World Best Time for World Champs opening day

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – Heats

This boat class had 29 countries entered. They were divided into five heats with the top four crews getting to go to the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Italy’s Olympian Marcello Miani led the way from start to finish in Heat One and even did a sprint finish to stamp his dominance on this race with a finish time of 6:48.9. This time was just two seconds outside of the World Best Time and ended up being the fastest qualifying time.

Going off at a 42 stroke rate pace, Jingin Zhao of China got out the quickest in Heat Two. Zhao tried to hold this race as long as possible as he was up against this year’s European Champion, Pedro Fraga of Portugal. By the middle of the race the field was closing on Zhao with Fraga pushing into the lead. Then Australia sprinted past China with Zhao doing his best to hold on and qualify.

At the opening of Heat Three, this year’s Under-23 Champion, Andrew Campbell of the United States was in front followed by Russia’s Alexandr Tufanyuk. Campbell has become quite a rowing figurehead in the United States as only occasionally do top single scullers come through the ranks. Campbell raced at the under-23 champs last month and dominated the race. He dominated this race so much so that he could drop his stroke rate to 29 in the closing metres of the race.

Heat Five went before Heat Four after Hungary’s Daniel Matyasovszki fell into the water on the way to the start line. Heat Four had the winner of the World Rowing Cup last month in Lucerne , Michael Schmid of Switzerland in the lead. Schmid remained in the lead through the middle of the race over Javid Afandiyev of Azerbaijan. In the final sprint Afandiyev upped his stroke rate to 36 to try and overtake Schmid, but Schmid did just enough to hold off Afandiyev. 

Going back to Heat Four, Germany’s Lars Hartig got out to an early lead with the rest of the field following in a practical line. This closeness remained through the entire race with Hartig still able to maintain the lead. What a sight at the finish line! Hartig crossed first with a virtual line behind him.

Qualifiers: ITA, DEN, JPN, TUN, POR, AUS, IRL, CHN, USA, SLO, ESP, SUI, AZE, BUL, ARG, GER, SRB, FRA, HUN

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – Heats

Three heats lined up in this boat class with the aim to be in a top three spot. This would give these scullers a direct path to the semifinals on Thursday. Germany’s Leonie Pless had the fastest start in Heat One and also led for the entire race. Pless has spent most of this season racing in the lightweight double, but back in the single she was doing great. Rating 30 coming into the final sprint, Pless was not really being pressed for her leading position.

In Heat Two Eveline Peleman of Belgium took control. Peleman finished in the bronze medal spot at last month’s under-23 championships and is very much a sculler to watch out for. Surprisingly Marie-Anne Frenken of the Netherlands, who won bronze at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne last month, was back in third. A challenge by Shuai Guo of China at the finish pushed up Peleman’s pace, but Peleman was able to hold off Guo.

The order at the start of Heat Three was not as expected with under-23 and World Cup medallist, Aikaterini Nikolaidou of Greece sitting at the back of the field. But then the Greek found her stride and moved up on current leader, Teresa Berkholtz of Canada. Berkholtz is at her first ever international regatta and was having a great debut. Then Nikolaidou pulled out a big piece that propelled her into the lead. Berkholtz had no reply but still qualified from second.

Qualifiers: GER, USA, DEN, BEL, CHN, NED, GRE, CAN, RSA

Women’s Pair (W2-) – Heats

This boat class attracted 15 countries and they were divided into three heats with the top three crews from each heat able to take a direct path to the semifinals on Thursday. In Heat One the third and fourth-placed crews from the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne – New Zealand and South Africa respectively – lined up. Naydene Smith and Lee-Ann Persse of South Africa took off the fastest and moving into the second half of the race they had managed to pull away from New Zealand by a bit more than a boat length. Smith and Persse crossed the line at a 35 stroke rate ahead of New Zealand and also recorded the fastest qualifying time of the three heats.

Reigning World and Olympic Champions, Great Britain led the way in Heat Two. By the middle of the race Helen Glover and Heather Stanning of Great Britain had established a dominating position. By the final 100m of the race Glover and Stanning chose to cruise at a 25 stroke rate. Ireland, who sat in second for the entire race, crossed the line in second.

Seeded in Heat Three were Megan Kalmoe and Kerry Simmonds of the United States. Kalmoe and Simmonds showed that the seeding must have been correct by leading the way over Romania’s Cristina Grigoras and Laura Oprea. Kalmoe and Simmonds last raced at the World Rowing Cup in Aiguebelette in June where they finished second. Coming through to the last 500m of the race the Americans had a handy lead but still kept their stroke rate up at 34 to cross the line in first.

