Junior rowers heat up Amsterdam

Four seasons in one day signified the opening to the 2006 World Rowing Junior Championships in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The only thing consistent was the tail wind, but even that tended to vary in intensity throughout the 43 races that made up the first round of “heats” racing. Hence, comparing finishing times across heats was not always reliable.

Around Amsterdam’s Bosbaan regatta course it was hard to tell who was more nervous, the athletes, the coaches or was it the large number of family members – many of whom had traveled across the globe to show their support. As is common at the junior level, many of these athletes are appearing for the first time internationally and there was definitely an air of raw excitement.

Junior Women’s Four (JW4-)

Warming up Amsterdam’s Bosbaan course Great Britain got the day of heats rolling by taking out the top and only qualifying position. This brand new crew is made up entirely of first time internationals and they demonstrated a controlled race leading throughout over Germany and New Zealand to take the only, direct to the final, qualifying spot.

Last year’s silver medallists Belarus, still completely in tact, showed that experience is a bonus by leading from start to finish. Belarus, stroked by Natallia Koshal, shook off an early charge by the United States then kept at bay a late sprint by Australia to take the only qualifying spot.

Junior Men’s Coxed Four (JM4+)

It might not be pretty rowing, but for the Canadians it was enough to get them into the lead right from the start of the race. Ukraine did their best to hold on, but Canada’s first half pace was too much. Canada earns a birth in the final from heat one. Ukraine, and the rest of the field, will return for tomorrow’s repechage.

Following the Canadian example, Romania, in heat two also led from the start. Stroked by international newcomer Aurelian Stoica, the Romanians kept ahead of defending champions Germany after shaking off an initial burst by Poland. Romania move onto the final in the favoured position with the fastest qualifying time.

Junior Women’s Single (JW1x)

Nineteen countries are contending this event, lining up in four heats, with a top two finish necessary for the direct path to the semi-final and it was all excitement as these single scullers, many of them competing internationally for the first time, worked on handling nerves as well as the bumpy tail-wind conditions.

For the first half of the race in heat one, three boats were in the race for two spots. Kirsten McCann of South Africa took the opening edge before Donata Vistartaite of Lithuania took over at the front. But with Vistartaite starting to fall back, Poland’s Natalia Madaj showed the power of her second half and took the lead. Vistartaite suffered another blow with a boat stopping crab that put her well into third and out of qualifying. Madaj and McCann move on to the semi-final.

Heat two was all about a head-to-head battle between Lucy Walczak of Great Britain and Caroline Guerrand of France. This battle propelled the duo clear ahead of the rest of the field and guaranteed them qualifying positions with Walczak having the better sprint to earn the first place. At the back of the field Serbia & Montenegro caught a crab early on and will have to race in the repechage.

In heat three, Asmaa Abd Alaziz of Egypt must have been pleased to have her scarf on as rain continued to fall, but it was Juliane Domscheid of Germany, in her first international race, that grabbed the lead and worked on holding off Lindsay Meyer of the United States. Domscheid and Meyer move onto the semi-final under no pressure from the rest of the field.

After an opening burst by Maria Wilgotson of Sweden, Hungary’s Eva Jakus took the lead and kept the heat on to press away from Wilgotson. Finishing easily in first, Jakus earns a spot in the semi-final. Wilgotson also advances directly to the semi from second.

Junior Men’s Single (JM1x)

What was Aleksandar Aleksandrov of Bulgaria up to? Spending a good chunk of the race up at a 40 stroke rate certainly did the job in qualifying him for the semi-final. What will 16 year old Aleksandrov show us later in the week? A more relaxed Russia tried to hold on to Aleksandrov, but let him slip away in the second half of the race. Aleksandrov advances to the semi-final from heat one.

Slovenia’s Andraz Krek rowed a race of his own at the head of the field in heat two, outclassing even his closest rival. Still, despite his lead, Krek kept the pressure on through the final metres rowing a solid 30 strokes per minute. Krek moves on to the semi-final.

