Lucerne semifinals will see top class finals

Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-) – Semifinals
You know that you’re at the Rotsee when cow bells start to sound. In the first semifinal the bells were in full chime as Simon Niepmann and Lucas Tramer of Switzerland led the way. Niepmann and Tramer raced at the London Olympics in the lightweight four where they finished fifth. This season the duo has already won gold in the pair at the European Rowing Championships.

By the middle of the race, however, Niepmann and Tramer had been overtaken by Xavier Vela Maggi and Daniel Sigurjorsson Benet of Spain. Margins remained tight with the United States also very much in the leaders picture. Coming into the final 500m less than a second separated the three top crews with Greece very much within attacking distance. Ratings started to rise into the high 30s. The Swiss had done it, finishing first with Spain qualifying for the final from second and the United States taking third to qualify for the final.

The second semifinal was not as tight as semifinal one, but first place still managed to record the fastest qualifying time when two boats, Great Britain’s Sam Scrimgeour and Mark Aldred and Francesco Schisano and Vincenzo Serpico of Italy One, went head to head in the second half of the race. The British had the lead for the first half the race before Italy pushed through. But Scrimgeour and Aldred must have wanted the first place just a bit more than Schisano and Serpico. Great Britain crossed the line in first, Italy qualified from second and Germany One also qualified by finishing third.
Qualifiers: SUI, ESP, USA, GBR, ITA1, GER1

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – Semifinals
Pedro Fraga of Portugal is having a great season in the single. He started off by taking bronze at the Sydney World Cup, went on to take silver at the European Rowing Championships and then finally gold at the Eton Dorney World Cup. Today he raced in Semifinal One. Fraga, however, was the absolute slowest out of the start. It must have been a bit of an anomaly as by the middle of the race Fraga was in second with former World Champion, Duncan Grant (NZL) in the lead.

Using a negative split racing scenario Fraga was in the lead with 500m left to row. Four boats were in the sprint to the line – Fraga led with Grant, Nicolas Pratt (CAN) and Simon Schuerch (SUI3) all charging. At the line Grant had missed out. Fraga, Pratt and Schuerch were the qualifiers.

It may be assumed that Fraga would be the favourite going into the final, but think again. In Semifinal Two Peter Galambos of Hungary set the fastest qualifying time when he led from start to finish. Galambos has been racing in the lightweight double so far this season, but his rowing career has seen him race and medal in the single. Behind Galambos, Michael Schmid of Switzerland Two and Jonathan Koch of Germany One sat in second and third respectively. In the final sprint, however, Jamie Kirkwood of Great Britain performed a flyer. Coming from fifth position, Kirkwood got his stroke rate up to 44 and passed Greece and Germany. Galambos, Schmid and Kirkwood were the qualifiers.
Qualifiers: POR, CAN, SUI3, HUN, SUI1, GBR

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – Semifinals
Michaela Taupe-Traer of Austria has been racing internationally for more than two decades but is yet to win a World Championship title. Will this be her season? Taupe-Traer so far this season was second at the European Rowing Championships and first at the Eton Dorney World Cup. Today the Austrian rowed a very controlled race in Semifinal One starting off in second behind 2011 World Champion, Fabiana Beltrame of Brazil before pushing into first in the second half of the race.

With Taupe-Traer in the lead Ursula Grobler, the former United States representative now rowing for South Africa, conducted a closing sprint that saw her overtake Beltrame and take the second qualifying spot. Beltrame, looking relaxed, qualified from third.

Back in the single and racing in Semifinal Two was Patricia Obee of Canada. Obee raced at the London Olympics in the lightweight double but before that had under-23 success in the single. Today Obee led the race from start to finish leaving the rest of the field to battle for the remaining two qualifying spots. Great Britain’s Ruth Walczak had second for most of the race before Louise Ayling of New Zealand came sprinting through at the end, rating 34, to take second behind Obee. Walczak held on to third to also qualify.
Qualifiers: AUT, RSA, BRA, CAN, NZL, GBR

Men’s Pair (M2-) – Semifinals
Semifinal One had Marco Di Costanzo and Matteo Castaldo of Italy stamping their name on the race. The new 2013 duo finished fourth at the European Rowing Championships which gave them the thumbs up by selectors to continue as a crew. They were followed by Spain’s Alexander Sigurbjonsson Benet and Pau Vela Maggi. The Spaniards are known for their fast starts and today they were still very much with the leaders through the half-way point.

