Women’s Pair (BW2-) –Final

Brooke Pierson and Kendall Brewer of the United States recorded the fastest time in the heats earlier in the week to win their heat. Australia (Annabelle McIntyre and Bronwyn Cox) won the second heat and these two crews faced each other for the first time today. But it was Romania that got to the first 500m mark in the lead. Romania had to go through a repechage to get to this final and just squeaked through. Chile’s Melita and Antonia Abraham slotted into second with Australia and United States right on the pace.

The Abraham sisters then got into the lead with Pierson and Brewer right on the pace of Chile. The Abraham sisters are quadruplets with their two brothers also racing at this regatta. Then Brewer, who took gold in the under-23 eight last year, did a call and they closed on Chile. The US then got their bow just ahead of Chile as the close of the race came into view. Denmark was flying and had pulled into a medal spot, but then disaster struck. Something was wrong in the boat and they stopped rowing.

Meanwhile Chile was at 37 and pulling in front of the US who were on 40 but had run out of steam. Australia, who looked tired, had just enough energy to get ahead of the US right on the finish line. What a race. Congratulations to Chile.

Results: CHI, AUS, USA, ROU, RUS, (DEN did not finish)

Melita Abraham (b), Chile, gold
“The race was very hard, the result was a surprise to us. Plovdiv was our most important regatta.”

Bronwyn Cox (s), Australia, silver

“We weren’t really sure what would happen today. When we saw someone caught a crab, stuff like that can happen. I shouted GO. We ditched the technique and we went for it.”

Brooke Pierson (b), United States, bronze
“A really solid race, there are lots of great crews in the competition. The Australians really pushed us in the end, but it was an amazing race to be a part of.”

B-final

This race was down to five as Germany had to pull out for medical reasons. Serbia’s Milica Slijepcevic and Ljiljana Josic just missed out on making the a-final and they led the way in this race. Serbia was still in the lead at the half way point when Mexico really picked up the pace and overtook Serbia. The Serbians had no reply and Fernanda Ceballos and Maite Arrillaga Garay of Mexico drove their boat home to a first place finish.

Results: MEX, SRB, HUN, ITA, CZE