Improving through the B Finals at the Under 23s

In light cross-tail wind conditions with slightly bumpy water, the B and C Finals had the Strathclyde course in Scotland well warmed up.

The B Finals opened with the lightweight women’s single sculls led by Anna Moldestad of Norway at her debut international event. Moldestad had the psychological advantage of being able to look back at the rest of the field, but it must have been difficult to keep an eye on her biggest threat five lanes over – Orla Hayes of Ireland. Moldestad finishes first ahead of Hayes.

This is Turkey’s Mete Yeltepe’s fifth under 23 regatta in the lightweight men’s single sculls. After finishing third last year, he is disappointed to be in the B Final. But he gave it all in a close battle with Danil Grigoryev of Russia. Yeltepe earns a 7th place overall. Earlier in the day the C and D Finals were raced in this event that boasts one of the highest number of entries.

Laura Schiavone of Italy has already medalled this season in the double at the senior level. Today she contested the B Final of the women’s single sculls. Schiavone led for most of the race but appeared to tire coming into the final stretch and despite taking her rating to 35 she could not hold off Ulla Varvio of Finland who crosses the line first.

The event with the most entries, the men’s single sculls, had Jes Struck of Denmark lead the B Final. Struck was pushed by Greece’s Andreas Tilelis who had Latvia to deal with. Earlier in the day the C and D Finals saw some quite spread-out racing as those with a variety of talent raced.

Despite the junior pedigree in the Romanian boat in the name of Ionel Strungaru, it was Andrej Pistotnik and Gregor Kavas of Slovenia who took line honours in the men’s pair. Pistotnik and Kavas both have former international experience with this being Pistotnik’s first international race since 2005.

The men’s four B Final saw a close battle between France, Croatia and Poland before Italy, starting off at the back of the field, worked their way up to finish first over Croatia. Italy has a bunch of talent including stroke Marco Cecchin who already has junior and under 23 medals.

Switzerland has been racing regularly at the senior level this season. Today they raced the B Final of the lightweight women’s double sculls. Sitting in the bow seat Antonina Iagovitina has been a regular in the lightweight single for Moldova. Now a Swiss citizen she has joined with Olivia Wyss in the lightweight double. The duo held off a big last-minute sprint by Greece to finish 7th overall.

Bulgaria took the B Final of the lightweight men’s double sculls by the scruff of the neck and led for the entire 2000m Strathclyde course. Vasil Vitanov, 19, and the international debuting Zlatko Karaivanov of Bulgaria claim 7th overall.

Five crews attacking and counterattacking in the lightweight men’s four B Final made for an extra exciting race at the Strathclyde Park course. Germany kept the edge but even going through the last 500m mark USA, Denmark, Australia, Canada and Germany remained overlapping. Germany takes first just over Canada.

But the men’s quadruple sculls B Final outdid the previous race. Six crews were neck and neck with only their position in the stroke cycle determining whose bow ball was in front. This all changed in the second half of the race as Poland broke free, leaving the Czech Rebublic, Switzerland and Ukraine to pace each other. Poland take 7th overall with Ukraine earning eighth.

Canada may have won the B Final of the men’s eight, but they must be disappointed. They come to this event as reigning Under 23 Champions. Instead today they made the best of the B Final and led for the entire race to finish ahead of Spain and 7th overall.