As the final 500m of the race came into view Serbia’s Nenad Bedik and Nikola Stojic picked up the pace. Bedik and Stojic come to Lucerne with a gold medal from the 2013 European Rowing Championships already in their possession. Today they demonstrated their sprint abilities by overtaking Spain and closing the gap on Italy. At the line the Italians had held on to first but only by a smidgen over Serbia in second. Spain became the third qualifier just a couple of seconds back.

The gold and silver medallists from the London Olympics – New Zealand and France – faced each other today for the first time since the Olympic final when they raced in Semifinal Two. Both boats had won their heats yesterday. At the first 500m marker New Zealand’s Eric Murray and Hamish Bond had the lead despite a very fast start by South Africa Two of David Hunt and Vincent Breet. Hunt and Breet had raced Murray and Bond a week ago in the final of the pair at the Henley Royal Regatta. Murray and Bond had won.

By the middle of the race Murray and Bond still had the lead but now they were being threatened by Shaun Keeling and Lawrence Brittain of South Africa One. The New Zealanders then began to pull away with France’s Germain Chardin and Dorian Mortelette now working their way closer to the Kiwis. In the sprint for the line Murray and Bond held a steady 37 stroke rate with France and South Africa One going head to head. Behind Murray and Bond, Chardin and Mortelette managed to push through to second with Keeling and Brittain taking third to round out the qualifying boats.

It is worth noting Hunt and Breet finishing in fourth indicates real success for South Africa meaning that the nation got a boat into the A and B-final in this very competitive event. The question will be whether these two crews may be seen again forming a four.
Qualifiers: ITA, SRB, ESP, NZL, FRA1, RSA1

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x) – Semifinals
There can be little doubt that this event is shaping up to be a ‘must-see’ final. The winners of Semifinal One, France’s Stany Delayre and Jeremie Azou, finished in a time just five seconds outside the World Best Time, with the winner of Semifinal Two Italy’s Andrea Micheletti and Pietro Ruta recording a nearly identical time.

In this semifinal Delayre and Azou led from start to finish with Greece’s Eleftherios Konsolas and Spyridon Giannaros slotting into second. But the real race was going on behind them. Germany, Austria and the Netherlands had barely a blink between them as they charged through the middle of the race. Coming into the final sprint Germany couldn’t hold the pace leaving Austria and the Netherlands to go head to head. As Austria began to look a bit ragged, Tycho and Vincent Muda of the Netherlands pushed ahead (albeit by just 0.12 of a second). France, Greece and the Netherlands make it to the final.

Micheletti and Ruta are going to make stiff competition for the French. In Semifinal Two Micheletti and Ruta started out in the lead with Great Britain’s Richard and Peter Chambers chasing hard. The Chambers brothers come from the London Olympic silver medal lightweight four and they look to be holding the mantle of Great Britain’s new lightweight double. Poland’s Artur Mikolajczewski and Mariusz Stanczuk slotted into third, just a little ahead of Denmark’s big ergers, Henrik Stephansen and Steffen Jensen.

Despite Great Britain doing their best to catch the Italians, the order remained the same to the line. Italy, Great Britain and Poland had qualified for tomorrow’s final.
Qualifiers: FRA, GRE, NED, ITA1, GBR, POL

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x) – Semifinals
Here is a crew to watch; Italy’s Laura Milani and Elisabetta Sancassani. Sancassani moved from heavyweight rowing to lightweight last year and in 2012 she teamed up with Milani. The duo haven’t lost an international race since. Today, in Semifinal One, they started off rather slowly but by the middle of the race they had worked their way through to second with New Zealand’s Lucy Strack and Julia Edward in the lead. New Zealand and Italy remained on top of each other through the third 500 as Maaike Head and Elisabeth Woerner of the Netherlands moved closer.

