Speed and sincerity for first heats at World Rowing Champs

Men’s Coxed Pair (M2+) – Heats

Two heats started this World Rowing Championships with the goal in each heat to be first. This would give them a direct path to the final in Friday. The most experienced crew raced in lane one of Heat One – Great Britain. Thomas Ford and Timothy Clarke with Harry Brightmore as coxswain took control at the start of the race and looked rather relaxed as they crossed in first with an open water lead. France and Italy did a 40 stroke sprint finish, but it was academic as they will have to return for a repechage.

Heat Two saw both Germany and Australia move away together. These two boats remained neck and neck through to the middle of the race. Both crews remained unrelenting coming into the 1500m mark when Australia’s Wruck and Widdicombe did a piece. It worked as Australia moved into the lead and building to a full length. Australia was at 38 with Germany at 36 coming into the final sprint. Australia then went to 40 to hold off Germany at the line. Both Great Britain and Australia recorded similar finishing times of 6:59.16 and 6:59.41 respectively.

Qualifiers: GBR, AUS

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – Heats

A total of 27 countries lined up to race in this boat class. They were divided into five heats with the top four boats in each heat getting to go directly to the quarterfinals. In Heat One Artur Mikolajczewski of Poland took the win.

Heat Two had Kristoffer Brun of Norway in the lead early on. Brun medalled at the Rio Olympics in the lightweight men’s double sculls and he has been in the single for the full 2017 season. Matthew Dunham of New Zealand challenged Brun through the body of the race. Dunham was fifth at the third World Rowing Cup. This must have earned him a spot on the national team for these World Rowing Championships. At the finish Dunham did a 43 stroke finish to win the race.

The 2016 World Champion in this boat class, Paul O’Donovan of Ireland featured in Heat Three. O’Donovan is the Rio silver medallist from the lightweight men’s double, but his brother and rowing partner, Gary suffered a viral infection and could not race at this World Champs. This brought Paul into the single and he was in the lead at the 1000m mark. Brazil’s, Uncas Batista followed in second.

Slovenia’s Rajko Hrvat was the most experienced sculler in Heat Four and he led from the start maintaining the fastest speed through the middle of the race. The next most experienced sculler was Peter Galambos of Hungry and he followed in second. But Hrvat had already built up a massive lead using a high stroke rate to remain way out in front.  Lars Wichert of Germany had the best start in Heat Five with Michael Schmid of Switzerland the main challenger. Wichert then pushed away from Schmid with Nicholas Trojan of the United States following in third. Schmid is the current European Champion and he must have been holding off in this early round of racing.

Qualifiers: POL, MEX, SVK, CRO, NZL, NOR, CZE, TUN, IRL, BRA, ITA, THA, SLO, HUN, TUR, KOR, GER, SUI, USA, CAN

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – Heats

The three heats in this boat class had each sculler needing at top three finish for a direct path to the semifinals. Heat One featured the reigning under-23 champion, Marieke Keijser of the Netherlands. But it was Sweden’s Emma Fredh who took the lead at the start with a 47 stroke rate pace. Then Licet Hernandez of Cuba got her nose ahead with Keijser right on the pace. Keijser then pushed into the lead with Fredh holding the pace. Keijser was on 36 and Fredh on 37 at the finish with Hernandez holding third.

Heat Two saw Kenia Lecuga Alanis of Mexico taking a fast start before Patricia Merz of Switzerland took over in the lead. Lecuga was the babe of the Rio Olympics when she beat the World Champion, Kim Brennan of Australia in the heat. But today was not Lecuga’s day as Poland and then the United States overtook her. Merz led the pack home with Martyna Mikoajczak of Poland trying to hold off Mary Jones of the United States. Jones’s sprint gave her second with Mikoajczak in third. Merz had recorded the fastest qualifying time.

Kirsten McCann of South Africa was the first to show in Heat Three. McCann raced at the Rio Olympics in the lightweight double, but she has showed her worth in the single this season. Ireland’s Denise Walsh followed in second with Italy and Germany battling it out for third. Walsh was second at this year’s European Rowing Championships and in the final sprint she was neck and neck with McCann. It was a photo finish.

Qualifiers: NED, SWE, CUB, SUI, USA, POL, IRL, RSA, ITA

Men’s Pair (M2-) – Heats

This boat class had three heats with the top two going through to the semi-finals. In Heat One the European Champions, Italy led the way. Matteo Lodo and Giuseppe Vicino of Italy held a high rating and came through to the finish rating 38 strokes per minute. Behind them Spain and France battled it for second with France’s Onfroy brothers getting the advantage. Spain will have to race the repechage.

