Photo finishes and hard repechages for rowing’s under 23s

The cloudy skies sometimes let loose with light rain while temperatures were around 20 degrees Celsius and some head wind conditions. Races today consisted mainly of repechages, but there were also races for lanes and quarterfinals for the men’s single. Crews raced from the front and from behind and it didn’t matter what their talent was, they tried their best in their goal to advance to the next round of racing.

Women’s Four (BW4-)

The two repechages in the women’s four required crews to be in the top two if they wanted to make it to the final. Repechage one had the United States setting up a smooth rhythm to come through the field and into first. The US last won this event in 2005 and they wanted to move on in style. Keeping their rating high the United States finished the race at a solid 37 stroke rate and the fastest qualifying time. Australia, who won silver last year, led for half of the race and then held on to second to also qualify.

Germany had a strong start in repechage two. But they could not maintain that opening pace and by the first 500m mark Great Britain had taken the lead. Keeping a solid 35 stroke rate through the body of the race of 35, Great Britain held on to the lead. The British won bronze last year with three of the same crew that are racing this year. Victoria Bryant, Kirsty Myles and Rachael Jefferies return for another year on the under-23 team. Sitting solidly in second, Belarus kept a good distance between them and the rest of the field. Great Britain and Belarus go on to the Final.

Men’s Coxed Four (BM4+)

This event had six countries entered so today was a race for lanes in preparation for Sunday’s final. Last year’s winner, Italy, have retained three of their rowers as well as 17-year-old coxswain Leonardo Bellucci and today they overtook Croatia to take the lead. Croatia held on but then seemed to give it away going through the middle of the race. This gave Ukraine the incentive to take over in second, but they were unable to catch Italy. Italy goes to the final as favourites.

Lightweight Women's Single Sculls (BLW1x)

The large number of entries meant that the lightweight women’s single required four repechages. These scullers needed to be in the top two places if they were to move on to the semifinal. All of the rest would get to compete in the C or D Final.

In repechage one, Belarus’s Hanna Bandarevich went out in the lead with a very fast start. Bandarevich comes into the single after racing as a junior to a silver medal in the quad. Bandarevich raced a very even, mature 2000m, even-splitting at a rate of 2:03 per 500m. This left Ana Santoyo of Venezuela and Angelina Casanova of Switzerland to fight it out for the second spot. Both Santoyo and Casanova were not giving up an inch. In the final sprint Santoyo pulled it off. Bandarevich and Santoyo move on to the semifinal.

Ireland’s Orla Hayes has been notching up her racing experience. She raced last year at the senior World Rowing Championships and has also appeared at a couple of Rowing World Cups. Today she led repechage two in commanding style by opening up a four-second lead going through the middle of the race. Despite this handy lead it didn’t stop her sprinting the finish with a 43-stroke rate. Meanwhile South Africa’s Carolyn Smith gave it all she had keeping ahead of Sweden with a 44 finishing stroke rate to take the second qualifying spot. Hayes and Smith will be competing in the semifinal.

Ka Man Lee of Hong Kong China got off to a good start in repechage three. Lee could not maintain it and soon Norway’s Anna Skaarnaes pushed through. Coming into the last 500m Skaarnaes had a handy lead. But in fine lightweight style, leads can change unexpectedly, and coming into the final sprint Denmark and Mexico were giving it their all. This battle caused the gap on Skaarnaes to disappear and with 100m to go she was caught and overtaken. Denmark’s Marie Gottlieb and Mexico’s Analicia Ramirez continued to charge. Taking it to a photo finish Gottlieb managed to grab first to qualify. Ramirez will also qualify for the semifinal from second and unlucky Skaarnaes, looking absolutely shattered at the line, will return for the C/D Final.

Greece won this event last year with Alexandra Tsiavou racing. Tsiavou has moved on to the Olympic double and her under-23 single spot has been filled by Paschalina Karamytiliou. Today Karamytiliou went head to head with Monika Sajincic of Slovenia. A stronger second half by Karamytiliou gave hear the edge and the lead with Sajincic looking content to sit in second. Karamytilou and Sajincic move on to the semifinal.