In the final sprint it looked as though Head and Woerner were happy to remain in third while Italy continued to charge home, overtaking New Zealand in the process. These are the three qualifying boats for Sunday’s final.

Coming in just five seconds outside of the World Best Time, the United States’ Kristin Hedstrom and Kathleen Bertko led Semifinal Two from start to finish. Hedstrom and Bertko were not alone at the front. Right on top of them the whole way were London Olympic finalists Lena Mueller and Anja Noske of Germany. Germany kept the pressure on the United States right through to the final sprint when they let Hedstrom and Bertko get away. The United States, Germany and Great Britain’s Kathryn Twyman and Imogen Walsh are all on their way to Sunday’s final.

Hedstrom and Bertko have to finish fourth or better in tomorrow’s final to reserve their spot on the US team for the World Rowing Championships. After this race, that result is looking very likely.
Qualifiers: ITA, NZL, NED, USA, GER1, GBR

Men’s Four (M4-) – Semifinals
The United States men’s four is turning heads on the Rotsee. The US boat, which includes London Olympic finalist, Henrik Rummel, won their heat yesterday and today they led Semifinal One from start to finish. But margins were tight with less than a second separating the top three boats going through the middle of the race. Up there with the Americans were the Olympic silver medallist, Australia and Italy. The Italians then pushed ahead of Australia keeping the heat on the United States. In the sprint to the line Australia rated 40 and kept their strokes long and fluid, the United States was at 40 and held the lead, Italy hit 43 and nearly caught the Americans. These are the three qualifying boats.

The Netherlands finished fifth at the London Olympics in this event and they have retained three members of that crew for the 2013 season. Coming into the mix is stroke-man Robert Luecken. Today they raced in Semifinal Two and got off to a fast start with Germany chasing hard. By the middle of the race the Germans had nearly caught the Dutch and these two countries remained locked together through the third 500 with Belarus now inching past and taking the lead.

Could Belarus hold on to the line?As stroke rates began to rise and the brand new Rotsee finish tower came into sight the Dutch fought back. The Dutch had managed to pull back into the lead with Belarus holding on to second and Germany taking third. Thus the three qualifying boats were decided. Surprisingly Eton Dorney World Cup second-place getters, Great Britain finished in fifth. There was no hiding their disappointment.
Qualifiers: USA, ITA, AUS, NED, BLR, GER

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x) – Semifinals
The Croatians definitely have a bee in their bonnet. They have been taking no prisoners after finishing sixth at the European Rowing Championships. In their next regatta, the Eton Dorney World Cup, Croatia won and here on the Rotsee they continued to be the top boat. In Semifinal One, Croatia got ahead of a fast starting Great Britain and remained in the lead finishing in the fastest qualifying time for tomorrow’s final.

Meanwhile Great Britain kept the head on the Croatian’s, chasing hard for the entire 2000m. But perhaps the real race was going on between the Netherlands, Estonia and Italy. At the half-way point these three crews were separated by little over a second. Then Italy dropped back and then the Netherlands, leaving Estonia to grab the third and final qualifying spot.

Germany may have finished first, but it was Russia that celebrated like they had won a medal at the finish line of Semifinal Two. Russia has made one change from the boat that finished ninth at last month’s European Rowing Championships and it must have served them well. They led at the start before slipping back to third in the face of Germany and Poland. Then the Czech Republic also got the better of the Russians, pushing them out of the qualifying spots. But, coming into the final sprint, margins were tight with less than two seconds separating the top four boats.

