European Rowing Champs: racing to make the final

As locals started to line the course, taking advantage not only of the rowing scene, but also of the many recreational facilities along the course, and endeavoring in their Saturday promenade, the atmosphere was relaxed.

The venue will be host to next year’s final Olympic qualification regatta and final stage of the 2008 Rowing World Cup, as well as the 2009 World Rowing Championships.

Men's single sculls (M1x)

Final C

Two boats contest here for places 13 and 14 in the men’s single. This was to be the only C Final in this regatta, as it is the only boat class featuring more than 13 contestants.

It can be surprising to find an Olympic champion racing in a C Final. Kravtsov was gold medallist in Athens in the men’s quad, but comes to this regatta in the men’s single, no doubt choosing to try his luck in a new boat class, taking advantage of the absence of the usual big names in this event.

Miheil Ejoshvili, only 17 years old and half the age of his Russian opponent, put on a good effort to try to keep up with his more experienced competitor. But throughout most of the race, it was a clear lead from Russia. Coming up to the line, a quick look over the shoulder from Georgia confirmed that he had little chance of making up the gap. Russia crosses the line in 7:35.33 and takes position 13, Georgia, nearly ten seconds behind, takes 14th place.

Women's Single Sculls (W1x)

With six competitors in two semifinals, a top three finish will be necessary to make it to tomorrow's A Final.

Semifinal A/B 1

A lot of experience and great names in the first semifinal of the day at the European Rowing Championships.

After 500m, only 25/100 of a second separated Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic, silver medallist at the 2006 World Rowing Championships, and Bulgaria's Rumyana Neykova, this year's world silver medallist in Munich. After finishing fourth at the 2007 World Rowing Championships, the Czech had decided to take her revenge. Behind in third place world-class single sculler Julia Levina from Russia, finalist at last year's worlds, Hungarian Katalin Szabo, bronze medallist at the 2007 World Rowing Under 23 Championships, and Lithuanian Lina Saltyte still had 1500m to make it into the top three qualifying spots. It already appeared evident at this stage that Latvia's Kristine Gosa seemed to have lost touch with the field, trailing ten seconds behind.

At the 1000m mark, Mirka Knapkova took over Rumyana Neykova by a canvas, and the two were battling it out with open water separating them from their competition. Julia Levina had secured a comfortable third place. A swapping Bulgarian and Czech dance between first and second went on until Mirka Knapkova, sculling at a slightly higher rate, finally settled in first, crossing the line ahead of Neykova. Levina will join the top two in Sunday's A Final, with Hungary, Lithuania and Latvia going to the B Final.

Semifinal A/B 2

This race was a good show of young talent. Favourites here are no doubt the 26-year-old Frida Svensson from Sweden, who was on the podium in bronze medal position at both the second Rowing World Cup this year and at the 2006 World Rowing Championships in Eton last year.

Also favourite would be Italian Gabriella Bascelli who has dual citizenship with South Africa. By 1000m the field was slowly spreading out, but Svensson already had a steady lead, and would keep it until the end.

Despite a bit of a challenge towards the end of the race, forcing Svensson to push slightly harder through the 1750 m mark, she remained comfortably ahead, ending with a 1.43 second lead ahead of Sanne Beukers from the Netherlands, who in a final push before the line in her wooden boat, got just ahead of Serbia’s Iva Obradovic, who had earlier managed to push past Bascelli. The Italian had been in A Final place contention over the first 1000m, but soon fell back into the unlucky fourth place, missing out on her chance to medal here in Poznan, and going to tomorrow's B Final.

Men's single sculls (M1x)

Twelve boats in two semifinals will see six of these boats qualify for tomorrow's A Final.

Semifinal A/B 1
Bulgaria's 17-year-old Aleksandar Aleksandrov, who scored gold at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Beijing (CHN) last month, led the field in the first 500m, ahead of 2007 Under 23 silver medallist Mindaugas Griskonis of Lithuania, and Poland's Arnold Sobczak. Less than one second separated the top three boats.

While Ukraine's Dmytro Prokopenko maintained a close fourth position, Monaco's Mathias Raymond, who raced in the final of the 2007 World Rowing Under 23 Championships, and Luca Agamennoni, who competed in Italy's senior men's eight at the Rowing World Cup in Linz and the World Championships in Munich, were already more than a boat length behind the leading field.

Attacking in the second 500, Lithuania overtook Bulgaria. Poland moved up to second, pushing the Bulgarian back into third. The top three places would not budge until the line.