Lightweight Men’s Single Scull (BLM1x)

The four repechages in the lightweight men’s single meant that each athlete was aiming for a top two finish to make sure that they got to move on to the semifinal.

In repechage one Joris Pijs of the Netherlands raced a textbook race. Pijs came out with a fast start, then settled into a solid, constant pace through the body of the race. His comfortable lead meant Pijs did not have to sprint the finish. The tall Pijs advances to the semifinal. Behind Pijs Mexico’s Alan Eber Armenta slotted comfortably into second and was unchallenged for his qualifying spot. Armenta will race also in the semifinal.

After overtaking France’s Vincent Bailly, Rajko Hrvat of Slovenia got into the lead and remained there. This is Hrvat’s third year racing on Slovenia’s under 23 team and his third year competing in the single. Winning repechage two and thus moving on to the semifinal give Hrvat a shot at a top 12 spot. Already this is a big improvement for Hrvat on previous years. Bailly held on to second to also qualify for the semifinal.

Argentina was in the lead of repechage three. But a fast start does not always mean a strong finish and by the middle of the race Florian Berg of Austria came back in the race. Berg has raced on his country’s junior, under 23 and senior team including a couple of Rowing World Cups and his improvements are apparent. Turkey’s Salih Yildirim held on to Berg as Argentina slipped back. At the line there was practically nothing between Berg and Yildirim and both rowers will get to race in the semifinal.

The final and fourth repechage opened with four boats within striking distance of leader Kwong Wing Chow of Hong Kong China. Marko Kusurin of Croatia then attacked and earned the lead. A burst by Italy brough Danilo Nolli into second and the qualifying spot. But Chow fought back. At the line Kusurin had retained first, Chow pushed by Nolli to regain second and Nolli just misses out on qualifying for the semifinal. Those lucky spots go to Kusurin and Chow.

Lightweight Men’s Pair (BLM2-)

With two repechages crews needed to finish either first or second if they wanted to advance to the final. After getting ahead of Denmark, the Netherlands crew of Vincent Muda and Tycho Muda made no mistakes. The Muda twins raced to fourth in the lightweight four last year at the under 23 champs. Today the twins did not have to sprint the finish as they had earned a nice lead over Anders Bau Hansen and Jacob Larsen of Denmark who remained clearly in second. The Netherlands and Denmark move on to the final.

Repechage two began close. Oh so close. Going through the first 500m mark less than two seconds separated the field. Going through the middle of the race it was still less than two seconds across the entire fleet. As Turkey began to slip back, France, Great Britain and Germany remained within a second of each other. As Great Britain began to tire and go a bit crooked in the final sprint, France and Germany kept up the intense pressure. At the line Antoine Lantaz and Clement Roulet-Dubonnet of France finish first and Marc Benger and Stefan Wallat of Germany take second. These four athletes move on to the final.

Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls (BLM4x)

The two repechages required these lightweight men to finish in first or second position to advance to the final and in repechage one Hungary leapt out with a fast start. Denmark, who finished third last year, followed closely. Going through the middle of the race Denmark, featuring world record holder on the indoor rowing machine, Henrik Stephansen in two seat, had pushed into the lead. Hungary could not hold the Danes and instead found themselves under threat from Mexico. A strong third 500 brought Mexico up to Hungary. The Hungarians fought back. At the line Denmark and Hungary are the qualifiers for the final.

Repechage two, the slower of the two races had Great Britain and Switzerland leading the field. Only France remained within striking distance of a shot at a qualifying spot. Great Britain finished fifth in this event last year and Christopher Boddy, Bob Hewitt and Henry Chin have been retained in this crew. The British stayed ahead of Switzerland who were pushing hard. Coming through the last 150m of the race Great Britain still had the lead when a crew member caught a boat stopping crab. Switzerland closed. The British pulled themselves together and managed to hold on to the lead. Great Britain and Switzerland advance to the final.

Women’s Single Sculls (BW1X)

One repechage meant that the aim for these athletes was to finish in the top three for a chance to race in tomorrow’s semifinal. Helen Tompkins of the United States made no mistakes at the start and got out to an early lead. El Salvador’s Olympic entry, Camila Vargas slipped into second with Ivana Filipovic of Serbia following in third. This is Tompkin’s first international regatta and after warming up in yesterday’s heat, Tompkins had dusted off any race nerves and was on target. As Filipovic and Vargas challenged each other, Tompkins stayed comfortably in the lead. Tompkins, Fikipovic and Vargas advance to the semifinal.

