Babac does Slovakia proud in Lucerne World Rowing Cup finals

Men’s Coxed Pair (M2+) – Final

Two boats lined up in the first A-Final raced at World Rowing Cup III. Great Britain raced in lane one and Germany in lane two. British rowers Matthew Tarrant and Callum McBrierty raced in the coxless men’s pair at World Rowing Cup II in Varese where they finished sixth. With Tarrant celebrating his 25^th birthday today, the British boat must have been motivated to have two causes for celebration this evening: they finished five lengths ahead of Germany in gold.

Results: GBR, GER

Henry Fieldman (cox) – GBR – gold

“There is a strong headwind out there and the coxed pair is already heavy enough as it is. But it was our first 2k together and we used it as much as we could. It was a really good learning experience as we could see where we can improve.”

Jonas Wiesen (cox) – GER – silver  

“We had a good start and by 750m the British got ahead of us. We did a big burst at the 1000m but Great Britain was even stronger.”

Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-) – Final

The French crew of Augustin Mouterde and Theophile Onfroy took gold at the World Rowing Cup in Varese and silver at the European Rowing Championships this year. But it was the British crew of Jonathan Clegg and Sam Scrimgeour starting ahead of the field, with the French back in fourth. The British pair were part of the British lightweight men’s four that finished fourth at the European Rowing Championships. Following in second position were the Italians of Petru Zaharia and Armando Dell’Aquila and, in third, the Danes of Emil Espensen and Steffen Jensen. With 250m to row, there was hardly anything between Great Britain and Italy as Italy started to push up through Great Britain with Great Britain fighting back hard. But it was not hard enough. Italy crossed the line in gold, Great Britain in silver and Denmark in bronze.

Results: ITA, GBR, DEN, FRA, GER, IRL

Petru Zaharia (Bow) – ITA – gold

 “GBR was fast at the start, we attacked at the 1000m and then it was really side by side. I didn’t know if we had won until we got to the pontoon.”

Jonathan Clegg (bow) – GBR – silver

“We should have held the pace better in the head wind, we went too early.”

Emil Espensen (bow) – DEN – bronze

“We had a really good first thousand, then it became too rough for us. The last 200m were stiff and we managed to stay in front of the French. We are satisfied because we’ve only rowed together for 6 weeks.”

B-Final

Two boats lined up in the B-final of the lightweight men’s pair: Austria and Turkey. Austria was dominant from the start, taking the lead ahead of Turkey and keeping it until the line, crossing the line first by three-quarters of a length.

Results: AUT, TUR

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – Final

Slovakia’s Lukas Babac medalled at each World Rowing regatta so far this season: gold at World Rowing Cup I in Bled, silver at the European Rowing Championships and, in Varese, at World Rowing Cup II, another silver medal. Babac took the golden lead from the start. At the half-way mark New Zealand’s Adam Ling seemed to have secured his second position. But, with 250m left to row, Serbia’s Milos Stanojevic, who had raced in third position until then, made his move and took hold of the silver-medal position ahead of New Zealand. Babac crossed the line with a clear-water lead in gold. Germany did not start the race.

Results: SVK, SRB, NZL, BEL, FRA, GER1 (DNS for medical reasons)

Lukas Babac – SLO – gold

“I didn’t feel good this morning in the semi. But felt much better to win the final. We are all ready to take two hard races on the same day, like it is here.”

Milos Stanojevic – SRB – silver

“It’s my best result ever, so I am really happy. We tried a double, and it didn’t work, so it was decided that I will finish the season in the single. I have a new boat now for seven days and it seems to be fast.

Adam Ling – NZL – bronze

“It’s been a revelation in the single. I had a really good summer in New Zealand, which is turning into a good “other” summer in Europe. I will stay in the single for Aiguebelette.”

B-Final

Turkey had two boats lined up in the B-Final of the lightweight men’s single sculls. It was Turkey1 in lane one with Ugur Ozcan out in front from the get-go. He held on to the lead until the line, finishing ahead of Denmark’s Andrej Bendtsen.

Results: TUR1, DEN, ITA, TUR2, TUN

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – Final

New Zealand’s Zoe McBride set a new World Best Time in the lightweight women’s single sculls at World Rowing Cup II in Varese where she also won gold. Unsurprisingly, she jumped out of the starting blocks in front. Denmark’s Runge Homegaard followed in second and Great Britain’s Imogen Walsh in third. Walsh is this year’s European Champion in this event. With 250m left to row, Walsh resisted a last-minute challenge from Homegaard, guarding her silver medal. McBride took gold three lengths ahead of Greeat Britain in silver and Denmark in bronze.

Results: NZL, GBR, DEN, NZL2, GER, ITA

Zoe McBride – NZL – gold

“I raced today as if it was a new day, without thinking about the world record. We start the double on Monday and we only have eight days to make it right for the Under 23s in Plovdiv. I look forward to it.

Immogen Walsh – GBR – silver

“To win any medal is something you have to be proud of and i am really pleased with this one. But as an athlete my goal is always to win gold, of course with respect to all of my opponents. I will know if I stay in the single after this regatta.

Runge  Holmegaard – DEN – bronze

“It’s my first season in the single and Varese was my first ever A-final. I did 6^th there and now I got the bronze. It’s fantastic, it is great to get a medal here.”

B-Final

Amina Rouba of Algeria, in lane two, was initially the leading boat in the B-Final of the lightweight women’s single sculls. By the half-way mark Kate Johnstone of South Africa had moved into first position with Japan moving up into second and Algeria falling back into third. At the line, Rouba had managed to reclaim second behind South Africa, with Japan crossing the line in third.

Results: RSA, ALG, JPN, IRL, TUN, LAT