Greece off to good start at European Champs

At the international regatta course in Brest, Belarus, Greece got off to a good start taking out gold in the men’s pair and men’s four. Italy surprised themselves and others by winning the women’s double and Romania came back with their new mighty women’s pair.

Women’s Pair (W2-)

Camelia Lupascu and Nicoleta Albu of Romania are one classy pair. Originally Lupascu was going to race with under-23 medallist, Cristina Ilie, but a last minute change brought Lupascu’s partner Albu into the boat. Lupascu and Albu got out into a slight lead at the start over Mayya Zhuchkova and Alevtina Podvyazkina of Russia who held the Romanians' pace. Going into the middle of the race Lupascu and Albu started to move away. Russia tried to respond, but did not have the same smoothness and style of stroke that the Romanians had.

This wraps up quite a year for Albu. The 21 year old got two silver medals at the World Rowing Championships, she won gold at the under-23 champs and also picked up two senior World Cup medals along the way. What will 2010 hold for Albu?

Results: ROU, RUS, CRO, UKR, ITA, GER

Camelia Lupascu, Nicoleta Albu (ROU) – gold
“We won [silver] at the World Championships in Poznan and so, we expected a medal; it’s very pleasant to win at such a nice rowing course” Camelia Lupascu

Mayya Zhuchkova, Alevtina Podvyazkina (RUS) – silver
“We expected a medal, but actually hoped for a gold medal. We were very close, lost just a little bit, so next time we will try to avoid mistakes and do our best to win.” Mayya Zhuchkova

Maja Anic, Sonja Keserac (CRO) – bronze
“This is our first medal at a high-level event and we are full of emotions. We were at the World Championships in Poznan and made up our mind to take part in the European Championships only a few weeks ago. Frankly speaking … we did not expect any medal. This course is a lucky one for us, a very nice place for competitions.” Maja Anic

Men’s Pair (M2-)

Due to technical problems for the Polish pair, this race was delayed until the end of the morning’s racing. When they returned to the Brest regatta course waters, a cross wind meant that these pair rowers had the added challenge of keeping their boat straight. Greece’s Apostolos and Nikolaos Gkountoulas did it the best. The twin brothers who finished third at last month’s World Rowing Championships are part of a huge surge in recent positive results amongst Greek rowers.

Today the Greeks took their boat into the lead and moved away from the field so that by the second half of the race they were in a position that meant it was almost impossible to catch them. Serbia’s Nikola Stojic and Goran Jagar gave it a good shot and so did the French. Greece remained in front and become European Champions.

Results: GRE, SRB, FRA, POL, HUN, GER

Women’s Double Sculls (W2x)

After finishing fifth at last month’s World Rowing Championships, Jitka and Lenka Antosova of the Czech Republic looked like the crew to beat here in Brest. The sister duo have been racing together for just a short time with Jitka being on the senior team and Lenka racing as a junior. The Antosovas got off to a fast start and out into the lead at the start. This is the position that crews love to race from, but it is only sensible if the crew has the stamina to hold strongly until the finish.

The Czechs held the lead going through the middle of the race with Italy’s Laura Schiavone and Gabriella Bascelli sitting close by in second. Schiavone has been racing in the double up until this year, while Bascelli has been her country’s single sculler in recent years. All of this changed in 2009 with a new coach joining the Italian women and changing the status quo. Coming into the final sprint, the Italians, still in second, went for bust. Taking their rating to 42 the Italians closed on the Czechs and charged for the line. The Antosovas did not have an answer. An incredibly delighted Italy finish first. An incredibly disappointed Czech Republic take second.

Results: ITA, CZE, POL, FIN, BLR, EST

Laura Schiavone, Gabriella Bascelli (ITA) – gold
“We are really happy about our result. We have done exactly what we were supposed to do in the race. The rowing course is super and we are so happy to win here.“ Gabriella Bascelli

Jitka Antosova, Lenka Antosova (CZE) – silver
“It’s a nice rowing course and it was a tough competition. We gave all we had but for Lenka, who is still a junior, it’s more difficult.” Jitka Antosova

Agata Gramatyka, Natalia Madaj (POL) – bronze
“This is our first start in the year.  It’s a really nice city and friendly people.” Agata Gramatyka

Men’s Double Sculls (M2x)

The middle lanes housed Switzerland’s Florian Stofer and Andre Vonarburg of Switzerland and Estonia’s Allar Raja and Kaspar Taimsoo. Estonia had the psychological edge having medalled at last month’s World Rowing Championships, while Stofer and Vonarburg finished in seventh. Busting out at the start Raja and Taimsoo took the lead. By the middle of the race the Estonians had earned a handy, but small, lead over Switzerland.

Coming through to the second half of the race, Stofer and Vonarburg had closed the gap on Estonia and were pushing to find the lead. Had the Estonians gone too hard early on? Or had Switzerland presented their challenge too far before the finish line? Switzerland’s stroke rate went to 37, Estonia matched them. The Estonian’s were holding their own. At the line Estonia had managed to hold off the Swiss. Switzerland looked exhausted but happy. Estonia are the new European Champions.

Results: EST, SUI, SRB, UKR, RUS, BLR

Kaspar Taimsoo, Allar Raja (EST) – gold
“You have a really nice rowing course with a great warm-up area. My stroke was ill a few days ago and we were not sure if we would participate. We didn’t see much of the city. I would like to express my respect for my opponents, they are our great friends”. Kaspar Taimsoo

Andre Vonarburg, Florian Stofer (SUI) – silver
“This is our first time in Belarus. It is a beautiful rowing course, very fair, hot, a good venue.” Florian Stofer

Men’s Four (M4-)

At the start there was very little in it for the entire field. Belarus was in the lead, with reigning European Champions, Greece, three seconds back at the rear of the field. This had all changed going through the middle of the race. Greece had managed to move through to the third place with Romania slipping back. Belarus remained in the lead while the Czech Republic held on to second. The Czechs finished fourth last month at the World Rowing Championships while Belarus were sixth at the same event.

With the crowd urging the Belarus crew onwards, Greece continued to make advances with the Czech Republic now charging past Belarus. The crowd did not seem to be helping. Belarus was slipping back. At the line Greece had pulled through to first, but only just ahead of the Czech Republic. Spain held on to get third. Belarus, meanwhile, had slipped to the back of the field.

Results: GRE, CZE, ESP, UKR, ROU, BLR

Ioannis Tsamis, Stergios Papachristos, Georgios Tziallas, Pavlos Gavriilidis (GRE) – gold
“We didn’t take a very good start, but improved a lot after the 1000m mark and managed to push for a win in the last 10 strokes.” Ioannis Tsamis

Pedro Rodriguez Aragon, Pau Vela Maggi, Marcelino Garcia Cortes, Noe Guzman del Castillo (ESP) – bronze
“We felt nervous at the beginning but with the time we managed to have everything under control. This is our first time in Belarus, and hope it’s not the last!” Pau Vela Maggi