Men’s Single Sculls (BM1X) – Quarterfinals

The four quarterfinals in the men’s single required athletes to be in the top three if they wanted to advance to the semifinal. Failing to be in the top three would mean racing in the C/D semifinal. The first quarterfinal featured last year’s silver medallist, Mindaugas Griskonis of Lithuania. Griskonis left the starting blocks with Maksim Jemaldinov of Russia just ahead of him. Going through the middle of the race Griskonis pushed into the lead and then proceeded to move further and further away from the Russian. Meanwhile pushing into third, Monaco’s lone international rower, Mathias Raymond was making headway. At the line Griskonis, Jemaldinov and Raymond will get to go to the semifinal. Griskonis goes there with the fastest qualifying time.

After a slight glitch at the start Chile’s Oscar Vasquez Ochoa moved into the lead of quarterfinal two. Vasquez went to the 2004 Olympics as a 17 year old and is heading for his second Olympics next month. Following closely behind Vasquez, Latvia’s Dairis Adamaitis remained very much in touch of the leader with Koen Pouwels of the Netherlands back a bit in third. This order remained the same through the second half of the race. Vasquez, Adamaitis and Pouwels will advance to tomorrow’s semifinal.

The third quarterfinal opened with Predrag Lackov of Serbia and Dzianis Suravets of Belarus vying for the lead. As these two athletes established themselves at the head of the field Greece’s Konstantinos Douflias was moving up swiftly from the back of the field. Konstantinos had overtaken Brazil and Ukraine and was going after South Africa in third. At the finish line Suravets was able to cross in first, Lackov takes second and Douflias takes third. These three athletes move on to the semifinal.

Reigning under 23 champion, Joseph Sullivan of New Zealand showed his style by taking the lead of quarterfinal four. By the half way point Sullivan had built up a yawning gap between himself and the rest of the field. This left Croatia’s Damir Martin and Tim Bartels of Germany to be satisfied with second and third respectively. In a procession across the finish line, Sullivan, Martin and Bartels become the three qualifiers for semifinal.

Women’s Pair (BW2-)

The one repechage in the women’s pair required a top four finish if athletes wanted to advance to the final. This meant that two crews would miss out. Belarus took off in the lead with Russia and Great Britain hot on their tails. Great Britain won this event last year, but they have two new athletes, Emily Taylor and Hannah Elsy, racing this year. Taylor and Elsy then took over in the lead as Belarus slipped into second with Germany, Ukraine and Russia carrying on a very close battle for the last two qualifying spots. At the line Great Britain, Belarus, Germany and Russia become the boats that get to continue on to the final.

Men’s Pair (BM2-)

The four repechages on the men’s pair required a top two finish for athletes to continue on to the semifinal. Not making the top two meant returning for the C/D semifinal. Repechage one sorted itself out reasonably early on with Pontus Gustavsson and Henrik Liljedahl of Sweden holding on to a small lead over Recai Ayger and Kadir Unsal of Turkey. These two boats stayed well clear of the rest of the field to comfortably earn the two qualifying spots.

Russia got off to a cracking start in repechage two. They couldn’t, however, sustain it and by the middle of the race brothers Branko and Marin Begovic of Croatia had taken over in the lead followed closely by Josh Morris and Gordon Clark of Canada. Coming into the final sprint Croatia and Canada remained in the two qualifying spots, but then Brazil let lose giving the race all that they could. The Brazilians had left it just a little too late. Croatia and Canada will go to the semifinal.

They may be the reining under 23 champions, but Ioannis Tsilis and Georgios Tziallas of Greece not only found themselves in repechage three, but they also found themselves being challenged hard for the lead by Serbia’s Aleksandar Radovic and Ivan Ostojic of Serbia. As the rain began to fall Greece and Serbia battled it out through the middle of the race. Coming into the final sprint Italy, who had been sitting a couple of boat lengths back, charged. The Italians, however, had left their charge too late. Greece and Serbia advance to the semifinal.