Heat three opened with a tight three way battle between France, Sweden, Serbia & Montenegro and Michael Schmid of Switzerland. The battle continued through the half way point with Schmid and Predrag Lackov of Serbia & Montenegro just a touch in front. Sweden’s Pontus Gustavsson then poured on the pressure, shot to the lead and tried to hold on. He couldn’t. Racing his own race in the outside lane, Schmid snuck past to earn the semi-final spot in the fastest qualifying time. Germany suffered rigger problems and did not finish but rule 62 of the FISA Rule Book allowed Hans Gruhne to do a row-over later in the day and continue to the repechage.

In heat four, following a false start, Bruno Rosetti of Italy got off the line first and held on to this position until the line. Rosetti won the quad last year at the World Rowing Junior Championships and using a two-part-drive style he moves on to the semi-final and one step closer to another gold.

Junior Women’s Pair (JW2-)

Three spots in the semi-final were up for grabs and the trend seemed to be a very clear leader, a second placer and a humdinger of a battle for the final qualifying spot.

Bulgaria’s Iskra Angelova and Nadjda Slavcheva were the dominating duo in heat one, but they still had to contend with a strong middle 1000 push by the United States featuring Caroline Nash and Michaela Strand. The real tussle at the line, however, was for the third spot. Poland and Italy went head to head with Italy getting the advantage at the line. Bulgaria, the United States and Italy move to the semi-final.

Romania’s Adelina Janatova and Nicoleta Albu completely outclassed their field and then went for more in heat two. Albu won this event last year and with her new partner, Janatova, they will move on as potential favourites. Despite a huge yawning gap between them and second place getters, Rosie Deboef and Erica Shaw of Canada, Romania kept the rating up and the pressure on right to the end. Way, way back in third Russia also qualifies for the semi-final.

Heat three was sorted out in the first 500 metres of the race – Germany had the lead, Ukraine followed, but a good distance back, then Great Britain slotted into third. None of the field challenged each other and the order remained the same with Germany, Ukraine and Great Britain qualifying.

Junior Men’s Pair (JM2-)

After a fast opening piece by Poland, Great Britain’s Charles Cousins and Mohamed Sbihi took the lead in heat one and pulled out to an open water advantage. With two spots in the semi-final for the taking, three boats went after it – Poland, Canada and Croatia. Poland held the early advantage but only had half a race in them and dropped off the pace. Canada also didn’t have a full 2000 metres. Croatia goes to the semi-final with Great Britain.

Heat two featured a tight battle between Australia and Greece. Australia had the edge but Greece fought it for the full 2000 metres. As a consequence of this tussle, both boats moved clean away from the rest of the field. Australia and Greece go on to the semi-final.

For years Germany has dominated at the junior level, but the results today have not been showing that same domination. Linus Lichtschlag and Hendrik Bohnekamp of Germany tried to reverse this trend. Getting out into the lead of heat three, Bohnekamp and Lichtschlag pulled away from a fast starting Moldova and then spent the rest of the race fighting off the very smooth rowing duo of Kmil Kjerri and Jacob Soegaard Larsen of Denmark. Germany remained in the lead and both boats qualify for the semi-final.

In the fourth and final heat the fastest qualifying times were recorded when Romania’s Ionel Strungaru and Marius Luchian took on Aleksandar Radovic and Ivan Ostojic of Serbia & Montenegro. There’s no denying the pedigree of Romanian bowman, Strungaru. He already has three junior gold medals and this is already his third year competing as a junior. But it was Ostojic and Radovic that had the first 1000 advantage. It didn’t last. The second half of the race then became all about Strungaru. They picked up the pace going through the 1000 and sprinted to the end, getting as high as a 43 stroke rate, to take first. Ostojic and Radovic qualify from second just ahead of a late sprint by New Zealand.

Junior Women’s Double (JW2x)

After a false start in heat one, which called crews back into the starting blocks, Estonia’s Kaisa Pajusalu and Jevgenia Rondina took off in the lead with Poland then Germany taking chase. As Poland slipped back Julia Lepke and Christin Fernitz of Germany did all that they could to catch Estonia. It was close but Estonia remained in the lead and both boats now advance to the semi-final.

Heat two saw new Romanian talent shine with Ionela Curelet and Cristina Ilie take the race by the scruff of the neck and hold off a strong Austrian challenge from Lisa Farthofer and Christine Schoenthaler. The Austrian’s fought hard, but Romania retained the pace. Both boats move on to the semi-final easily ahead of the rest of the field.

