World Best times at the Under 23 Champs

There is no doubt that being a defending champion does not make the job any easier. Today on the Bloso regatta course the New Zealand men’s coxed four stormed through to set a new under 23 World Best Time while Great Britain annihilated the under 23 World Best Time in the lightweight men’s pair.

Women’s Four (BW4-)

Australia, stroked by former junior medallist Renee Kirby, took off in the lead over Belarus. Belarus retain two members of their bronze medal 2005 four and today they were doing their best to hold onto the dominating Australians. Australia stuck to their own race plan and in the process managed to inch away from the Belarusians with Poland coming up behind conducting a full-on second half sprint.

Despite their comfortable lead Australia continued to push the pace taking their rating to 39 in the final sprint. Belarus and Poland, both on 37, ended in a photo finish. Australia take gold, Belarus silver and Poland bronze. Australia will return later in the day to make up the bow four of their eight.

Men’s Coxed Four (BM4+)

The race that set the tone of the day and a new under 23 World Best time came down the Bloso Sportscentrum 2000 metre course to the screams of the crowd. Australia had a margin of a lead at the 150 metre mark in what commentator Robert Treharn Jones called nip and tuck stuff. The nipping and tucking went on through the 1000 metre mark as Australia continued to keep their nose in front, just ahead of Romania in second.

Meanwhile under the command of their coxswains, Italy's Rosario Aita (who at 14 is the youngest coxswain competing at these championships) and New Zealand's Daniel Quigley, Italy and New Zealand were together a length down but gaining on the pack. Ratings remained high. Romania, going through the 1000, clocked in at 39 strokes per minute, Australia at 37 and in the lead and New Zealand held on to 38.

Australia still had a healthy margin coming into the final sprint when New Zealand turned up the heat. Taking their rating to 40 then 41 and up to 44, Australia couldn’t hold on. James Dallinger, Steven Cottle, Paul Gerritsen, Dane Boswell and coxswain Quigley of New Zealand had set a new under 23 World Best time, over three seconds faster than the former time. Australia pulled through to second and Italy take third.

Lightweight Women's Single Sculls (BLW1x)

Competing in international competition since 2001 Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece earns her first international medal. She did it today on the Bloso regatta course in true style by taking the lead at the start and never looking back. The Czech Republic gave it a good shot to hold on to Tsiavou but soon slipped back letting Sophie Hosking of Great Britain give it a shot.

Hosking made a gallant attempt with France’s Clemence Willaume also pushing through, but last year’s fourth place finisher Tsiavou wanted the gold. On the podium Tsiavou stood in the winners' middle spot towering over Hosking in second with Willaume taking bronze.

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (BLM1x)

Mete Yeltepe of Turkey is getting quite the reputation for his fast first 1000 metres. Could he hold it through to the finish in today’s final? As expected Yeltepe shot out of the starting blocks in first and by the 500 metre mark Yeltepe had nearly two seconds on Maxime Goisset of France in second.

New Zealand’s Storm Uru, however, knew Yeltepe’s reputation and sitting consistently in third through the first half of the race Uru then started to move. First pushing past the Turk, Uru went after Goisset and by the 1500 metre mark Uru had found the lead. Goisset tried to react, Yeltepe seemed to have run out of steam. Uru made it look easy. On the finish line podium Uru stood in the winning middle position as his team mates saluted him with the New Zealand Haka. Goisset watched from his silver medal spot and Yeltepe wins his first ever under 23 medal with bronze.

Lightweight Men’s Pair (BLM2-)

There was no doubt about the classiness of Great Britain’s Richard Chambers and Chris Bartley. The pair had already shown their boat speed this season by winning a Rowing World Cup gold medal and today they led the final at the under 23 level. But Chambers and Bartley’s lead was not great. Right behind them three boats were holding the leader's pace – Italy, Spain and South Africa.

As defending champions Italy (Andrea Caianiello and Salvatore Di Somma) closed the gap on the leading Brits, Spain and South Africa followed suit. The noise of the crowd was deafening. The finish was going to be tight. The coaches following the race on their bikes were at full concentration. Chambers and Bartley had made it into gold just inches ahead of Caianiello and Di Somma. A very happy Brad Smith and Andrew Craig of South Africa take bronze in a photo finish with Spain.

Chambers and Bartley had annihilated the former under 23 World Best Time by 14 seconds.

Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls (BLM4x)

Germany’s Karim Djamshidi Gilani, Felix Oevermann, Jonas Schuetzeberg and Felix Reimann had a task to do. The new crew, with Djamshidi Gilani being the only remaining member from last year’s bronze medal boat, took the lead over the United States. But the lead was miniscule and from the commentator car following the race, picking the leading crew was turning into a major challenge.

In fine lightweight style, all six crews went through the half way point with barely two seconds separating them. It was still anybody’s game. This is when the United States decided enough was enough, moved into a piece, and broke through the lead, but there was still 500 metres of water left. With France off the pace Italy, Russia, Australia, the United States and Germany charged for the line. A photo finish. Germany, in the last stroke had taken back the lead from the United States in second with Australia getting bronze.