Croatia’s Martin and Valent Sinkovic had an absolutely flyer of a start in Heat Two. The Sinkovic’s swapped to the pair after winning the Olympic men’s double last year. They wanted a new challenge and in the one race they have had this season, they finished second. By the middle of the race the Sinkovic’s had an open water lead over Belarus and Serbia who were neck and neck. Belarus’s Furman and Valadzko then broke away but they could not catch the Croatians. The Sinkovic’s kept a 38 stroke rate through to the finish to win with a huge margin with Belarus in second. Croatia’s finishing time of 6:22 gave them the fastest qualifying time.

The new United States crew of Colella and Weiss had the fastest start in Heat Three. Then the winners of World Rowing Cup Three, Thomas Murray and James Hunter of New Zealand took over in the lead with the US now being challenged by Tom Jeffery and Thomas George of Great Britain. Jeffery and George then closed on Murray and Hunter who went to 39 to stay in front.

Qualifiers: ITA, FRA, CRO, BLR, NZL, GBR

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x) – Heats

With 24 countries lined up this was one of the biggest boat classes at these World Championships. Divided into four heats the goal here was to be first for a direct path to the semi-finals. Heat One featured the reigning Olympic Champions, Pierre Houin and Jeremie Azou of France. They took off in the lead, as they are accustomed to do, and kept their stroke rate at 38 to hold the lead. Argentina and Denmark battled it out behind France for second. By the middle of the race Houin and Azou had earned an open water lead. Despite their margin the French sprinted the finish going to 42 strokes per minute to that the win and the qualifying spot and record the fastest qualifying time by a huge seven seconds.

China’s new combination of Man Sun and Junjie Fan led the way at the start of Heat Two. The duo finished fourth at the Poznan World Rowing Cup earlier this season and they still had the lead at the half way point. Germany and Ukraine conducted a full on battle for second but they were way back from China who were now dominating this race. Sun raced at the Rio Olympics in this boat class and finished 11^th. Then Khmara and Kovalov of Ukraine did a huge push and closed on China. But the Chinese had too much of a lead and crossed the line easily in first.

The Belgian duo of Tim Brys and Niels van Zandweghe took the lead in Heat Three. But the field was incredibly tight and Kowalski and Jankowski of Poland then pushed into the lead by a mere pin head. In the two centre lanes Belgium and Poland went head-to-head through the middle of the race. The battle remained coming into the final sprint. Kowalski and Jankowski had more to give and they did a gear change to drop the tiring Belgians who took the pressure off just before the finish.

Italy had their nose in front of Heat Four. Stefano Oppo and Pietro Ruta of Italy then pushed away from the field. Oppo and Ruta medalled twice this season at the European Championships and World Rowing Cup III and by the middle of the race they had a clear water lead over Great Britain who were way back in second. This race now turned into pretty much a procession. Italy looked comfortable coming into the finish, holding a 36 stroke rate before doing a last minute 41 to pronounce their dominance.

Qualifiers: FRA, CHN, POL, ITA

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x) – Heats

The job to do here was to finish first or second for a direct path to the semifinals. These 18 nations were divided into three heats opening with Heat One being a full-on battle from start to finish. Italy opened in the lead before the reigning under-23 champions, Romania took over in the lead. But at the half way point there was very little in it with less than two seconds between the top three boats. New Zealand’s McBride and Kiddle then caught up to Romania’s Lehaci and Beleaga and a better finishing sprint gave McBride and Kiddle the win. Romania qualified from second.

Heat Two was down to five boats as the Nigerian crew did not make weight. At the start Fang Chen and Dandan Pan of China had the lead. Then France’s Bove and Tarantola took over in the lead with China trying to hold on. Pan and Chen won at World Rowing Cup II this season and with Pan in the boat they have a wealth of talent. Bove and Tarantola spent most of the season in the single and thus come to Sarasota-Bradenton as a relatively unknown factor. Bove and Tarantola then broke away from China with Germany following in third. France raced a comfortable 33 at the finish to take the win.

The fastest at the start of Heat Three was Poland’s Weronika Deresz and Joanna Dorociak. They remained in the lead over Schmieg and Sechser of the United States with Russia in third. Deresz and Dorociak are the 2017 European Champions and they also medalled at two World Rowing Cups this season. But, despite this pedigree, Schmieg and Sechser then pushed into the lead with 500m left to row. The American crowd came to life as Poland and the United States went head to head into the finish. Poland, rating 37, got to the line first with the US on 42 taking second. Poland recorded the fastest qualifying time with the United States recording the second fastest.