A similar scenario panned out in heat three when Italy’s Eleonora Trivella and Giulia Pollini took the lead ahead of Maria Haro Pascual and Andrea Cue Badiola of Spain. Haro and Cue did their best to hang on, but the smooth, flowing strokes of Trivella and Pollini made the race look easy for them in the number one spot.

Junior Men’s Double (JM2x)

Along with the men’s quad the biggest number of representatives of any event, the men’s double featured 26 nations and opened with six heats, the formula being to place one and two for advancement to the semi-final. Nikita Igudin and Maxim Zhemaldinov of Russia set the standard in heat one by taking off at a cracking pace and totally outclassing the rest of the field. This left Egypt and Serbia & Montenegro to battle it out for second. Mohamed Hamid and Nour El Din Hassanein of Egypt pulled it off by out-sprinting their competition, using a short stroke and a rate of 41, to pick up the qualifying spot.

Germany took control in the second heat coming out of the start as leaders. Tim Bartels and Stephan Krueger of Germany come to this event from a successful 2005 season where Bartels won the double and Krueger finished second in the single. Behind them Denmark’s Nils Henrik Stene and Henrik Stephansen shook off Estonia to slot into second. Despite an impressive second half by the Danes, Germany stayed in the lead. Both boats advance to the semi-finals.

In heat three Damir Martin and Valent Sinkovic took the race by the scruff of the neck and let the rest of the field do the chasing. Martin comes to sculling after racing to fourth in the four last year while stroke, Sinkovic has spent the last two junior champs in the single. Together they kept a handy distance ahead of Hungary in second. Both boats move on to the semi-final.

France’s Jeremie Azou and Benjamin Chabanet did all of their hard work in the first half of heat four to get out to a decent lead and make the second half easy. This meant that a sprint was unnecessary in the final quarter of the race to take the first place. Meanwhile Alexander Ausserwoeger and Florian Berg of Austria used short, choppy strokes to hold on to their second place and a spot in the semi-final.

Heat five started off as one of the tightest three way races of the day as Italy, South Africa and Bulgaria all went head to head. This continued on through to the middle of the race with less than a second separating all three crews going through the half way point. But then the stamina of Palo Perino and Kevin Missarelli of Italy kicked in enabling them to push away from Bulgaria with South Africa running out of steam. The long flowing strokes of Perino and Missarelli helped them cross the line in first. They will definitely be a crew to watch heading into Friday’s semi-final. Bulgaria qualifies from second.

A race of two halves, heat six had the first half being all about Slovenia and the second half all about Poland. Lucjan Walczak and Ariel Makowski of Poland waited for Slovenia to run out of steam before taking the lead. But Slovenia’s Janez Jurse and Jan Spik (younger brother of current senior World Champion in the double, Luka) did their best to hang on. Both boats advance to the semi, well ahead of the rest of the field.

Junior Men’s Four (JM4-)

In the first of three heats the race opened with a close tussle between Belarus, Spain and Belgium. But, in what appears to be a trend today, the boat leading in the first half of the race is rarely the one that wins at the other end of the Bosbaan rowing course. Belgium demonstrated just this after coming out in third position. As Belarus ran out of steam and Spain proved not to have the same oomph in the second half, Belgium took the lead. Spain qualifies from second and Denmark took advantage of the fading Belarusian’s to take the third and final qualifying spot.

At the head of the field in heat two Slovenia look to be stepping up on their 2005 ninth place finish. Stroke pair Rok Rozman and Vito Galicic are back in the boat for another year and the year’s experience is definitely putting them in a good position. Keeping up a steady pressure Slovenia kept comfortably ahead of France in second with the Netherlands a good length back in third. No one challenged this order and all three crews move on to the semi-final.

With last year’s winners Romania not defending this race heat three had a bit of a resemblance to the 2005 final. Challenging each other at the head of the field was Germany (second in 2005) and Great Britain (third in 2005). But this time the order had changed. A hefty looking Great Britain crew was in the lead with Germany desperately trying to cling on to their boat speed. This continued for the entire 2000 metres. At the line Great Britain qualifies from first, Germany in second and Italy take third after shaking off the Czech Republic.

