More heats in Brest

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (BW4x) – Heats

Only one boat from each of two heats would make it straight to the A-Final. Other crews would need to race again later today in a repechage to make a second attempt at qualifying for the A-final.

In the first quarter of Heat One, nothing separated the top three crews of Ukraine, the USA and Germany.  All were going hard, all wanted the only qualifying spot. Who would maintain the rhythm until the line? Who wanted the qualifying spot most? With half of the race still left to go, the USA were leading, Germany were chasing and Ukraine were beginning to fall back. Perhaps it was the enthusiastic crowd of American supporters who pushed the USA to the line, allowing their favourite crew to hold off Germany.

Heat Two was a battle between Russia and Romania. Romania had a very slight edge at the start, but the two crews were going neck and neck until the 1000m mark. Then Russia upped their speed, increasing their lead ahead of Romania. Romania were unable to catch up. Russia takes the direct qualification spot for the A-Final.

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (BM4x) – Heats

The 18 crews lining up in three heats would aim to qualify for the next round of racing, tomorrow’s semifinals, without having to race again in a repechage this afternoon. Finishing in the top two spots would be necessary to achieve this.

Looking at the split times of Heat One, it seemed the USA would not finish in the top two. With one quarter of the race gone, they were fourth. At the half-way mark they were third, as they were with 500m to go. The USA spectators were again shouting out their support from the grandstands. Did that do the trick? In the final sprint, the USA overtook Lithuania, who had been leading from the start, and Great Britain who had been following Lithuania in second from the start. The USA crossed the line first, with two seconds to spare. Great Britain took the second qualifying spot.

Croatia was expected to win Heat Two, and they did. Not only is this crew the reigning under-23 World Champions, but they have been dominating the field at senior level during the 2010 Rowing World Cup series, giving no chance to four-time World Champions and 2008 Olympic Champions Poland. As expected, Croatia led from the start, and settled in a comfortable lead, easing down in the last 500m, confident no crew could catch up. The battle was on for the second qualifying spot. Switzerland wanted it, but so did Germany. Both crews went neck and neck throughout, with Switzerland maintaining a very slight edge. Was it a lack of concentration or a lack of energy that robbed Switzerland of their qualifying spot? In the final metres Germany finished ahead of Switzerland by a fraction of a second.

What happened to Italy in Heat Three? Going neck and neck with Ukraine in the first 1000m, Italy was second, then first. With 500m to go, Italy was still in first, with Ukraine close behind. But Russia were holding a surprise up their sleeves. The whole field was close, very close throughout, but Russia did not seem to be a serious challenger. And then they did it: moving up from fifth at the start, to fourth at half-way, to third with 500m left to row, they sprinted to the line, taking the first qualifying spot and surprising the rest of the field. Ukraine was perhaps more attentive to Russia’s move and managed to hold on to the second qualifying spot, while Italy finished behind in third.

Men’s Eight (BM8+) – Heats

Nine semifinal spots would be up for grabs for the 15 crews lining up in three heats. So a top three finish would be necessary to avoid this afternoon’s repechage.

The Netherlands led Heat One convincingly, positioning themselves at the head of the field and staying there throughout. The Czech Republic settled in the second qualifying spot comfortably, with the only real battle going on for the last qualifying spot. Russia seemed to be in a good position to qualify, but Italy had been storing energy for the second half of the race. Overcoming Russia, they took the third qualifying spot.

The three qualifiers in Heat Two were evident from the start. The only question was: who would finish first and second? Australia rowed in third securely enough not to have to fight off any challenger, but the USA and Great Britain evidently wanted the psychological advantage of finishing first. Going neck and neck, Great Britain had a slight edge during the first half of the race, while the USA led marginally in the second half. At the line, only seven hundredths of a second separated the top two crews, with the USA finishing first, perhaps thanks to the crowd of USA spectators cheering them on.

In Heat Three the top two crews were Germany and Poland. Germany led Poland by a boat length more or less throughout, and Poland, content with second, never challenged the top boat. The battle was on, however, for third. Estonia thought they had it, but France had been saving speed for the end. Overtaking Estonia in the second half of the race, France secured the last qualifying spot, holding off Estonia until the line.

Lightweight Men’s Four (BLM4-)  – Heats

Three qualifying spots for the semifinals were up for grabs in each of the three heats of the lightweight men’s four.
Denmark has a strong tradition in this boat class, and no doubt their under-23 crew is hoping to one day feature in their country’s star senior crew. Leading the field from the start, they were unable to hold off the USA whose two rowers Christopher Meyer and Edward King are building on their experience from rowing at under-23 level last year at the World Rowing Championships. Third qualifier Spain finished five seconds behind in third.

In Heat Two, Italy let Great Britain hold the lead, content with their second place. Three of the British crew medalled at under-23 level last year in the lightweight quad. Their switch to sweep rowing is proving successful. But Italy may be saving their energy for tomorrow’s semifinal. Luca Motta has already raced the A-final at senior level in the lightweight four, and finished fourth at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Brandenburg in 2008 together with Corrado Regalbuto. Their competition should be wary.  Japan took the third qualifying spot, after successfully fighting off Germany throughout most of the race.

Chile raced remarkably in Heath Three. Steadily but surely moving up the ranks, they finished at the head of the field, with New Zealand taking the second and Hungary the third qualifying spots. Most rowers in these three crews have been gaining experience at senior level, racing at the 2010 Rowing World Cup in past months.