New Zealand tops World Rowing Cup series for 2014

For immediate release
Lucerne, 13 July 2014

The 2014 World Rowing Cup series had its final day today in Lucerne, Switzerland. Twenty finals were raced with New Zealand finishing the World Rowing Cup series at the top of the medals table.

The World Rowing Cup series kicked off in Sydney (AUS) in March with Australia coming out on top. Following the second World Rowing Cup in Aiguebelette (FRA) last month, Australia remained as the leading country. Then a string of medals for New Zealand at the third World Rowing Cup in Lucerne (SUI) today, put them ahead of Australia.

New Zealand secured gold medals in the men’s pair with the Olympic and World Champion crew of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond continuing their unbeaten winning streak. Mahe Drysdale and Emma Twigg then made it a double header by winning the men’s and women’s single sculls respectively. A fourth gold was taken in the lightweight men’s four with the New Zealanders keeping ahead of World Champions Denmark.

With New Zealand earning 141 points for the series, Great Britain finished in second with 126 points and Australia was third with 125. Overall 36 countries earned World Cup points.

But the most successful nation at Lucerne was Great Britain. The British earned 64 points helped by gold medal success in the women’s pair. Olympic Champions, Heather Stanning and Helen Glover held off New Zealand to take gold. The formidable British men’s four then struck gold ahead of World Champions from the Netherlands with Canada taking third. Great Britain’s third gold medal came in the lightweight women’s double sculls. The crew of Imogen Walsh and Katherine Copeland held off strong challenges from Australia and Canada who took silver and bronze respectively.

One of the most highly anticipated races was the men’s eight with Olympic Champions, Germany racing World Champions Great Britain and new talents Russia. This was Germany’s first major race of the season and they proved to still have the winning edge by finishing ahead of Russia. Great Britain was third.

The 2014 World Rowing Cup series is now complete. Up next is the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Varese (ITA) from 23-27 July 2014. Then the World Rowing Junior Championships will take place in Hamburg (GER) from 6-10 August 2014. The highlight of the season, the World Rowing Championships, will be held from 24-31 August in Amsterdam (NED).

For race reports, photos and results go to www.worldrowing.com