The under 23s open with heats

But they kept the water flat and the rain mainly at bay. Fifty heats lined up to kick off the 2007 Under 23 racing and in the unseeded events a real mixture of finishes resulted.

Women’s Four (BW4-)

Made up of crews from the bigger rowing nations, seven crews lined up over two heats with the aim of finishing first for a direct path to the final. After overtaking Germany, Great Britain grabbed the lead and proceeded to break away from the rest of the field finishing a large six seconds ahead of their competition. In the second heat winners, Australia stayed clear of Italy in second and in the process recorded the fastest qualifying time.

These races are an unseeded random draw for the heats. The final will now have Great Britain and Australia in the centre lanes.

Lightweight Women's Single Sculls (BLW1X)

The high rating Florin Hirnschall of Austria took off in the lead at the start with all scullers going for a top two finish for a direct path to the semifinal. Slotting into second was Helene Olsen of Denmark with Algeria’s Amina Rouba clinging tightly to Denmark. Hirnschall continued to lead but coming into the final sprint, Olsen decided she wanted first. Making up a huge five second deficit, Olsen came through to take first, with Hirnschall qualifying from second.

Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece is aiming for the Olympics in the lightweight double, but here, at the under 23s, she’s defending her title in the single and in heat two she led the way from start to finish. Coralie Simon of France, who also competes at the senior level shook off Slovenia to earn second and qualify for the semifinal. Tsiavou goes to the semifinal with the fastest qualifying time.

Sophie Hosking of Great Britain comes to the single from racing two years in the open four as a junior. Today she set the standard in semi-final one by overtaking last year’s fourth place finisher Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece and inching away. Tsiavou has been competing internationally since 2001 and looks to be improving as she headed off Germany’s Stephanie Wagner to again compete in the under 23 final. Hosking, Tsiavou and Wagner head to the semifinal.

With Germany’s Anja Noske out in front of heat three, Orla Hayes of Ireland and Ka Man Lee of Hong Kong China staged their own battle for second. Lee has been racing internationally since 2003 and often is seen competing at the senior level. She showed her experience by outracing Hayes who will have to return for the repechage. Noske and Lee move on to the semifinal.

Helene Olsen (DEN): "I've already made my call. I wanted to get to the semifinals and have done it. Everything is bonus from now on."

Alexandra Tsiavou (GRE): "I saw what I wanted from myself today. We'll see for the next steps as each race is different."

Coralie Simon (FRA): "I made a push on feeling in the last 500m and came back. I competed in Amsterdam in the single and was in the top 12 but became ill. In Linz I participated in double sculls like last year but our B Final result wasn’t satisfying and it was decided I'd go back to the single sculls."

Anja Noske (GER): "I was sleeping at the start and was looking at the wrong lights, but I made it all up in the race. It’s my first time internationally and a good start!"

Ka Man Lee (HKG), silver medallist at the Asian Games last year: "I competed in Amsterdam and Linz and want to do better every race."

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (BLM1X)

Drawing heat one and therefore drawing Storm Uru of New Zealand meant racing for second. Uru is the reigning under 23 World Champion and this season raced at the senior Rowing World Cup level picking up two silver medals. Uru led the way only having to stroke an easy 26 strokes per minute towards the finish. With just one boat qualifying for the semifinal from each of the four heats, Austria and Slovenia tried to close the gap on Uru, but their 33 rating didn’t dent the New Zealander's lead.

Sudan made its first ever appearance on the international scene with Mohamed Hamed. A front line battle was going on between Russia, Canada and Ingo Voigt of Germany. Canada led most of the way before Voigt, taking his rating to 36 strokes per minute, pushed past and grabbed the qualifying spot.

Meanwhile Hamed goes into the record books for his effort and will be remembered for getting the biggest clap as he crossed the finish line. He is part of Sudanese rowing which began eight months ago after an ad was put in the paper. Hamed hasn’t been able to row for three months due to the weather.