Germany did just enough to cross the line in first with Russia, rating 41, doing a mighty sprint that brought them back into second with Poland getting the better of the Czech Republic to take the third and final qualifying position for Sunday’s final.
Qualifiers: CRO, GBR, EST, GER, RUS, POL

Lightweight Men’s Four (LM4-) – Semifinals
The lightweight men’s four is regularly a sprint from start to finish, but today stroke rates were not quite as high. Perhaps these crew were holding something back for tomorrow’s final. In Semifinal One World Cup leaders New Zealand got out into the lead with Great Britain following in second and the Netherlands slotting into third. The order of these three crews did not change through the body of the race and it looked as though the set-up for the final was already established.

Then the Netherlands decided to shake things up. Stroked by Timothee Heijbrock, the Dutch attacked the final sprint overtaking Great Britain and closing on the New Zealanders. Neither of these crews seemed to mind and New Zealand barely pushed up their rating to stay in the lead. New Zealand, the Netherlands and Great Britain all qualify for Sunday’s final.

In Semifinal Two Denmark got out at the start the way they hoped to finish – in the lead. France followed in second and Poland held on to third. But this was soon to change. As France began to feel the pace, Poland pushed into second with South Africa now moving up through the field.

South Africa won gold at last year’s Olympic Games, making history by being the first Olympic gold in rowing not only for South Africa, but for the whole African continent. This is their first regatta since the Olympic Games and they have retained three members of that boat. As Denmark did just enough to remain in the lead, South Africa continued to up the pace. In the sprint to the line it was tight, Michael Voerman in the bow of South Africa’s boat looked out anxiously. They had done it. With Denmark qualifying from first, South Africa took second and Poland just held on to third.
Qualifiers: NZL, NED, GBR, DEN, RSA, POL

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) – Semifinals
Marcel Hacker of Germany has nearly hit his third decade of international rowing. Hacker first raced as a junior in 1994 and since then he has never taken a season off. Today Hacker raced in Semifinal One, leading from start to finish. Luka Spik of Slovenia had a great start but soon slipped out of the qualifying positions. Then Cuba’s Angel Fournier Rodriguez, in his first international outing since the London Olympics, pulled through into second with Roel Braas of the Netherlands giving his all to get past Spik. Braas became a local hero a couple of weeks ago when he was the first Dutch man to win the men’s single at the Holland Beker regatta in about 30 years.

The order was now all but sorted with Germany, Cuba and the Netherlands qualifying for the final on Sunday.

Alan Campbell tested his signature blistering start in Semifinal Two and it worked as he led through to the first 500m mark. But then Olympic silver medallist, Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic put on the pressure and pressed past Campbell to take the lead. With that the order of the race was all but sorted. Synek led the scullers, Campbell held on to Synek’s coat tails and Georgi Bozhilov of Bulgaria sat in third. Lithuania, however, was not giving up. Rolandas Mascinskas of Lithuania kept the heat on and with 500m left to row he had squeezed into third place – the remaining qualifying spot. But Bozhilov fought back and at the line he had squeezed back into third.
Qualifiers: GER, CUB, NED, CZE, GBR1, BUL

Women’s Single Sculls (W1x) – Semifinals
Eleanor Logan of the United States looks to be stepping up in every race she does this season. Logan came from her nation’s Olympic Champion eight to row in the single and she has already picked up two World Cup bronze medals so far in 2013. Today Logan was at the head of Semifinal One staying ahead of some great competition. In second was under-23 doubles champion Magdalena Lobnig of Austria with Olympic finalist, Emma Twigg of New Zealand in third.

This order remained the same to the line despite Chantal Achterberg of the Netherlands putting the heat on Twigg and nearly making it into third.

The fastest qualifying time came in Semifinal Two with Australia’s Kim Crow setting the standard. In a rather pedestrian race in terms of drama, this semifinal saw the finishing order sorted out within the first 300m of the race. Behind Crow was a very comfortable looking Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic with China’s most successful single sculler ever, Xiuyun Zhang following in third. These three leading boats did just enough to retain the status quo and save their energy for the race for the medals that will go on tomorrow.
Qualifiers: USA, AUT, NZL, AUS, CZE, CHN

Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-) – Semifinals
You know that you’re at the Rotsee when cow bells start to sound. In the first semifinal the bells were in full chime as Simon Niepmann and Lucas Tramer of Switzerland led the way. Niepmann and Tramer raced at the London Olympics in the lightweight four where they finished fifth. This season the duo has already won gold in the pair at the European Rowing Championships.