With 500m left to go, Ukraine was still in a threatening fourth place, close behind Poland and Bulgaria, but Prokopenko's efforts would not pay off. Loosing stamina in the last couple hundred metres, he finishes behind top three finishers Mindaugas Griskonis, Arnold Sobczak and Aleksandar Aleksandrov, and joins Luca Agamennoni and Mathias Raymond in the B Final.

Semifinal A/B 2

The delightful conditions, as described by official race commentator Pauls Castle, were a perfect setting for the second semifinal of the men’s single.

The first show at the head of the field was from 32-year-old Austrian Ralph Kreibich, by far the oldest in this field. The experienced sculler, who has not been seen in an A Final since the 2004 Rowing World Cup in Munich, made sure he would be in medal contention in tomorrow’s final.

Throughout the entire course, Kreibich kept his foot down, keeping well ahead of Germany, ensuring even a full length advantage coming into the 1500 metre mark.

The tall, lanky figure of the Netherlands Robin van Keeken was seen to frequently look over at lane 2, where Bart Poelvoorde from Belgium was fighting hard to secure a third place. The two continuously battled to keep up behind Germany, knowing that only one of them would make it through to the A Final. Just before the line, Van Keeken looked over intently, and gave a final push, but just missed out.

Women's pair (W2-)

Repechage

Only one repechage in this event, with the top four finishers joining the two winners of yesterday's heats in tomorrow's A Final. Five boats would be aiming for the finish line.

The strongest crews secured their positions from the start, and despite relatively tight racing, nothing would budge until the line.

Russia took an early lead with Alevtina Podvyazkina in stroke and Vera Pochitaeva in bow. Poland's Magdalena Korczak and Anna Jankowska followed steadily in second with French women Joannie Laffez and Elodie Rubaud maintaining a consistent third.

At 500m, Russia and Poland were nearly level, and created a clear water gap with France and Lithuania. In the final 500m, Russia, stroking at 31, stayed in control. Poland and France, at an identical rate of 33, did not manage to upset the ranking order.

Lithuania, despite finishing six seconds behind the leading crew, join Russia, Poland and France in tomorrow's A Final. The unlucky fifth place goes to Bulgaria, who will race the B Final.

Men's pair (M2-)

Repechage

This repechage would qualify the first four to the A Final. Coming out in front, and looking very good indeed, Poland, carried by their home water, and the local supporters dotted along the course, were determined to show their worth here at the European level. Piotr Hojka and Jaroslaw Godek have been racing in the men’s pair all season, but have struggled to make it beyond the B Final. Here they take a comfortable lead and will join Serbia and Italy who already qualified yesterday for the A Final.

The Poles never really looked threatened, and did not even have to take their rating up to secure their position. In the first 1500 metres, Russia (Sergei Babayev and Roman Veselkin) backed them up, but never really coming close. Toying with third and fourth place, Germany’s Mueller brothers, Jan and Falk, challenged Slovenia, swapping positions throughout the first part of the race. But Hungary suddenly reacted just a couple of hundred metres before the line, upping their pace, storming along, and making it through to fourth position – the last position to qualify for the A Final.

Women’s double sculls (W2x)

Seven boats in two repechages, meant three competitors in the first round and four in the second. Finishing first or second in each round would be necessary to qualify for the A Final.

Repechage 1

This was a truly Scandinavian event, including Denmark, Norway and Finland in the starting blocks.

It would be very close racing throughout, but Finland's Sanna Sten and Minna Nieminen, multiple medallists at the senior level in the lightweight counterpart of this event, were determined to prove their superiority, even if only by a few seconds.

By the first 500m, Finland and Norway's Martha Helgeland and Tine Schoeyen had a small lead over Danish competitors Lisbet Jacobsen and Cecilie Christensen. At that point all three crews increased their stroke rate, and Norway still had a chance to grab one of the qualifying spots.

In the closing phase, Finland pushed hard to secure a three-second lead, and an exciting tussle was going on between Denmark and Norway for second. The Danish fans in the grandstand were literally cheering their crew through to the finish line, and succeeded. Denmark resisted the Norwegian push and qualify with Finland for the A Final.

Repechage 2

Four boats race in this repechage. Only two will go to the A Final. With only 500m gone, it is still very close between Ukraine's Kateryna Tarasenko and Yana Dementieva and Italy's Laura Schiavone and Elisabetta Sancassani. Ukraine, under big pressure from Italy, Germany in lane four and Romania in lane three, are keeping close, with only one length and a quarter separating the first boat from the fourth, and encouraged by a cavalcade of coaches cycling down along the far side of the course.