The team manager, Kamal Omer, said 'I think there is a big future for rowing in Sudan, we have a lot of interest from both men and women, particularly university students. We have the best weather and the longest stretch of the Nile!'

Heat three was led by Nikola Tomic of Croatia but with Tim Heijbrock of the Netherlands challenging him the whole way. Coming into the final sprint Tomic ran out of steam handing the semifinal spot to Heijbrock.

As the rain began in time for heat four, an early lead by Bulgaria was soon lost as Estonia’s Valeri Prosvirnin pushed through. Bulgaria’s Petar Ivanov tried to hold on but didn’t have the same speed as Prosvirnin, who is coached by his father, Igor, and slipped back. Prosvirnin moves on to the semifinal.

Ingo Voigt (GER): "I was looking to see where the Russian was and at that moment realised the Canadian wasn't far either so I just decided to go for it. And it's worth it. It's a free day tomorrow."

Tim Heijbrock (NED): "The Croatian was very fast and was at the opposite side of the course. I thought that you have to get tired sometime and that this was the right moment. So I made a push and it worked." His trainer Hartog commented: "It's a very tough field and I really hope it will be the best 6 who will be in the final on Sunday because they are all very close – anything can happen."

Lightweight Men’s Pair (BLM2-)

South Africa’s James Thompson and Matthew Brittain dominated the first of two heats in the knowledge that a first place finish would earn them a direct path to the final. After pushing past the shaved-headed Spaniards, Thompson and Brittain worked their way further and further away from the rest of the field rating a solid 35 strokes per minute. South Africa’s effort gives them a centre lane in the final and the fastest qualifying time.

But Thompson and Brittain will face the strong winners of heat two – Andrea Caianiello and Armando Dell’Aquila of Italy. The Italians led the full 2000m with the confidence of winning the senior Rowing World Cup in Lucerne earlier this month. Caianiello and Dell’Aquila go directly to the final, also using a 35 stroke rate pace.

Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls (LM4x)

Going head to head in heat one of two heats, France and Denmark battled for the one qualifying spot. The impressive Danish line-up includes indoor rowing champion Henrik Stephansen in stroke who also won in the under 23 double sculls last year. But the Danes were outraced, albeit only just, by the French who get a direct path to the final.

The very experienced senior World Champion Daniele Danesin of Italy stroked his crew to first place in the second heat. Unlike heat one, the race was not close for Italy and they won by open water.

Women’s Single Sculls (BW1x)

New Zealand’s Emma Twigg went directly from Junior Champion two years ago to her country’s senior eight. Back in the single, Twigg raced an impressive heat one, entirely outclassing the rest of the field. Twigg sat on 28 strokes per minute through the middle of the race, then dropping down to 24 and still winning by a huge 14 seconds. Three qualifying positions were available, though, for advancement to the semifinal and Finland’s Ulla Varvio along with Laura Schiavone of Italy will advance.

Germany’s Judith Aldinger led heat two. She finished third in the under 23 quad last year and it looks like the single is suiting her well. Anastasiya Kozhenkova of Ukraine tried to hold on to Aldinger but remained in second with Latvia’s Kristine Gosa taking third.

Heat three had Ruth Walczak of Great Britain pull out a very strong opener. Walczak held this speed, but her second half let her down as both Natalia Madaj of Poland and Katalin Szabo of Hungary pushed past. Madaj has the legacy of her last year’s winner, Julia Michalska of Poland, to live up to. But today she finishes second with Szabo earning first. All three of theses scullers move on to the semifinal.

Emma Twigg (NZL): "I saw my rate drop and drop and thought, well Storm (Uru) was on 26! I think my main competition is Laura [ITA], just because of what she's done at the elite level. Also the German and the Polish. It just depends on the day – you have to wait until the final day and take each race as it comes."

Ulla Varvio (FIN): "It was very windy and difficult to row, but it was actually an easy qualification in the end. [The competition] is all tough, particularly Hungary and Poland."