Repechage four finished up with the fastest qualifying time when the Netherlands challenged Germany down the 2000m Beetzsee Lake rowing course. Germany’s Maximilian Munski and Ruben Anemueller both raced last year on the under 23 team, Munski in the coxed four and Anemueller in the eight. The duo capsized in their heat but managed to get back into their boat and cross the finish line to enable them to continue on in the progression system. Today in the pair the Germans held off the Netherlands to cross the line first, rating an easy 28 stroke rate, and earn the fastest qualifying time. The Netherlands also qualify by staying firmly in second. All other boats will race in the C/D semifinal.

Women’s Double Sculls (BW2x) – Repechage

One repechage in the women’s double gave three boats a chance to advance on to the semifinal and it was the Netherlands and France that went head to head at the front of the field. Kirsten Wielaard and Katie Steenman of the Netherlands had a slight edge of Roxane Gabriel and Marion Rialet of France. Meanwhile Estonia and Australia were holding a real battle vying for the third and final qualifying spot. At the line Wielaard and Steenman finish first. France cross just a little bit back and Estonia take the final qualifying spot by getting ahead of Australia to take third.

Men’s Double Sculls (BM2x)

The two repechages in the men’s double meant that a top two finish was necessary for the chance to advance to the semifinal. Belarus’s Aliaksandr Ivashka and Aliaksandr Bohush will be hoping to take over where their predecessors left off. This event is currently in the hands of Belarus. Ivashka and Bohush held on to the lead for the first half of the race before a strong push by Gytis Ruzgys and Mykolas Masilionis of Lithuania gave them the lead. Belarus held on but let it go in the final sprint. Lithuania cross the line first followed by Belarus. These two boats will advance to the semifinal.

Belgium, Latvia and Australia left the starters hands together. By the half way point Belgium had dropped off slightly leaving Australia and Latvia to fight it out at the front. James Gatti and Kieran Kobelke of Australia then started to pull away. Gatti brings the experience of having been on the Australian senior team for the last three years while Kobelke is at his first ever international race. Coming into the final sprint, Uldis Odins and Lauris Sire of Latvia fought back to finish just half a second behind Australia. Australia and Latvia advance to the semifinal. Meanwhile, at the back of the field, Georgia and Paraguay were duking it out in fine style. Both crews gave it all that they had and at the line crossed in a photo finish. Georgia finished just half a bow ball ahead of Paraguay. Both boats will return to race in the C/D semifinal tomorrow together with Belgium who finish third and Switzerland fourth.

Men’s Four (BM4-)

The men’s four had two repechages. This meant that a top three finish was necessary for advancement to the semifinal. Repechage one sorted itself out reasonably early on. Croatia took the lead with Bulgaria and Denmark racing practically side by side. Coming through the third 500 Denmark managed to shake Bulgaria off and dominate second. At the line Croatia take first, Denmark second and an angry looking Bulgaria earn third. These three boats advance to the semifinal.

Repechage two turned into one of the closest races of the day as four boats gave it all that they had for three qualifying spots. This is how the race unfolded. Russia was the fastest coming out of the start with only France able to hold their opening pace. Russia continued to hold the lead but both the United States and Poland were closing in on them. Coming through the third 500 just a second and a half separated the top four boats. It was all going to be decided in the final sprint. Poland and the United States put their foot down and charged. France did everything to hold on. So did Russia. At the line four boats had finished within a second of each other. Russia was the unlucky one. Poland, France and the United States advance to tomorrow’s semifinal.

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (BLW2x)

One repechage. Six boats. Three available spots in the semifinal. This was the formula for these lightweight women scullers. Italy’s Sabrina Noseda and Giulia Pollini decided to stamp their name on this race and took off in the lead. Kristin Hedstrom and Lisa D’Aniello of the United States followed closely behind and had soon overtaken the Italians. Meanwhile Poland’s Agnieszka Renc and Karolina Widun, who was half of the 2007 under 23 champion crew, had started to find their rhythm and were coming up from behind. At the line the United States crossed first, Italy crossed second and Poland sprint through to third. These will be the three countries that earn a spot in the semifinal.

