French rowers ready to tackle 2009

The French national team went straight to a training camp after the championships to prepare for the first stage of the Rowing World Cup series, to be held in Banyoles, Spain, from 29 to 31 May.

In the men’s single sculls, Julien Bahain, 2008 Olympic bronze medallist in the men’s quadruple sculls, successfully defended his national title, clocking 6:52.13 and winning well ahead of his Beijing crewmates Cedric Berrest, Jonathan Coeffic and Pierre-Jean Peltier. “Last year, I didn’t manage the start well so that is something I specially worked on,” says Bahain. “I made it to the head of the field early on, and was surprised to find myself so far ahead.” Bahain’s aim is to race in the double with his friend Cedric Berrest – they both trained for this during the winter and will be tested against 2006 World Champions Jean-Baptiste Macquet and Adrien Hardy. Adrien Hardy won the B Final in the single at the French championships, as he did not manage to qualify for the Final. I was in good physical condition and my technique was good, but I’ve never been fast in the single. My rowing style is efficient in a longer boat.” Eciting competition is expected to take place between these two French crews in Banyoles – the best boat at the Rowing World Cup will be selected to be the French men's double.

Dorian Mortelette and Germain Chardain won Olympic silver in the men’s four at Beijing. Both of them easily claimed the French title in the men’s pair. The 25-year-olds competed in the pair last year at the Rowing World Cup in Poznan, when an injury in their crew meant they could not compete in the four – they then picked silver, behind New Zealand’s Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater. Banyoles will reveal their international potential in this boat class.

In the lightweight single, 20-year-old Jérémie Azou was expected to dominate, but it was the older Frédéric Dufour, 33 (Olympic silver medallist in Athens in the lightweight double), who grabbed his sixth national title with a time of 6:56.24. Dufour and Azou will compete in the lightweight single in Banyoles, but will then join forces to form what could well be a promising lightweight double.

In the lightweight pair, it is Franck Solforosi (2005 world champion and 2006 and 2007 silver medallist in the lightweight four) who won the event with partner Fabrice Moreau, world bronze medallist in the lightweight double in 2001 and 2006 and who is now switching over to sweep rowing. The pair will form a lightweight four crew in Banyoles with Guillaume Raineau and Vincent Faucheux.

Coralie Simon successfully defended her title in the lightweight women’s single, while Stephanie Dechand and Marie Le Nepvou won the women’s pair. As Sophie Balmary is taking what may be a permanent break from the sport, Marion Rialet has taken over at the top at French level in the women’s single.

For full results, go to www.avironfrance.fr.

Copy thanks to Marc Ventouillac.