At 1750m, Italy nudges into the lead, but not for long. In a constant back and forth between Ukraine and Italy, the outcome would only become clear in the last three hundred metres, when Ukraine seemed to get bored of the nagging and decided to really push forward. At 250m before the line, a clear lead had divided the two front crews from the two tailing crews, with the Eastern European boat a good four-and-a half seconds lead over the Mediterranean favourites. Ukraine and Italy go to the A Final. Germany and Romania go to the B Final.

Men's double sculls (M2x)

Ten boats in two repechages for four additional qualifying spots in the A Final, meant a top two finish was the aim.

Repechage 1

During the first half of the race, four crews were still in a position to take the two passes to the A Final: Croatia, Greece, Slovakia and Norway. It was Austria who seemed to have difficulties keeping up with the pace.

After the 1000m mark, Greece's Ioannis Tsamis and Ioannis Christou overtook Croatians Mario Vekic and Hrvoje Jurina, but both crews stayed nearly level, sculling side by side with less than one second between them. Their spot in the A Final was guaranteed then and there.

Bernhard Garn and Stefan Schwars of Austria, in fifth position at the 1500m mark, made a desperate last-minute push to catch up with the leading boats, moving up to fourth position in the last couple metres. But the push came too late.

Slovakia, Austria and Norway go to the B Final.

Repechage 2

Already in the first few metres it is clear that this race will be all about Russia, in lane three, and Italy in lane two. Surprising as it is to see them in a repechage, they engage in a close battle at the head of the field.

Lorenzo Bertini and Daniele Gilardoni of Italy usually race in the lightweight category, but they come here to take on the heavyweights and are making a good show of it. No doubt a eager not to be beaten by Russians Nikolay Spinev and Sergey Fedorovtsev, whose heavyweight advantage proved useful.

This race was a real battle of lightweight against heavyweight. Described by the commentary team as going very well, and looking very fluid, Italy did not back off. At the 1500m mark Italy had taken the lead, but just before the line, Russia, whose pride was not going to let them be beaten by these lightweights, gave a good final push, overtaking Italy again just before the line. Italy will have a chance to get back as they meet again in the final tomorrow.

This will have taken its toll of energy out of the two crews, who just have the afternoon to fully recover before tomorrow's big race.

Ukraine, Latvia and Denmark finish in third, fourth and fifth respectively, and go to the B Final.

Men's four (M4-)

This event also includes ten entries. A top two finish in each of two repechages is necessary to race in Sunday's Final.

Repechage 1

Another close race commentated by an excited local analysing the energetic efforts of the Polish crew to make it into the top final. Their challengers would be Greece throughout, but third-placed Portugal, who broke a rigger in their heat yesterday, gave them a scare at 1500m: giving a mighty push and catching up with Greece, the Portuguese passed them for a few strokes, triggering a loud response from the Greek supporters in the grandstand. The Poles would have none of it and found new resources to overtake Portugal in the last few strokes and preserve their honour on their home turf.

Portugal, Lithuania and Slovakia go to the B Final.

Repechage 2

Germany seemed to be the favourites in this race. Fokke Beckmann, Richard Schmidt, Sebastian Schmidt and Kristof Wilke only just missed out on direct qualification for the final yesterday, so it was only normal that they should get there through this race today. Described as a technically very fine crew despite their young age (between 20 and 22), they look to be a crew of the future.

At 1250 metres it was Germany, Serbia and Denmark. This line-up remained until the end, with the battle taking place for second and third position. Denmark was not going to give up, but Serbia did come back in the last 100m and pushed through to the A Final by little more than a whisker.

Third was Denmark, who despite some steering problems at the start still managed a fair performance through the end of the course.

Lightweight women's double sculls (LW2x)

Only one repechage in this event would qualify four of six boats for the A Final.

Two clans would soon form on the 2000m course. Experienced crews Italy with Laura Milani and Erika Bello, Great Britain with Sophie Hosking and Mathilde Paulis, and Denmark with Marie Gottlieb and Sine Christiansen, would lead the field, with Hungary, Portugal and France battling it out for fourth position at the back of the field. The repechage of the lightweight women double sculls is very soon divided in three groups of 2 boats and positions would only changed within these groups. It soon became apparent that Portugal and France had difficulties keeping up with Hungarians Zsofia Novak and Zsuzsanna Hajdu and would miss out on the last qualifying spot.