By the middle of the race, however, Niepmann and Tramer had been overtaken by Xavier Vela Maggi and Daniel Sigurjorsson Benet of Spain. Margins remained tight with the United States also very much in the leaders picture. Coming into the final 500m less than a second separated the three top crews with Greece very much within attacking distance. Ratings started to rise into the high 30s. The Swiss had done it, finishing first with Spain qualifying for the final from second and the United States taking third to qualify for the final.

The second semifinal was not as tight as semifinal one, but first place still managed to record the fastest qualifying time when two boats, Great Britain’s Sam Scrimgeour and Mark Aldred and Francesco Schisano and Vincenzo Serpico of Italy One, went head to head in the second half of the race. The British had the lead for the first half the race before Italy pushed through. But Scrimgeour and Aldred must have wanted the first place just a bit more than Schisano and Serpico. Great Britain crossed the line in first, Italy qualified from second and Germany One also qualified by finishing third.
Qualifiers: SUI, ESP, USA, GBR, ITA1, GER1

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – Semifinals
Pedro Fraga of Portugal is having a great season in the single. He started off by taking bronze at the Sydney World Cup, went on to take silver at the European Rowing Championships and then finally gold at the Eton Dorney World Cup. Today he raced in Semifinal One. Fraga, however, was the absolute slowest out of the start. It must have been a bit of an anomaly as by the middle of the race Fraga was in second with former World Champion, Duncan Grant (NZL) in the lead.

Using a negative split racing scenario Fraga was in the lead with 500m left to row. Four boats were in the sprint to the line – Fraga led with Grant, Nicolas Pratt (CAN) and Simon Schuerch (SUI3) all charging. At the line Grant had missed out. Fraga, Pratt and Schuerch were the qualifiers.

It may be assumed that Fraga would be the favourite going into the final, but think again. In Semifinal Two Peter Galambos of Hungary set the fastest qualifying time when he led from start to finish. Galambos has been racing in the lightweight double so far this season, but his rowing career has seen him race and medal in the single. Behind Galambos, Michael Schmid of Switzerland Two and Jonathan Koch of Germany One sat in second and third respectively. In the final sprint, however, Jamie Kirkwood of Great Britain performed a flyer. Coming from fifth position, Kirkwood got his stroke rate up to 44 and passed Greece and Germany. Galambos, Schmid and Kirkwood were the qualifiers.
Qualifiers: POR, CAN, SUI3, HUN, SUI1, GBR

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – Semifinals
Michaela Taupe-Traer of Austria has been racing internationally for more than two decades but is yet to win a World Championship title. Will this be her season? Taupe-Traer so far this season was second at the European Rowing Championships and first at the Eton Dorney World Cup. Today the Austrian rowed a very controlled race in Semifinal One starting off in second behind 2011 World Champion, Fabiana Beltrame of Brazil before pushing into first in the second half of the race.

With Taupe-Traer in the lead Ursula Grobler, the former United States representative now rowing for South Africa, conducted a closing sprint that saw her overtake Beltrame and take the second qualifying spot. Beltrame, looking relaxed, qualified from third.

Back in the single and racing in Semifinal Two was Patricia Obee of Canada. Obee raced at the London Olympics in the lightweight double but before that had under-23 success in the single. Today Obee led the race from start to finish leaving the rest of the field to battle for the remaining two qualifying spots. Great Britain’s Ruth Walczak had second for most of the race before Louise Ayling of New Zealand came sprinting through at the end, rating 34, to take second behind Obee. Walczak held on to third to also qualify.
Qualifiers: AUT, RSA, BRA, CAN, NZL, GBR

Men’s Pair (M2-) – Semifinals
Semifinal One had Marco Di Costanzo and Matteo Castaldo of Italy stamping their name on the race. The new 2013 duo finished fourth at the European Rowing Championships which gave them the thumbs up by selectors to continue as a crew. They were followed by Spain’s Alexander Sigurbjonsson Benet and Pau Vela Maggi. The Spaniards are known for their fast starts and today they were still very much with the leaders through the half-way point.