Qualifiers: RSA, NZL, AUS, GBR, IRL, CAN, USA, ROU, CZE

Men’s Pair (M2-) – Heats

A full field of 20 nations opened the racing in the men’s pair. They were divided into four heats with the top two boats in each heat earning a direct path to the semifinals due to be raced on Thursday. In the opening heat, Heat One, it was all about high rating with Germany holding 37 through  the body of the race, while the Netherlands held 38. Germany’s Bastian Bechler and Anton Braun medalled at the World Rowing Cup in Aiguebelette, while Rogier Blink and Mitchel Steenman of the Netherlands medalled at last year’s World Rowing Championships, but have struggled with illness this season. To huge audience support, the Dutch came home in second to qualify behind Germany.

Sitting in the middle of Heat Two were the unbeaten New Zealand duo of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond. They have owned the event since 2009 and to challenge themselves at this regatta they have also entered the men’s coxed pair. It didn’t take long for Murray and Bond to get into the lead with Turkey following in second. Turkey had Argentina hot on their heels right through to the finish with a better sprint (of 43 strokes per minute) giving Argentina the second spot and the qualifying position.

Heat Three saw that the new Italian combination of Marco Di Costanzo and Matteo Castaldo may not be the fastest starters, but going through the second 500m they were able to overtake early leaders, South Africa. But Vincent Breet and Shaun Keeling of South Africa did not want to finish second and in the close of the race they took their stroke rate to 43. The Italians held on for a bit and then decided not to push it, accepting second.

Starting at the absolute same speeds in Heat Four was Spain and Great Britain. The British crew of James Foad and Matt Langridge had taken silver last month at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, while Spain’s Alexander Sigurbjonsson benet and Pau Vela Maggi had raced in the B-final. These two crews remained level through the middle of the race, before Foad and Langridge showed their superior stamina and moved away in the lead. Foad and Langridge’s time of 6:20 was the fastest qualifying time of all four heats.

Qualifiers: GER, NED, NZL, ARG, RSA, ITA, GBR, ESP

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x) – Heats

This boat class always attracts a huge field and for the 2014 World Rowing Championships, five heats lined up with the top four boats in each heat earning a spot in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. The French crew of Stany Delayre and Jeremie Azou have gone unbeaten this season and they come to Amsterdam as the crew to beat. Delayre and Azou lined up in Heat One and showed their continued dominance. By the middle of the race the French had a very handy lead and loving this tail wind, they sculled their own race at the head of the field and it gave them a new World Best Time of 6:08.64 – nearly two seconds faster than the former time which was also set in Amsterdam in 2007 by Denmark.

After an early lead by Spain in Heat Two, Great Britain’s William Fletcher and Jamie Kirkwood took over in the lead. Then the United States attacked and forced the British to sprint through to the finish. This closing sprint still saw Fletcher and Kirkwood finish nine seconds slower than the French in the previous heat.

Heat Three had the German crew of Moritz Moos and Jason Osborne get away the fastest using a high 42 stroke rate to stay in the lead. Moos and Osborne are the reigning Under-23 World Champions and they have been having a great 2014 season. But then Italy’s Andrea Micheletti and Pietro Ruta pushed into the lead with the Germans having no reply. Micheletti and Ruta finished fourth at last year’s World Rowing Championships and they are looking for medals this year. They crossed the line in first to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Switzerland’s Simon Schuerch and Mario Gyr took hold of the lead in Heat Four with South Africa chasing hard. Both the Swiss and the South Africans (James Thompson and John Smith) raced in the lightweight four at the London Olympic Games with Thompson and Smith taking gold. Coming through the second half of the race Thompson and Smith pushed into the lead with Schuerch and Gyr holding on tight. Schuerch and Gyr then decided not to push it and there was no push to the finish.

Netherlands got their chance in Heat Five with the Muda twins lining up, but it was the reigning World Champions, Kristoffer Brun and Are Strandli of Norway in the lead. Brun and Strandli have had an up and down season, but they were looking back on form today with a very handy lead over the rest of the field. Meanwhile, China had been working their way through the field and were trying to close on Norway. But it was the Muda twins that they needed to watch out for. The crowd helped bring the Dutch crew home in a close third.

Qualifiers: FRA, GRE, JPN, UKR, GBR, USA, ESP, CAN, ITA, GER, DEN, NZL, RSA, SUI, CZE, BRA, NOR, CHN, NED, AUT

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x) -Heats

A total of 22 nations entered their best lightweight scullers in this boat class with these scullers divided into four heats. The top boat only in each heat will go directly to the semifinals due to be raced on Thursday. In Heat One Germany’s Lena Mueller and Anja Noske had the fastest start. But margins were close and Mueller and Noske needed to keep their momentum going to hold the lead. Coming into the second half of the race it was very close between Germany, Australia and Ireland. Then Australia’s Alice McNamara and Ella Flecker (silver medallists in World Cup III) showed their speed and crossed the line in first.