Men’s Single Sculls (BM1x)

A couple of withdrawals narrowed the field down to four heats with a first place finish needed for direct advancement to the semifinal. This led Australia’s Blair Brown to leap out of the starting blocks in heat one and take the lead. It didn’t last long. Latvia moved into first with Damir Martin of Croatia in hot pursuit. By the final quarter of the race Martin had found first as Latvia began to die. Martin earns a spot in the semifinal.

Mathias Raymond of Monaco showed that you don’t have to be from a big country to do well at rowing. Raymond finished 12th last year and he looks to have improved as he overtook Slovenia to lead heat two. Slovenia’s Klemen Kogler tried to hold on but gave up the ghost in the final sprint and Raymond moves on to the semifinal.

When Joseph Sullivan’s New Zealand senior teammate got injured Sullivan had to jump on the next plane to Europe in time for the second Rowing World Cup (in June). Sullivan showed his worth by helping the senior double through to the finals. Sullivan is now back in the single and led heat three over the accomplished Robert Bertram of Germany who won bronze earlier this season in the quad at the Rowing World Cup. But just one athlete advances and today it’s Sullivan with the fastest qualifying time.

Mindaugas Griskonis of Lithuania wanted heat four. He comes to the World Rowing Under 23 Championships having raced much of this season and last season in his country’s senior double. Holding off Canada, Griskonis used a strong second half to earn the qualifying position.

Mathias Raymond (MON): "I was 12th last year and my objective was to be in the semifinal and that objective is met. I don't want to make any further predictions as it's bad luck. The wind isn't a problem for me as I am often training on the sea – I could even say that the wind is positive for me as I know some others don't like it!"

Men’s Pair (BM2-)

Sitting in the Romanian boat in heat one of three heats was three-time junior champion Ionel Strungaru with partner Florin Anton. With Anton in stroke seat, the Romanians took the lead over Tom Wilkinson and Charles Burkitt of Great Britain. But, despite a slower start, Wilkinson and Burkitt were coming back and through the middle of the race they not only overtook the Romanians but opened up a two-second lead. Romania held on and, with two boats qualifying, both boats go on to the semifinal.

At the start of heat two Ukraine had the lead. It didn’t last long as Stefano Correale and Matteo Castaldo of Italy found their pace and overtook Ukraine with Hungary and Germany both very much on the pace. By the 1500m mark Correale and Castaldo had opened up a solid lead, but Bela Simon and Gaspar Vinko of Hungary were hungry for first. Both boats sprinted for the line. Italy hit 42 strokes per minute. It was tight. Italy takes first and Hungary qualify through second.

The names Ioannis Tsilis and Georgios Tziallas are becoming well-known in Greek rowing circles. They come directly to Strathclyde after finishing in the final of the very competitive men’s four at the senior Rowing World Cup in Lucerne. They also finished second last year in the four at the under 23s. Today, in the pair, they led heat three from start to finish with a commanding gap over Russia and Switzerland. Russia, in second, seemed to run out of steam handing Switzerland’s Marian Kupferschmidt and Rik Vils the second qualifying spot.

Tom Wilkinson and Charles Burkitt (GBR): "That was by no means the perfect race, but we haven't raced for a long time so we were just blowing out the cobwebs – so we'll get better every race and see how it goes." Wilkinson, on pre-championship training: "Training's been going well, particularly rowing with the rest of the squad."

Women's Double Sculls (BW2x)

The equation for the double was a first place finish in each of the two heats for a direct path to the final – and two days of rest from racing. New Zealand, in heat one, wanted that. After shaking off Poland, Emma McGeorge and Anna Reymer of New Zealand, both at their first ever international regatta, took the lead. Poland made a solid effort to hang on but it will be the New Zealanders having the greater rest time.

Winners of the second heat, Germany, qualified with practically identical times to the New Zealanders and will make up the other centre lane in the final. Julia Richter and Lena Moebus of Germany did this by taking on the reigning World Rowing Under 23 champions, Jitka Antosova and Gabriela Varekova of the Czech Republic. But half way through the race Antosova and Varekova stopped rowing. The following umpire could see no obvious reason for the stop. Antosova and Varekova paddled the boat to the finish to comply by the rule that you must finish a race to advance to the next round. Richter and Moebus move directly to the final.