As the final 500m of the race came into view Serbia’s Nenad Bedik and Nikola Stojic picked up the pace. Bedik and Stojic come to Lucerne with a gold medal from the 2013 European Rowing Championships already in their possession. Today they demonstrated their sprint abilities by overtaking Spain and closing the gap on Italy. At the line the Italians had held on to first but only by a smidgen over Serbia in second. Spain became the third qualifier just a couple of seconds back.

The gold and silver medallists from the London Olympics – New Zealand and France – faced each other today for the first time since the Olympic final when they raced in Semifinal Two. Both boats had won their heats yesterday. At the first 500m marker New Zealand’s Eric Murray and Hamish Bond had the lead despite a very fast start by South Africa Two of David Hunt and Vincent Breet. Hunt and Breet had raced Murray and Bond a week ago in the final of the pair at the Henley Royal Regatta. Murray and Bond had won.

By the middle of the race Murray and Bond still had the lead but now they were being threatened by Shaun Keeling and Lawrence Brittain of South Africa One. The New Zealanders then began to pull away with France’s Germain Chardin and Dorian Mortelette now working their way closer to the Kiwis. In the sprint for the line Murray and Bond held a steady 37 stroke rate with France and South Africa One going head to head. Behind Murray and Bond, Chardin and Mortelette managed to push through to second with Keeling and Brittain taking third to round out the qualifying boats.

It is worth noting Hunt and Breet finishing in fourth indicates real success for South Africa meaning that the nation got a boat into the A and B-final in this very competitive event. The question will be whether these two crews may be seen again forming a four.
Qualifiers: ITA, SRB, ESP, NZL, FRA1, RSA1

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x) – Semifinals
There can be little doubt that this event is shaping up to be a ‘must-see’ final. The winners of Semifinal One, France’s Stany Delayre and Jeremie Azou, finished in a time just five seconds outside the World Best Time, with the winner of Semifinal Two Italy’s Andrea Micheletti and Pietro Ruta recording a nearly identical time.

In this semifinal Delayre and Azou led from start to finish with Greece’s Eleftherios Konsolas and Spyridon Giannaros slotting into second. But the real race was going on behind them. Germany, Austria and the Netherlands had barely a blink between them as they charged through the middle of the race. Coming into the final sprint Germany couldn’t hold the pace leaving Austria and the Netherlands to go head to head. As Austria began to look a bit ragged, Tycho and Vincent Muda of the Netherlands pushed ahead (albeit by just 0.12 of a second). France, Greece and the Netherlands make it to the final.

Micheletti and Ruta are going to make stiff competition for the French. In Semifinal Two Micheletti and Ruta started out in the lead with Great Britain’s Richard and Peter Chambers chasing hard. The Chambers brothers come from the London Olympic silver medal lightweight four and they look to be holding the mantle of Great Britain’s new lightweight double. Poland’s Artur Mikolajczewski and Mariusz Stanczuk slotted into third, just a little ahead of Denmark’s big ergers, Henrik Stephansen and Steffen Jensen.

Despite Great Britain doing their best to catch the Italians, the order remained the same to the line. Italy, Great Britain and Poland had qualified for tomorrow’s final.
Qualifiers: FRA, GRE, NED, ITA1, GBR, POL

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x) – Semifinals

Here is a crew to watch; Italy’s Laura Milani and Elisabetta Sancassani. Sancassani moved from heavyweight rowing to lightweight last year and in 2012 she teamed up with Milani. The duo haven’t lost an international race since. Today, in Semifinal One, they started off rather slowly but by the middle of the race they had worked their way through to second with New Zealand’s Lucy Strack and Julia Edward in the lead. New Zealand and Italy remained on top of each other through the third 500 as Maaike Head and Elisabeth Woerner of the Netherlands moved closer.