The South African crew of Kirsten McCann and Ursula Grobler had the lead at the start of Heat Two and they held it through the middle of the race. But the United States was challenging from one lane over and even managed to take the lead for a short spell. McCann and Grobler did not let up and in the final sprint the South Africans led the way to the finish at a 33 stroke rate pace.

Racing in Heat Three was the Olympic Champion Katherine Copeland with new partner Imogen Walsh of Great Britain. They won at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne last month and they set the pace today in their heat. By the middle of the race Copeland and Walsh had an open water lead with Poland, in second, trying to close the gap. Rating 36 through to the finish line, Great Britain crossed the line in first to qualify for the semifinals.

Heat Four created a lot of interest as it had the reigning World Champions, Italy racing. The Italians finished outside of the medals at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne last month. Had they been able to step up through recent training? Then there was the new New Zealand combination of Sophie MacKenzie and Julia Edward. Edward won the World Cup series in the lightweight single and has now joined with Under-23 Champion from the lightweight double, MacKenzie. Edward and MacKenzie took off in the lead and remained there for the entire race with Italy unable to close the gap.

Qualifiers: AUS, RSA, GBR, NZL

Men’s Four (M4-) – Heats

Divided into three heats, the goal in the men’s four was to finish in a top two spot for a direct path to Thursday’s semifinals. Heat One was a nail-biter as all six crews looked very evenly matched with 500m rowed. Then the United States managed to get their nose in front, but a nose was all that it was with just one second separating the top five crews. The United States took bronze at the World Championships last year with the Netherlands, who had now moved into second, the reigning World Champions.

This is the race that the crowd had come to see and the Netherlands gave them what they wanted. Rating 39, the Dutch managed to squeeze through and into the lead. Just half a second separated the top three boats with the United States qualifying for the semifinals and Serbia just missing out.

The young Italian crew had the fastest start in Heat Two. But they soon ran out of steam with Poland taking over in first. Poland raced in the B-final at the World Rowing Cup last month in Lucerne but they have made a change in the crew for this regatta and they were leading the way. Greece then started to chase. In the final sprint Greece upped their stroke rate to 41 and overtook Poland. Then three seat in the Polish crew caught a crab. Although the crew recovered quickly, they had been overtaken by Canada and were out of the qualifying spots.

The British crew made it look easy as they led Heat Three right from the start. Great Britain won this year’s World Rowing Cup series and they come to Amsterdam in an unbeaten position. Looking smooth and long and in control, Great Britain came to the finish line to record the fastest qualifying time. Australia, in second, never managed to close the leading gap despite their 37 stroke rate finish.

Qualifiers: NED, USA, GRE, CAN, GBR, AUS

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x) – Heats

This boat class had 13 countries lining up and they were divided into three heats with the top three boats from each heat getting to go directly to the semifinals on Thursday. Canada, who took silver at the World Rowing Cup last month in Lucerne, got away the fastest and remained there through the half way mark. The United States remained the closest challenger and, in second, they were nearly matching the Canadians pace. Margins between these two crews remained tight right through to the finish with the United States getting their bow ball in front with just a couple of strokes left to row. The US time of 6:12 was the fastest qualifying time and also less than three seconds outside of the World Best Time.

Poland had the fastest start in Heat Two with World Champions, Germany right on their pace. The Germans came to Amsterdam after winning at the last two World Cups and by the middle of the race, Germany had moved into the lead. Then New Zealand attacked Poland and moved into second. Putting the pressure on Germany, New Zealand kept their stroke rate high, but they were unable to catch the World Champions.

Heat Three had China come out very quickly with Australia right on their pace. The Australian’s finished fourth at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne. China did not race in Lucerne leaving a bit of a mystery over what they would do there. By the middle of the race, Australia had moved into the lead, but it was miniscule over China. The Chinese then pushed back to regain the leading margin and at a 36, then 40 stroke rate pace, China held the lead right through to the finish line.

Qualifiers: USA, CAN, NED, GER, NZL, POL, CHN, AUS, BLR

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x) – Heats

A large field of 20 countries and 80 athletes raced in the men’s quadruple sculls. They were divided into four heats with the top two boats in each heat making it through to the semifinals. The first heat started with Switzerland in the lead. But it didn’t last long with Estonia and then New Zealand overtaking the Swiss. Switzerland had no answer. This left Estonia and New Zealand to battle it out at the head of the field. Estonia had finished second at the World Cup last month in Lucerne while New Zealand had been fourth. Both of these crews raced it to the line and both of them qualified for the semifinals.