Men’s Double Sculls (BM2x)

Like the previous women, the men also needed a first place finish for a direct path to the final. Croatia jumped into the lead ahead of Italy and tried to hold on to the lead. But coming back from a slow start, Charles Cousins and Bill Lucas of Great Britain were challenging the Croatians. Coming into the final 500m Cousins and Lucas had taken the lead. Croatia tried to hold on as Italy dropped back. Cousins and Lucas qualify.

They have owned the top spot for the last two years. They currently own the World Best Time. Dzianis Mihal and Stanislau Shcharbachenia of Belarus must be the favourites going into this event. Today they took the lead in heat two, but did not have command. Germany, working hard, pushed past before Mihal and Shcharbachenia fought back into the lead moving away from Germany. The Belarusians move on to the final.

British coach Cassidy explained: "They are part of a talent identification program called World Class Start going into schools for strength tests. It's their third year of rowing." Charles Cousins: “Three years ago I didn't even know what rowing was! As far as the race is concerned we were left behind at the start but as soon as the water became choppy, it seemed the others couldn't handle it so well. We gave a couple of pushes which enables us to qualify."

Nikolaos Mennis, Nikolaos Pappas (GRE): Mennis has a tattoo of a beaver eating an oar, and the trainer Samios explains that Mennis comes from a city called "Castoria" (beaver in English) close to Thessaloniki. It eats up the oar because he is as nervous as Mennis.

Men’s Four (BM4-)

Three heats with the top three in each heat getting a spot in the semifinal meant reasonably good odds for advancement. But it wasn’t so simple for Poland in heat one. They took off in the front only to fall back to third as New Zealand found their rhythm and Ukraine followed New Zealand’s lead. New Zealand is made up of last year’s gold medal junior eight and they are looking good at the under 23 level as they take the top spot followed by France with Ukraine also qualifying by holding on to third.

The leading Serbians, in heat two, got to watch an all-out battle between Australia and Croatia. Despite Australia and Croatia both being in qualifying positions, they still kept at each other for the entire 2000m race. Even coming into the last 500m the two boats continued their private battle. Serbia, Australia and Croatia all qualify for the semifinal.

They are the reigning under 23 champions and they aimed to keep that position by leading heat three. They are Germany. Behind them Romania, Italy and Great Britain fought for the two remaining spots. In the first half of the race Great Britain and Romania had it. But the better pacing of Italy got the better of the Romanians. Germany, Great Britain and Italy advance directly to the semifinal.

This event is shaping up to be one hotly contested class. All three winners qualified with almost identical times.

Jovan Popovic (SRB): "We had an excellent feeling. After 500m we were already leading. We did not look around, were only concentrated on our rowing, stayed perfectly together and that way all went very smoothly.”

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (BLW2x)

Poland impressed in heat one of three heats in this competitive category, the lightweight women’s double sculls. Weronika Deresz and Karolina Widun finished third in this event last year and they are back in new and improved form. They took the lead over Russia and Hungary. As Russia began to fade Zsofia Novak and Zsuzsanna Hajdu of Hungary remained steadily in second. With two boats qualifying for the semifinal, both Poland using a solid 35 stroke rate and Hungary are the ones to qualify.

The second heat featured under 23 World Best Time holder Erika Mai of Italy. Now with a new partner, Viviana Bulgarelli, Mai showed her talent by stroking the Italian boat into the lead. Greece took up chase but didn’t have the second-half stamina and were soon overtaken by Anja Foelsch and Julia Kroeger of Germany. Foelsch and Kroeger got within attacking range of Italy but then appeared to be content to qualify from second. Italy and Germany move on to the semifinal.

