Junior Men’s Double (JM2x) – Final

One of the biggest entries at this regatta meant that progression to the final included quarterfinals. Australia won their heat and were then beaten in the quarterfinal by Greece. Greece and Australia won their respective semifinals and they faced each other again today taking up the middle lanes. A faulty start brought all crews back into the blocks and the race delayed. Belarus went off at 53, but it was Germany that got away the quickest. Jan Berend and Simon Schlott of Germany took gold at the European Rowing Junior Championships. They also both raced in the 2016 World Rowing Junior Championships, but the quad. Despite their fast start, Australia was just in front with Germany and Greece going with Cormac Kennedy-Leverett and Fergus Hamilton of Australia.

Then Belarus came through to challenge Australia’s lead with Greece slotting into third. Hamilton and Kennedy-Leverett then pulled away from Belarus’s Artsem Laputsin and Yauheni  Zalaty who were overrating the Australians but not catching them. Australia went to 37 but still looked relaxed as they took their boat to gold. Belarus took silver and bronze went to Christos Stergiakas and Charalampos Ntinenis of Greece.

Results: AUS, BLR, GRE, GER, FRA, ESP

Fergus Hamilton (s), Australia, gold
“I loved that race, we really went for it. We managed to get out front and just hold it. We’ve actually only had four weeks together rowing. It was quite rocky at the start. This is a great course.”

Yauheni Zalaty (s), Belarus, silver
“The end of the race was really good, we really fed of the crowd and the feeling. We thought the result could have been better, but we were still happy.”

Charalampos Ntinenis (s), Greece, bronze
“We both thought it was a great race, a perfect race. it is so cool to medal in such a big competition. There were a few rough patches, but we are very happy.”

B-final

Italy and Belgium had the best races in yesterday’s semifinals and Belgium took the lead at the start before Moldova took over with a big piece at the 750m point. Denmark then moved up on Belgium. Coming into the final sprint Ivan Corsunov and Alexandru Masnic of Moldova still had the lead. Corsunov took his boat to 36 over Belgium’s 38 with Denmark right there. Moldova was exhausted but couldn’t have been happier.

Results: MDA, DEN, BEL, SVK, ITA, NED