In the final sprint it looked as though Head and Woerner were happy to remain in third while Italy continued to charge home, overtaking New Zealand in the process. These are the three qualifying boats for Sunday’s final.

Coming in just five seconds outside of the World Best Time, the United States’ Kristin Hedstrom and Kathleen Bertko led Semifinal Two from start to finish. Hedstrom and Bertko were not alone at the front. Right on top of them the whole way were London Olympic finalists Lena Mueller and Anja Noske of Germany. Germany kept the pressure on the United States right through to the final sprint when they let Hedstrom and Bertko get away. The United States, Germany and Great Britain’s Kathryn Twyman and Imogen Walsh are all on their way to Sunday’s final.

Hedstrom and Bertko have to finish fourth or better in tomorrow’s final to reserve their spot on the US team for the World Rowing Championships. After this race, that result is looking very likely.
Qualifiers: ITA, NZL, NED, USA, GER1, GBR

Men’s Four (M4-) – Semifinals

The United States men’s four is turning heads on the Rotsee. The US boat, which includes London Olympic finalist, Henrik Rummel, won their heat yesterday and today they led Semifinal One from start to finish. But margins were tight with less than a second separating the top three boats going through the middle of the race. Up there with the Americans were the Olympic silver medallist, Australia and Italy. The Italians then pushed ahead of Australia keeping the heat on the United States. In the sprint to the line Australia rated 40 and kept their strokes long and fluid, the United States was at 40 and held the lead, Italy hit 43 and nearly caught the Americans. These are the three qualifying boats.

The Netherlands finished fifth at the London Olympics in this event and they have retained three members of that crew for the 2013 season. Coming into the mix is stroke-man Robert Luecken. Today they raced in Semifinal Two and got off to a fast start with Germany chasing hard. By the middle of the race the Germans had nearly caught the Dutch and these two countries remained locked together through the third 500 with Belarus now inching past and taking the lead.

Could Belarus hold on to the line?As stroke rates began to rise and the brand new Rotsee finish tower came into sight the Dutch fought back. The Dutch had managed to pull back into the lead with Belarus holding on to second and Germany taking third. Thus the three qualifying boats were decided. Surprisingly Eton Dorney World Cup second-place getters, Great Britain finished in fifth. There was no hiding their disappointment.
Qualifiers: USA, ITA, AUS, NED, BLR, GER

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x) – Semifinals

The Croatians definitely have a bee in their bonnet. They have been taking no prisoners after finishing sixth at the European Rowing Championships. In their next regatta, the Eton Dorney World Cup, Croatia won and here on the Rotsee they continued to be the top boat. In Semifinal One, Croatia got ahead of a fast starting Great Britain and remained in the lead finishing in the fastest qualifying time for tomorrow’s final.

Meanwhile Great Britain kept the head on the Croatian’s, chasing hard for the entire 2000m. But perhaps the real race was going on between the Netherlands, Estonia and Italy. At the half-way point these three crews were separated by little over a second. Then Italy dropped back and then the Netherlands, leaving Estonia to grab the third and final qualifying spot.

Germany may have finished first, but it was Russia that celebrated like they had won a medal at the finish line of Semifinal Two. Russia has made one change from the boat that finished ninth at last month’s European Rowing Championships and it must have served them well. They led at the start before slipping back to third in the face of Germany and Poland. Then the Czech Republic also got the better of the Russians, pushing them out of the qualifying spots. But, coming into the final sprint, margins were tight with less than two seconds separating the top four boats.