Ukraine stamped their authority on Heat Two to take the lead at the start. But the Germans were not prepared to let Ukraine get away. Germany are the reigning Olympic Champions and finished with silver last year, but this season has not completely gone their way with a sixth place finish at the Lucerne World Rowing Cup. These two crews paced each other for the full 2000m race with Germany never managing to overtake Ukraine. Both of these boats qualified for the semifinals.

The top boat this season has been Great Britain and they had the lead at the start of Heat Three. But Poland did not make it easy for the British and pushed them through to the finish. Both of these crews qualified for the semifinals.  Heat Four had Russia get out in front at the start and go through the middle of the race with a small margin over China in second. Then a big 41 stroke rate finish by China gave them the lead at the finish.

Qualifiers: EST, NZL, UKR, GER, GBR, POL, CHN, RUS

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) – Heats

With 31 countries lining up, the men’s single sculls was the biggest field at this regatta. They were divided into six heats with the top three scullers in each heat getting to go directly to the quarterfinals on Wednesday. This is Julien Bahain’s first season in the single and he raced for Canada at the head of Heat One. Medallist from the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Angel Fournier Rodriguez of Cuba followed in second, but never really challenged for the lead. Bahain was still in the lead at the finish.

Dominating Heat Two was Mindaugas Griskonis of Lithuania. Griskonis raced in the final at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, but unfortunately clipped the buoy and ended up in the water. Today he stayed dry and was unrelenting over the rest of the field to cross the line in first and record the fastest qualifying time. Heat Three saw Germany’s Marcel Hacker lead the way with Denmark’s Sverri Nielsen following in second. This race turned into a case of experience against youth with Nielsen 16 years Hacker’s junior. The order remained the same with no sprint happening at the end of the race.

It was no surprise in Heat Four to see the reigning World Champion, Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic in the lead. Italy’s Francesco Cardaioli followed in second, but Synek looked in control and in a position to counter any attacks that may come his way. A crab by Ganggang Li of China set him back but he still managed to hold on to the third spot and at the end of the race Li had qualified for the quarterfinals.

The Olympic Champion Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand lined up in Heat Five. By the middle of the race Drysdale had an open water lead leaving the rest of the field to hold their own race. Still, despite his handy lead, Drysdale kept his pace going with Mexico’s Juan Carlos Cabrera easily in second over Australia.

His face is on many of the posters around the regatta course. Roel Braas of the Netherlands has become the pin up boy of this World Championships and he raced in Heat Six. But it was the United States who had the lead at the start. This didn’t last long as Aleksandar Aleksandrov of Azerbaijan took over out in front with Braas chasing hard. Braas knows this regatta course very well and earlier this season won the Holland Beker regatta. Coming into the final sprint there were three boats giving it their all – Aleksandrov, Braas and Hannes Obreno of Belgium. All three scullers sprinted to the end with Aleksandrov crossing first.

Qualifiers: CAN, FIN, CUB, LTU, BLR, NOR, GER, DEN, FRA, CZE, ITA, CHN, NZL, MEX, AUS, AZE, BEL, NED

Women’s Single Sculls (W1x) – Heats

A total of 28 countries lined up today and they were divided into five heats with the goal being to finish in a top four spot for a direct track to the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Winner of this season’s World Cup series, Emma Twigg of New Zealand led the way in Heat One. By the middle of the race, Twigg had a huge gaping lead over the rest of the field. This meant that Twigg could drop her stroke rate and conserve her energy for another day.

Heat Two gave Olympic Champion Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic a chance to go through her paces without too much pressure. But Knapkova still kept a wary eye on Victoria Thornley of Great Britain who kept Knapkova honest. Thornley earned a second place qualifying spot for her efforts. Thornley comes into the single after her doubles partner had to withdraw from this regatta due to a virus. Heat Three was all about Magdalena Lobnig of Austria at the head of the field with Genevra Stone of the United Sates not far back. Lobnig finished fourth at last year’s World Rowing Championships and she must be pushing for a medal this year. Lobnig started off well with a win in her heat.

Heat Four had China’s Jingli Duan in the lead for the first half of the race before Olympian, Sanita Puspure of Ireland got in front and moved away from the field. Puspure comes back from injury that kept her away from some of this year’s racing. Today Puspure did what she needed to do and crossed the line in first.

The final race of the day and the final heat in the women’s single featured the reigning World Champion Kim Crow of Australia. With just 500m rowed, Crow already had a huge lead and it just got bigger as the race progressed. The very experienced 41-year-old Julia Levina of Russia followed way back in second. Nothing changed in the order with Crow clocking a solid 7:24 time.

Qualifiers: NZL, BLR, LAT, SUI, CZE, GBR, LTU, UKR, AUT, USA, SWE, IRL, NED, CHN, CRO, AUS, RUS, SRB, GER