B Finals close the 2008 European Championships

Tail wind conditions remained for these crews with the weather holding out long enough to ensure that racing could be completed.

Julia Richter of Germany got off to a fast start in the women’s single sculls, but Richter had gone out too hard and in the second half of the race was overtaken by Denmark and then Caroline Delas of France. Delas, taking the line first, finish seventh overall at this regatta.

In the men’s single race, Sam Townsend of Great Britain was unlucky not to make the A Final. Townsend made the most of the B Final by  timing his race perfectly. Germany’s Martin Gulyas got out to a fast start and held off Townsend for three-quarters of the race. But, with Gulyas running out of steam, and a solid sprint by Townsend, the Brit managed to finish first. Slovenia also sprinted well and took second.

All six boats left the starters hands together in the men’s pair. Croatia had a slight lead with Gaspar Vinko and Bela Simon of Hungary just a fraction behind them. Going through the middle of the race Croatia and Hungary were moving together with Croatia just a fraction faster. But a better final sprint by Vinko and Simon got them to the line first. Croatia finish second and Slovenia come in third, but nearly seven seconds down on the two leading crews.

The two boats in the B Final of the women’s double sculls made a proper race of it with both boats overlapping for the full 2000m course. Romania held on to a small lead through the middle of the race, but Lithuania closed that in the final sprint and less than half a second separated the two crews at the line. Ioana Craciun and Maria Bursuc of Romania cross the line in first.

There was nothing in it between Slovenia and Germany in the men’s double sculls. Slovenian brothers Jan and Luka Spik had a slight edge but it was difficult to tell who had the lead. Luka is a two time Olympic medallist in this event and Jan is building up his rowing portfolio through the under 23 team. Despite a big push by Germany, the Spik’s cross the line first to take seventh overall.

Great Britain are the three-time Olympic Champions in the men’s four, but with their champion crew taking a well earned break, their “b” crew has been entered at these European Championships. Today Great Britain made the best of the B Final by leading from start to finish. Serbia put up a good challenge for most of the race, but Great Britain held on to cross the line first. A solid sprint by France led to a photo finish which gave France the second spot over Serbia.

Poland may have the makings of a new top crew in the lightweight men’s double sculls. Tomasz Mrozowicz and Michal Rychlicki of Poland got out at the start of the B Final and held off first Denmark and then Belgium’s Francois Libois and Kristof Dekeyser. But with Poland fading and Belgium still having a good sprint up their sleeve, the Poles could only manage second. Belgium finish first, or seventh overall.

At the Beijing Olympics last month Denmark won the lightweight men’s four. Today their “b” crew raced the B Final at the European Championships. The Danes got out to a fast start and into the lead followed closely by Austria. A big push by the Austrians brought them into the lead going through the middle 1000. Denmark, stroked by Ulrich Hoegstedt, came back and again gained the lead. From there the Danes did not look back crossing the line in first.

Denmark put together a mixed crew of lightweight and open weights to race in the men’s quadruple sculls. Stroked by Beijing Olympic medallist, Rasmus Quist (LM2x), the quad pushed through to overtake Hungary and gain the lead. But a very strong finish by Poland pushed Denmark into second just before the line. Belarus, meanwhile, got within striking distance of second but a photo finish gave the spot to Denmark.

Finishing up the 2008 European Championships, Ukraine and Romania raced a very tight race in the B Final of the men’s eight. Romania, coxed by Bogdan Codrici, held a slight lead for the entire race, but a constant pace by Ukraine ensured that Romania was never able to pull away. Romania cross the line in first, or seventh overall.

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