Junior Women’s Quad (JW4x)

After overtaking a fast starting Austria, Greece grabbed the lead in heat one. With two spots up for grabs for advancement to the semi-final, Austria knew that they still had a chance. But France also wanted that coveted second spot and going through the middle of the race they had overtaken Austria. However, the French didn’t have enough juice in the tank. At the line Austria had got back into second and qualify for the semi along with Greece in first.

It’s not often you see Slovenia boat a women’s crews but today they fronted up in heat two and demonstrated their prowess by beating out Romania to take first. But Romania had more on their hands than just the Slovenian’s. A fast second half by Belarus forced Romania into third and out of qualifying position, only to be saved 50 metres before the finish when Belarus caught a crab leaving the stroke, Viktoryia Chepikava to row arms only. Belarus will return for tomorrow’s repechage.

Reigning World Champions Germany had to shake off a determined New Zealand to keep the coveted number one spot of heat three. This German – New Zealand battle meant the rest of the field got left well behind. Both boats will take the direct path to Friday’s final.

Junior Men’s Quad (JM4x)

Filling out six heats, a big jump up on last year’s entries, the men’s quad opened with newcomers to the world of international rowing, Uruguay strutting their stuff. Performing a very controlled race, Uruguay paced leaders Lithuania and held on to take first with the better sprint. Both boats move on to the semi-final.

Germany and Australia took off out of the starting blocks with such domination that by the half way point they had left the rest of the field far behind. With Germany in the lead and Greece way back in third, Australia looked comfortable in just holding on to second. Greece poured on a final sprint, but it was too little too late. Germany and Australia move to the semi-final round. Meanwhile defending champions, Italy, surprisingly were back in fourth.

Heat three was all about Croatia and the Czech Republic battling it out at the head of the field and in the process moving far away from the rest of the competition. Both boats advance to the semi-final.

There was very little between the four crews in heat four. At least that’s the way it was for the opening quarter of the race. Then Paraguay, maybe suffering after receiving a penalty for being late to the start, dropped right off the pace and Japan began to struggle leaving Slovenia and Spain to go head to head. A stronger second half gave Spain the edge and a qualifying spot along with Slovenia.

In the starting zone for heat five all of the photographers were focused on Switzerland. Did they know something? At the other end of the 2000 metre Bosbaan course, Switzerland crossed the line not only in first, but with the fastest qualifying time. They did this by leading from the start and being pushed by Portugal for the entire course. Both boats advance to the semi-final.

The final heat, number six, saw leaders Ukraine take off at the head of the field leaving Austria, Russia and Serbia & Montenegro all to battle it out for the second and only remaining qualifying spot. Austria had that honour first, then Serbia & Montenegro took it off them then Russia snatched it in the final sprint. Ukraine and Russia go directly to the semi-final.

Junior Men’s Eight (JM8+)

Three heats with the top three boats in each going directly to the semi-final was the formula in the final event of the day. In heat one Italy made sure to stamp a psychological advantage on the field, especially last year’s bronze medallists, Romania. Taking off at the start in the lead, Italy slowly inched away from Poland who were holding on to second while Romania tried to challenge from third position. By the last 500 metres Romania had reeled in Poland and were going after Italy. But the tidier Italy stayed ahead of the Romanian’s splashy eight. Italy, Romania and Poland advance to the semi-final.

The United States and Germany both prioritise their eight. Today these priority boats faced each other and found that they had very similar boat speeds. But despite these two boats leading in the first half of the race, they could not hold off the second half charge by Great Britain. At the line Great Britain takes first, the United States second and Germany finishes in third.

The tail wind continued to build as the last race of the day got under way. With New Zealand in the lead a very tight battle was going on for second between Russia and Croatia. Russia had the first half advantage before Croatia, under the influence of 14 year old coxswain, Marin Muzinic, took over and tried to close the ever increasing gap to the New Zealanders. Coming into the final sprint New Zealand chose a comfortable 32 stroke rate to cross the line first. Croatia and Russia qualify from second and third respectively.