Germany did just enough to cross the line in first with Russia, rating 41, doing a mighty sprint that brought them back into second with Poland getting the better of the Czech Republic to take the third and final qualifying position for Sunday’s final.
Qualifiers: CRO, GBR, EST, GER, RUS, POL

Lightweight Men’s Four (LM4-) – Semifinals

The lightweight men’s four is regularly a sprint from start to finish, but today stroke rates were not quite as high. Perhaps these crew were holding something back for tomorrow’s final. In Semifinal One World Cup leaders New Zealand got out into the lead with Great Britain following in second and the Netherlands slotting into third. The order of these three crews did not change through the body of the race and it looked as though the set-up for the final was already established.

Then the Netherlands decided to shake things up. Stroked by Timothee Heijbrock, the Dutch attacked the final sprint overtaking Great Britain and closing on the New Zealanders. Neither of these crews seemed to mind and New Zealand barely pushed up their rating to stay in the lead. New Zealand, the Netherlands and Great Britain all qualify for Sunday’s final.

In Semifinal Two Denmark got out at the start the way they hoped to finish – in the lead. France followed in second and Poland held on to third. But this was soon to change. As France began to feel the pace, Poland pushed into second with South Africa now moving up through the field.

South Africa won gold at last year’s Olympic Games, making history by being the first Olympic gold in rowing not only for South Africa, but for the whole African continent. This is their first regatta since the Olympic Games and they have retained three members of that boat. As Denmark did just enough to remain in the lead, South Africa continued to up the pace. In the sprint to the line it was tight, Michael Voerman in the bow of South Africa’s boat looked out anxiously. They had done it. With Denmark qualifying from first, South Africa took second and Poland just held on to third.
Qualifiers: NZL, NED, GBR, DEN, RSA, POL

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) – Semifinals

Marcel Hacker of Germany has nearly hit his third decade of international rowing. Hacker first raced as a junior in 1994 and since then he has never taken a season off. Today Hacker raced in Semifinal One, leading from start to finish. Luka Spik of Slovenia had a great start but soon slipped out of the qualifying positions. Then Cuba’s Angel Fournier Rodriguez, in his first international outing since the London Olympics, pulled through into second with Roel Braas of the Netherlands giving his all to get past Spik. Braas became a local hero a couple of weeks ago when he was the first Dutch man to win the men’s single at the Holland Beker regatta in about 30 years.

The order was now all but sorted with Germany, Cuba and the Netherlands qualifying for the final on Sunday.

Alan Campbell tested his signature blistering start in Semifinal Two and it worked as he led through to the first 500m mark. But then Olympic silver medallist, Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic put on the pressure and pressed past Campbell to take the lead. With that the order of the race was all but sorted. Synek led the scullers, Campbell held on to Synek’s coat tails and Georgi Bozhilov of Bulgaria sat in third. Lithuania, however, was not giving up. Rolandas Mascinskas of Lithuania kept the heat on and with 500m left to row he had squeezed into third place – the remaining qualifying spot. But Bozhilov fought back and at the line he had squeezed back into third.
Qualifiers: GER, CUB, NED, CZE, GBR1, BUL

Women’s Single Sculls (W1x) – Semifinals

Eleanor Logan of the United States looks to be stepping up in every race she does this season. Logan came from her nation’s Olympic Champion eight to row in the single and she has already picked up two World Cup bronze medals so far in 2013. Today Logan was at the head of Semifinal One staying ahead of some great competition. In second was under-23 doubles champion Magdalena Lobnig of Austria with Olympic finalist, Emma Twigg of New Zealand in third.

This order remained the same to the line despite Chantal Achterberg of the Netherlands putting the heat on Twigg and nearly making it into third.

The fastest qualifying time came in Semifinal Two with Australia’s Kim Crow setting the standard. In a rather pedestrian race in terms of drama, this semifinal saw the finishing order sorted out within the first 300m of the race. Behind Crow was a very comfortable looking Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic with China’s most successful single sculler ever, Xiuyun Zhang following in third. These three leading boats did just enough to retain the status quo and save their energy for the race for the medals that will go on tomorrow.
Qualifiers: USA, AUT, NZL, AUS, CZE, CHN