Both Marie Gottlieb and Sine Christiansen of Denmark have raced at the senior level this season. Christiansen, with another partner, medalled. Now together at the under 23 level the Danes look to be a strong combination. They pushed past Great Britain’s Emma Steel and Frances Fletcher to take a lead. Switzerland tried their best to get up into a qualifying spot, but Great Britain and Denmark will be the ones to advance directly to the semifinal.

Erika Mai (ITA): "The conditions are difficult and for us it's very cold. It was our first race together, I won silver in Amsterdam two years ago but with another partner, and I'm happy we made this good race."

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (BLM2x)

With last year’s under 23 champions New Zealanders Graham Oberlin-Brown and Peter Taylor moving this year to the senior level, the field is open for a new leader. Germany gave it a good shot in the first of three heats. Moritz Koch and Christoph Schregel of Germany leapt out of the starting blocks ahead of Vasil Vitanov and Zlatko Karaivanov of Bulgaria. No other country in this race seemed to have enough to challenge for the two qualifying spots. Germany and Bulgaria move on to the semifinal.

Heat two opened with Poland in the lead. But the duo hadn’t paced themselves well and by the half-way mark they had been overtaken by Hong Kong China and Hungary and Italy. As Sau Wah So and Kwong Wing Chow of Hong Kong China took the lead, Tamas C. Varga and Peter Galambos of Hungary took chase with Italy right with them. The three boats charged for the two qualifying spots. There was nothing in it. At the line less than a second separated these three boats. Italy had missed out. Hungary and Hong Kong China move on to the semifinal.

Fabien Dufour of France competed last year with a different partner and finished seventh. Today, with new partner, Maxime Goisset, the French had a solid lead after taking a flying start that gave them over a boat-length lead ahead of the rest of the field. With such a dominating leader all Todd Mickelson and James Donovan of the United States could do was try to hold off Norway and hold on to second. They managed. France and the US advance to the semifinal.

Kwong Wing Chow (HKG): “It wasn’t a good race. In the last couple of days we have not been satisfied with the course. However, these championships are not our focus – our target is the Asian Competition in October and so will not be competing at the World Rowing Championships in Munich.”

Davide Riccardi & Francesco Rigon (ITA): "Our race was so-so. Our speed is increasing, so we'll have to see tomorrow."

Maxime Goisset & Fabien Dufour (FRA): "It was a very good race. They had a strong first 1000m, but the wind is very strong and it's difficult to have the best performance in those conditions. Training has been going well, with a good result in Amsterdam."

Lightweight Men’s Four (BLM4-)

Three heats with the top two of each heat advancing to the semifinal was the formula for the lightweight men’s four. Greece made no bones about their intentions in heat one by beating Germany off the line. With the brothers Gkountoulas in the middle of the boat Greece remained in the lead leaving the real battle to go on between Germany and the United States for second.

Germany had the advantage for the first half of the race. But the USA had better stamina. Greece qualify from first and the United States also move on to the semifinal after beating out Germany to earn second.

Switzerland took off at the head of the field in heat two with France in hot pursuit and Australia also very much on the pace. Coming into the final 500m there was still very little in it between these three crews and with two spots only available the sprint was on. Australia, rating 38, was neck and neck, with Switzerland and France just a fraction back. At the line Switzerland had held on to first. Australia take the second qualifying spot. France will have to return for the repechage.

The Netherlands have been showing a solid group of eight rowers in this event at the senior level. At the under 23 level they are looking solid as well. In heat three the Dutch took off at the start in the lead. But Austria soon mowed them down. The Netherlands fought back. Reigning under 23 champions Italy tried to get in on the action. Three boats sprinted for the line. Italy took their rating to 39, The Netherlands were on 36. At the line less than half a second separated these three boats. Italy had missed out. Austria and the Dutch move directly to the semifinal.

Evangelos Tsourtsoulas (GRE): "We had a good row. This is one of the hardest competitions in the event. There are a lot of strong countries. Austria, Italy, the USA." Expectations? "Well, this is what you work for for years. I'd like to see us being successful here. We got at silver at the World Champs last year, and I hope for the same or better this year. I'm just glad to be here and want to wish good luck to everybody."