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (BLM2x)

This event had four repechages and a top two finish was necessary in each of these four races if crews wanted to advance to the semifinal. Slovenia’s Matevz Malesic and Dejan Sandic took charge in repechage one and with Belarus and Turkey in hot pursuit, the Slovenians raced to finish in the fastest qualifying time. Belarus managed to do just enough to hold off Turkey. Slovenia and Belarus are off to tomorrow’s semifinal.

As the wind began to increase into a stronger head wind, repechage two got underway on the Beetzsee regatta course. Germany and Denmark took over at the head of the field with Austria trying to hold on at the start before dropping back. Germany’s Lars Wichert rowed last year in the quad and has teamed up this year with former junior national team rower Linus Lichtschlag. At the finish line Germany had stayed enough ahead of Denmark to finish first. Denmark, in second, will advance with Germany to the semifinal.

Repechage three opened with Greece’s Theodosios Travlos and Eleftherios Konsolas in the lead. Russia’s Alexey Nekrasov and Rinat Alykov followed closely behind. The United States, in third, tried to close the gap, but Russia stayed firmly in second. At the line Greece and Russia get to advance to the semifinal.

Hong Kong China’s Chun Shek Leung and Kwan Hoi Lok set a fast pace at the start of repechage four with Switzerland’s Michael Albisser and Raoul Maag the only crew within striking distance. And strike they did. By the half way point Albisser and Maag had the lead. Hong Kong China slipped back but retained their second position. Switzerland and Hong Kong China advance to the semifinal.

Lightweight Men’s Four (BLM4-)

The two repechages required a top two finish. This requirement would mean advancement to the all important A Final. France and Argentina did it in repechage one. But it wasn’t easy. France took the lead followed closely by Argentina with the United States very much in touch. Although in second Argentina remained wary of the US and kept the pressure on which meant they remained well in touch with France. At the line France had held on to the lead and will qualify along with Argentina who had managed to hold off the United States.

Italy dominated repechage two. They did this by getting out to a boat length lead over Austria before the 500m mark was reached. As Austria slipped back Belgium moved up. But Italy held their lead and started to extend it. A last ditch sprint by Russia forced Belgium to give it all they had to the line and thus closing the gap on Italy. Italy and Belgium will advance to the final.

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (BW4x)

The one repechage in the women’s quad meant that boats had to be in the top four if they wanted to be in the A Final on Sunday. Australia, who were silver medallists last year got out in front and moved in ever increasing distances away from Ukraine in second. Meanwhile Russia and New Zealand were going head to head for the third and fourth spots. This battle helped close the gap on Ukraine in second. But, with four crews to qualify, it was purely academic. At the line Australia were way out in front. Ukraine and New Zealand finished extremely closely in second and third respectively. Russia, in fourth, also qualifies for the final.

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (BM4x)

The one repechage in this event required crews to finish in the top three for advancement to the semifinal. All boats got off to a swift start, but by the half way point Austria, Slovenia and Hungary had distinguished themselves by breaking away with only Lithuania in contention of breaking into the top three. Then Latvia pulled out a huge piece enabling them to overtake Lithuania and go after that important third spot. The Latvians had left it a bit late. At the line Austria, Hungary and Slovenia became the qualifying boats. The remaining crews will return to race in the C Final.

Women’s Eight (BW8+) – Race for lanes

The six boats in this event got a chance to brush off their cobwebs and test the Beetzsee waters in racing form. All eyes were on last year’s champions, Belarus. But it was Poland and the United States that had an early strong showing. By the half way point Belarus was way back in fifth with Germany now pushing through to make up ground on the Poles and Americans. At the line the United States had gotten ahead of Poland to cross first.

Men’s Eight (BM8+)

Four boats lined up for the men’s eight repechage. One boat would miss out on a spot in the semifinal. Italy looked like they would be the crew to miss out at the start, but a slow middle 500 by the Czech Republic put them at the back of the field. Meanwhile New Zealand had taken the lead and were extending it, stroke by stroke, with Italy going after Russia’s second place position. Italy managed to take over. Russia fought back. At the line New Zealand remained in first. Russia held on to second and Italy earn the third and final qualifying spot. These boats will return to race in the semifinal.