Lightweight men's double sculls (LM2x)

Semifinal A/B 1

Zsolt Hirling and Tamas Varga, Hungary’s 2005 World Champions, were the ones to be reckoned with in this semifinal. Sitting in second position, Jan and Ondrej Vetesnik from the Czech Republic could do little but hang on several seconds behind.

In third and fourth place sat a consistent Belarus (Artur Yasyukevich and Yauheni Tseliapun) and Norwegians Kristoffer Brun and Are Strandli. Great Britain, several canvasses behind in the last 300m were never really in with a chance. Even further behind, was the young Slovakian crew of Stanislav Gajdosik and Martin Verdonic.

Crossing the line in front, in a scream of pain, Hungary took the race in 6:35.82. Behind them, Czech Republic and Belarus also go to the A Final.

Semifinal A/B 2

This event, as in other events at these European Rowing Championships, saw experienced and accomplished rowers, such as 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Vasileios Polymeros with new partner Dimitrios Mougios, race against new and young line-ups.

Greece obviously controlled the race from the start. A comfortable three-second lead at 500m was increased to a five-second gap at the halfway mark. The Polish crew of Michal Rychlicki and Tomasz Mrozowicz, who had replaced multi Olympic Sycz and Kucharski due to medical reasons, were unable to make it beyond fifth place and finished at the very back of the field.

The young Danish crew put on a show at the start, making it into third place at the 500m mark. But their youth still needing added maturity, they quickly fell back in a steady fourth place, their parents anxiously watching the scoreboard on the opposite side of the grandstand.

France's Brice Menet and Pierre-Etienne Pollez made an impressive move up from fourth position at 500m to second position at 1500m, overtaking Germany's Moritz Koch and Christoph Schregel in the process. They weren't about to let go, and held on with determination until the line.

At the line, Greece, France and Germany qualify. Denmark, Ukraine and Poland go to the B Final.

Lightweight men's four (LM4-)

Repechage 1

Serbia and Italy qualified for the lightweight men’s four A Final directly yesterday. Who would be to take them on? Repechage 1 saw Lithuania with twins Mantas and Petras Leknius, the Russians, the Poles and the Belgians.

Russia and Poland got out ahead, and by the 500m mark it was already a Russian lead. Lithuania came out of the blocks a bit faster than Belgium, but would soon recede to the fourth position, perhaps slowed down in the aftermath of yesterday’s birthday celebrations of newly 19-year-old crew member Donatas Auskelis.

Russia crossed the line first, in 6:12.17, followed closely by Poland in 6:13.92. Belgium, whose eight-second delay meant all they could see from the Poles was the wash produced by their boat some lengths ahead, came in third position. Lithuania close the race nearly thirty seconds behind the leader.

Repechage 2

It would be a crashing battle for the two qualifying spots until the last strokes of this race.

Ukraine and Czech Republic would swap between first and second throughout the race, with France in steady third giving its all to take over second. Only three quarters of a length would separate those boats at the halfway mark, with Greece back in fourth. Greece's fleeting third position proved too hard to hold, and France charged back. But at the line, the qualifiers would remain Ukraine and Czech Republic, with France and Greece going through to the B Final.

Men's quadruple sculls (M4x)

Repechage 1

An unfortunate start to this race with a boat stopping crab at 300m meant that Hungary were relegated to last position, with no chance of catching up. Out of the starting blocks, it was Ukraine that took the lead with Volodymyr Pavloskyi, Sergiy Biloushchenko, Oleg Lykov and Sergii Gryn keeping a comfortable lead and a constant stroke rate of about 31 to 32, upping the rate slightly towards the last 300 metres to 33.5 and 34. Just behind, Estonia, at a slightly slower rate, crossed the line less than three seconds behind. Both crews join Russia and Belarus in tomorrow's A Final. Poland and Ukraine content themselves with a contention for places seven to twelve in tomorrow's B Final.

Repechage 2

Three crews, France, Italy and Slovenia would compete for the last two spots to be attributed for tomorrow's A Finals.

Italy, a mix of experienced and young scullers, immediately secured first place, with France behind in second. But Slovenia was putting the pressure on France and with 500m to grabbed second, even overlapping with Italy at 1750m. But Italy stayed in control and increased their rate just enough to stay ahead of Slovenia.
France goes to the B Final.