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (BW4x)

In one of the tightest races of the day heat one opened with France in the lead. The French looked to be developing into a comfortable qualifying position, but with only one spot available for a direct path to the final, three other crews really, really wanted it. France still had the lead with 500m left to row with Germany, Romania and Australia all very much in the picture. The sprint was on. Germany had the best. At the line Dunsing, Domscheit, Fernitz and Kirchhoff take the qualifying spot.

The United States are not well-known for their sculling prowess but when Lindsay Meyer made history by medalling in the single at last year’s junior champs, a movement looked to be starting. Now in this under 23 quad, Meyer is building a following. Despite a slow start the United States soon found the lead leaving the Netherlands in second out of the qualifying spot. The United States go directly to the final.

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (BM4x)

Three heats required a top two finish for a spot in the semifinal and a shortcut past the repechage. In heat one Slovenia gave it their best shot. But their powerful opening half took its toll as Italy, with the very experienced Andrea Tranquilli and Bruno Rosetti sitting in the middle of the boat, made their move. Slovenia did their best to hold on to the Italians but didn’t see Poland coming. Both Poland and Italy sprinted for the line at a solid 37 strokes per minute. Italy qualify for the semifinal from first and Poland takes second to qualify. The Slovenian boat was giving a push to come back into the qualifying places, but had some steering problems in the last 100m.

Germany have a long tradition of success in this event and today they got their “B” squad off the way they wanted by leading heat two. This lead, however, was only small over Ukraine. Hungary tried to push into the top two spots but didn’t quite have the same class as Germany and Ukraine who will go directly to the semifinal.

Romania jumped out of the start of heat three and surprised the field. But Australia soon got back their composure and took chase. By the half-way point Australia, stroked by Steve Fletcher who, in his short career has already raced at the junior, under 23 and senior level, was in the lead. France followed Australia’s lead. Both Australia and France earned a direct path to the semifinal.

Stroke Fabrizio Borghes (ITA): "A great race with some lateral wind but especially with a great battle between the crews. We like it when it's close".
Two-seat Bruno Rosetti when asked about the reason behind his dark-purple hair: "Because I like it and tomorrow, I'll be blond!"

Stroke Stephan Krueger (GER): "That was fun … and not too hard. We just needed about 70% of our strength, have no race tomorrow and as a consequence enough power to drive the other races."

Danjels Reedman (AUS): "It's nice to be able to do your race according to plan. We decided to stay together and accelerate in the second half of the race, which we did to win our heat."

Benjamin Chabanet (FRA): "We started a little bit behind but came steadily back to give a push at 1000m. We were surprised by the very quick start of the Romanians but afterwards they seemed burnt out."

Men’s Eight (BM8+)

The day of heats ended with some of the most aggressive racing of the day. With three spots up for grabs in each of the three heats, no one wanted to miss out, everyone wanted to get a psychological advantage over their competitors. Coxswains pushed hard.

Toby Lister, the coxswain for Australia, pushed especially hard in heat one and kept his crew in the lead. Great Britain, coxed by Sebastian Stuart, fought back and challenged towards the end with a 41 then 42 stroke rate. The lower rating Aussies held on to first. Great Britain take second and Russia qualifies from third.

Estonia has been developing their under 23 eight with the goal of them racing at the 2012 Olympics in London. The team took one step closer today by leading heat two. But the U23 World Best Time holders, Germany, had different ideas and challenged constantly through the second half of the race. Italy also put the heat on. Despite this three-way battle all three crews will move directly on to the semifinal – Germany from first, Estonia from second and Italy from third.

Stick the right combination of Americans together and you’re likely to get a very, very good eight. The right group were together in heat three. But they still had to pass Canada and Poland to find the lead and it took them over half the race to accomplish this. Canada and Poland still remained on the pace with all three crews going on to the semifinal.

Cox Toby Lister (AUS): "We didn't want to give too much and can still do faster."

Cox Sebastian Stuart (GBR): "We decided to increase the rate and in the end were up to 42!"