Belgium will go to the quarterfinal.

JUNIOR MEN’S FOUR (JM4-) – HEATS

This event opened with four heats and the line of attack was for crews to be in the top two to earn a spot in the semifinal. Great Britain attacked in Heat One so that by the half way point they had a clear water lead. Meanwhile France was firing on all cylinders as they tried to come back from an abysmally slow start. First Denmark was pushed back, then Turkey and finally Russia as France went from the back of the field to a qualifying position. Despite a splashy, 37 stroke rate, France had done enough to qualify. Great Britain and France got to advance to the semifinal.

Spain are the defending World Champions in this event and they showed that they still had what it takes in Heat Two. Stroked by Pep Pallares Reverte, who raced as a junior last year in his country’s eight, Spain had to overtake Germany to get the lead. It took them until the third 500 to do it, but it was enough to break the Germans. Germany remained in second but did not sprint the finish. Spain and Germany go to the semifinal. Spain had the fastest qualifying time.

Heat Three opened with Australia in the lead with Slovenia hot on their heels. The two boats, positioned in lane three and one respectively, continued to challenge each other through the middle of the race and in the process they moved clear of the rest of the field. It appeared that Slovenia had the better endurance as they rated 33, to Australia’s 32, to cross the line in first. Slovenia and Australia go to the semifinal.

Last year Romania was second. This year they returned in Heat Four. Sitting in stroke seat was international newcomer, Leon Pop and he found himself going neck-and-neck with the United States, stroked by international newcomer, Allan Amico. Through the middle of the race the two crews remained locked together with Croatia also still in the picture. A solid sprint by Romania gave them first place at the line. Romania and the United States go to the semifinal.

JUNIOR WOMEN’S QUADRUPLE SCULLS (JW4x) – HEATS

The four heats in this event required a top two finish for crews to make it directly to the semifinals on Friday. As the temperature around the regatta course got into the low 30s Celsius, Heat One got under way. New Zealand, who finished third last year, grabbed the bull by the horns and took off in front of reigning World Champions, Germany. Germany did not like this and by the half way point had snatched the lead. New Zealand seemed unable to react back. Germany then moved away to an open water lead that just got larger as the race advanced. Germany crosses the line rating 35 to New Zealand’s 33. Germany and New Zealand earned a spot in the semifinal.

Heat Two saw China strike again. The Chinese earned their first ever Olympic gold medal in this event and today they showed that their development side is just as strong. China led the second heat from start to finish and crossed the line in an open water first with the fastest qualifying time. Greece hung on to second but were totally outclassed by China. Getting their stroke rate to 37 Greece held off the advancing Belgium crew in the close of the race. China and Greece advance to the semifinal.

In the supporters grandstand near the finish line a loud horn heralded the fact that Australia were racing. The horn was distinctive as it sounded, hmm, a little sick in these hot, sticky conditions, but still it must have helped the crew in Heat Three. Australia got into the lead at the start and worked their way clear of the field through the middle of the race. Croatia, rating 35, then closed the gap on Australia, now rating 31. Australia held on to first. Australia and Croatia earned a direct path to the semifinal.

France have shown that they do not always have the fastest starts, but in Heat Four they proved that theory wrong by grabbing the lead over the Netherlands right from the first stroke. The Dutch have just a small crew here in Brive as they chose to focus on last weekend’s Coupe de la Jeunesse (a race for chosen European juniors). With the United States fighting all of the way, France and the Netherlands kept the pressure on right to the end. The United States did not have enough of a sprint to get into a qualifying spot. France and the Netherlands qualified for the semifinal.

JUNIOR MEN’S QUADRUPLE SCULLS (JM4x) – Heats

A huge 32 nation field was to line up next on the Lac du Causse Corrézien course. These nations were divided into six heats with the top three from each heat going to the quarterfinals.

Italy are the reigning silver medallists in this event and they featured in Heat One. After an initial glitch at the start thrown out by Australia, Italy got into the lead and tried to hold off the very strong crews from Poland and Australia. A strong third 500 by the Italians gave them the edge that they were looking for. Italy crossed the line in first followed by Poland and Australia. These are the three qualifying crews.

Ukraine looked smooth and confident in Heat Two as they came into the finish line rating at 33 strokes per minute. This came after 1500m of hard rowing that saw themselves working away from Hungary and France who maintained a fast pace for most of the race. At the line Ukraine, France and Hungary were the boats to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Heat Three had Argentina jump off the line in first followed closely by Estonia. These two boats remained locked together through the body of the race, so much so that Denmark, in third slipped further behind. Although Argentina did not look as smooth as Estonia, the Argentineans, rating 36, remained just in front of Estonia. Argentina, Estonia and Denmark made it directly to the quarterfinals.

New Zealand jumped out into the lead in Heat Four. The New Zealanders, arriving here from their winter, must surely be feeling this afternoon intense heat. But they made the best of it and held off Austria and Croatia. New Zealand remained at a solid 36 stroke rate to cross the line in first. New Zealand, Croatia and Austria are going to the quarterfinals.

The Czech Republic have recorded the fastest qualifying time and they did this in the penultimate heat, Heat Five. With Jan Andrle in stroke seat (seventh in this event last year), the crew got out ahead of the United States and kept an eye on the close battle between the Americans, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In the second half of the race crews really showed who had it for the 2000m. The Czech Republic moved further into the lead with only the Dutch just holding on to the pace. At the line the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Switzerland had made it through to the quarterfinals.

Reigning junior World Champions, Germany raced in the final heat, Heat Six. Stroked by Max Planer, who won gold last year in his country’s eight, the German crew had nearly a full boat length’s lead by the first 500m mark. Norway slipped into second and Russia followed in third. Russia had to keep a close eye on Japan who sat dangerously close to them in fourth, but by the end of the race the opening order had not changed. Germany, rating a safe 29 stroke rate, crossed the line first with Norway qualifying from second and Russia taking third.

JUNIOR WOMEN’S EIGHT (JW8+) – HEATS

The United States won this event last year and Romania finished second. As is the case at the senior level, these two countries are eternal rivals. Today they were divided between the two heats, Romania in Heat One and the United States in Heat Two. Only the winner of each race would get a direct path to the Final on Saturday.

Heat One had Romania in the lead which was perhaps not that much of a surprise. The real surprise would be who would take over in second. France filled this role, much to the crowd’s delight. Coming second, however, served no purpose. Romania earned a spot in the final. France sprinted to a 38 stroke rate finish, but will have to return for the repechage tomorrow.

Following Heat Two the United States can claim bragging rights to being the fastest qualifying crew. The United States did this by fighting a tough battle with New Zealand. New Zealand held the lead for the first half of the race, but in the second half the Americans had much better speed. New Zealand rated 37 in the final sprint to try and work their way back up. The United States remained in front for a direct path to the final.

JUNIOR MEN’S EIGHT (JM8+) – HEATS

Germany and New Zealand were the top two crews in this event last year. This year it looks like the status quo will be well and truly shaken. In the first of two heats, Germany took off in the lead, but by the half way point they had slipped back to third behind Great Britain and the United States. With only one boat qualifying directly for the Final, Great Britain was turning into the one to beat. Rating 37 as they worked their way through the final sprint, Great Britain looked alive and confident in the afternoon’s heat of the day. Great Britain the sole qualifiers for the Final.

New Zealand featured in Heat Two, but, like for the Germans, things did not go their way. Russia started off in the lead followed by Turkey. By the half way point, however, Italy who had got off to a slow start, had found strength from being at the back of the field and were tearing down the course. Romania tried to go after Italy, but the Italians looked unstoppable. Italy goes directly to the Final.