Change in programme at European Champs

It also meant that finals would be raced today, soon after the semifinals. The athletes therefore had to race accordingly with this knowledge. Competitors faced a pumping tail wind and rough water played well for good technical rowers.

The semifinals in the women’s single put Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic and Agata Gramatyka of Poland in middle lane three for the Final. Knapkova and Gramatyka are the two winners of each semifinal. It is not surprising that the talented Knapkova was there but Gramatyka is more of a surprise. The 25-year-old has been rowing internationally since 2007 and competed in the quad last year at the European Championships. Also going to the Final are Nuria Dominguez Asensio (ESP), Iva Obradovic (SRB), Annick De Decker (BEL) and Regina Naunheim (SUI).

The big surprise in the men’s single sculls was Sergey Fedorovtsev of Russia. He found himself in a close battle with Kostiantyn Zaitsev of Ukraine and this battle pushed them through to the top two spots in semifinal one. A huge, impressive sprint from Robin van Keeken of the Netherlands gave him the final qualifying spot. Greece’s Ioannis Christou took one step closer to a European Championships medal by winning the second semifinal. Going with Christou to the Final will be Lukas Babac of Slovakia and Martin Yanakiev of Bulgaria.

Despite their pedigree, Serbia found themselves second to France in semifinal one of the men’s pair. This puts Jean-David Bernard and Laurent Cadot of France in good stead for the Final. Poland, after a battle with Slovenia, also qualify. Greece’s Georgios Tsiompanidis and Pavlos Gavrilidis handled the strong tail wind conditions with style in semifinal two and got the technical approval from course commentator Sebastian Franke. They go to the Final along with Russia and Italy.

There was nothing in it between Ukraine and France in semifinal one of the men’s double sculls. Even though Ukraine managed to lead through the middle of the race, Julien Bahain and Julien Despres of France had the better sprint to cross the line just ahead. Poland qualifies from third and unlucky Germany finished last after stopping. Brothers Martin and Valent Sinkovic of Croatia had to push past Estonia and Italy to find the lead in semifinal two. But it took them until the end of the race to find it. A comfortable looking Italy and Estonia also make it through to the Final later today.

They may be the regatta favourites, but Dimitrios Mougios and Vasileios Polymeros of Greece had their work cut out for them in semifinal one of the lightweight men’s double sculls. Hungary pushed them to the line. Both boats will go to the Final along with Slovenia. The most medalled rower at the European Championships, Daniele Gilardoni of Italy, raced to first in semifinal two with Lorenzo Bertini. Gilardoni is a multiple World Champion but has never made it to the Olympics. They will make strong competition for Greece in the Final. The Czech Republic and France will also be in the Final.