Karonen races to first in B-final

Karonen, with fellow B-finalist Tim Maeyens (Belgium), regularly race in the A-final, but this year the depth of talent in their event has meant a very tough week of racing.

Lightweight Men’s Four (LM4-) – B-final

Switzerland came to Karapiro with high expectations. They finished fourth at two of the Rowing World Cup races and then took bronze at September’s European Championships. They would have dearly loved to be racing in the A-final but their semifinal race relegated them to the B-final. But the Swiss made the best of it and leapt out into first after the starters ‘go’. By the half way point, France had pushed the Swiss out of the top spot. The French have a fine history in the lightweight four and this crew will be building towards the 2012 Olympics.
Switzerland held on to second with the United States and Denmark going head to head through the middle of the race. The Olympic Champion Danes have had to change a crew member for medical reasons and it is unusual to see them in the B-final. As France remained in first, the higher rating Switzerland held on to second. Denmark’s mighty finishing sprint gave them third.

Results: FRA, SUI, DEN, USA, RSA, JPN

Men’s Pair (M2-) – B-final

Ramon Di Clemente is arguably Africa’s most successful rower. The South African has seen two Olympic Games, earned an Olympic bronze medal and has also medalled at the World Rowing Championships. Today Di Clemente rowed with new-this-season partner, Peter Lambert. The South Africans left the starting blocks behind Spain and Serbia and it took them until the third 500 to move past the Serbians and move on the Spaniards. A very competent closing sprint by Lambert and Di Clemente gave them the first place over Pau Velu Maggi and Alexander Sigurbjonsson Benet of Spain.

Results: RSA, ESP, USA, SRB, ARG, SLO

Women’s Single Scull (W1x) – B-final

Germany’s Sophie Dunsing took off in the lead at the start and put the word out to the rest of the field that they would have to catch her. The Germans have been looking for a world-class single sculler ever since 2004 Olympic Champion Kathrin Rutschow-Stomporoski retired. Is Dunsing the answer? Despite China’s international newcomer, Jingli Duan putting up a challenge, Dunsing remained in the lead with these two boats remaining in front despite their relatively low stroke rate.

With 300m left to row Duan grabbed the lead, Dunsing held on. Both boats went to the line neck-and-neck. A photo finish had to sort out the finishing order. Duan had won by just seven hundredths of a second.

Results: GER, CHN, GBR, USA, UKR, ESP

Men’s Single Scull (M1x) – B-final

Sweden’s Lassi Karonon is often seen in the A-final, but a very tough semifinal two days ago saw him relegated to the 2010 World Rowing Championships race for place seven to twelfth in the world. Tim Maeyens of Belgium is also regularly in the A-final but his season has been a mixed bag with most of the time Maeyens racing in his country’s quad. Maeyens took the lead at the start and held on through the middle 1000 but then ran out of steam. In complete contrast, Karonen started off behind and worked his way through to first with 500m left to row. Lithuania’s Griskonis gave it a good shot to get up to Karonon, but he didn’t possess Karonen’s speed.

Results: SWE, LTU, EST, GER, BEL, USA

Women’s Pair (W2-) – B-final

The early speed of the Netherlands proved to be too much as they slipped back. The early speed of Camelia Lupascu and Nicoleta Albu of Romania proved to be the right formula as this talented duo moved away at the head of the field. By the middle of the race Lupascu and Albu had a clear water lead. This duo often races in their country’s eight and were expected to be in the A-final after results so far this season.
Meanwhile Croatia and China had the main battle going on, a battle that would continue until the end of the race. Croatia got the better of the battle to finish second.

Results: ROU, CRO, CHN, NED