Qualifiers: NZL, ROU, FRA, CHN, POL, USA

Men’s Four (M4-) – Heats

The men’s four was divided into three heats and the goal here was to be in a top three position to take a direct path to the semifinals. Heat One had the Olympic Champions, Great Britain sitting in the outside lane. Rossiter, Sbihi, Tarrant and Satch of Great Britain won World Rowing Cup III in July – the last international race before these world championships. But it was South Africa that took an early lead with a 57 stroke rate start. Great Britain settled to a 41 stroke rate pace and at the 500m mark the British had the lead. Great Britain remained in the lead at the half way point with Germany now overtaking South Africa to move into second. But it looked like the British would dominate this race with the rest of the field remaining incredibly tight. The British took the win with Germany in second and Austria’s under-23 crew taking third.

Australia took the lead in Heat Two and remained there through the middle of the race with Spain and New Zealand battling it out for second. New Zealand could not catch the more experienced Spanish crew who were able to pull away. But despite getting away from New Zealand, Spain could not catch Australia. This race was a procession into the finish with Australia able to drop their stroke rate to 31 to hold the lead.

Rio Olympic medallists, Italy had the lead at the start of Heat Three. The Italians love to rate high and they ‘settled’ to a 39 stroke rate pace with Denmark following in second. Despite Italy’s pace the field remained very tight and at the half way point there was just three seconds separating the entire field. The European Champion crew, Italy still just had the lead with Denmark the closest challengers. Italy was still rating 39 coming into the final sprint and this got them a little bit of a margin over Denmark who were now being challenged by the Dutch with Canada now really sprinting. Italy got there first and recorded the fastest qualifying time with Denmark, in second, recording the second fastest time.

Qualifiers: GBR, GER, AUT, AUS, ESP, NZL, ITA, DEN, NED

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x) – Heats

Two heats lined up with the top two boats in each heat getting to go directly to the final. Poland took the lead at the start of Heat One before the less experienced United States crew took over in the lead. The Poles held on with Germany also very much on the leading pace. Poland’s Kobus, Wieliczko, Springwald and Zillmann then moved into the lead with Great Britain moving up to challenge for a qualifying spot. With Poland in a slight lead the United States and Great Britain took second place to a photo finish. Tension built with Great Britain finally being called as the second place getters. Poland had recorded the fastest qualifying time.

Australia led at the start of Heat Two today. The Netherlands slotted into second with Ukraine in third. Ukraine finished fourth at last year’s Olympics and three of those scullers have returned to this boat. Australia still had the lead coming into the final sprint with the Netherlands challenging hard. The Dutch, who medalled at the Rio Olympics, then moved into the lead.

Qualifiers: POL, GBR, NED, AUS

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x) – Heats

Three heats lined up with the aim of being in a top three position for a direct path to the semifianls. In Heat One China had the lead at the start but they lost it at the half way point with Poland pushing into the lead. At the half way point this race remained incredibly tight with just over a second separating the entire field. Coming into the final sprint the margins remained tight as Poland went to 37 and New Zealand pushing it to 40. Poland and New Zealand qualified, with the Russian crew, made up of under-23 silver medallists, taking third.

The European Champions, Lithuania was not in the lead of Heat Two. Instead it was the Netherlands in the lead. Lithuania, who have had crew changes from their European Champion crew, followed in second with Olympian, Estonia in third. These top three boats remained tightly packed and just a second separated them coming into the final sprint. Lithuania was now in front with Estonia getting ahead of the Netherlands. The Dutch fought back into second and these three boats were the qualifying crews. Lithuania had recorded the fastest qualifying time.

Heat Three had Italy in the lead at the start with Great Britain the closest challengers. A big push in the second 500 gave Great Britain’s Beaumont, Walton, Collins and Lambert the lead with Germany now coming up to challenge Italy. The British medalled at the final World Cup in July and this crew contains three Rio Olympians. They remained in the lead coming into the final sprint and had earned a very handy margin. Germany overtook Italy with Ukraine trying really hard to catch Italy. The Italians held them off to earn the final qualifying spot.

Qualifiers: POL, NZL, RUS, LTU, NED, EST, GBR, GER, ITA

Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) – Heats

The biggest field of this regatta, the men’s single had 40 countries competing with eight heats lining up. The aim here was to be in a top two position for a direct path to the quarterfinals to be raced on Wednesday. These crews were seeded so that the best scullers did not end up in the same heat. In Heat One Cuba’s Angel Fournier Rodriguez was not the fastest starter but it was not long before he took the lead using his immense power in the middle lane. Fournier led over Robert Ven of Finland who was battling with Mexico’s Juan Carlos Cabrera. Fournier then pulled away to an open water lead using 36 strokes per minute. Ven had now pulled away from Cabrera and the two qualifiers were all but decided with now ending sprint happening.

Olympic medallist and multi-World Champion and European Champion, Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic is the most experienced sculler of this entire eight-heat boat class. Synek had the lead at the start in Heat Two with Thibaut Verhoeven of France following in second. This order remained the same through the 1000m mark with Synek doing just enough to stay ahead of Verhoeven. Nothing changed into the finish with no sprint happening.

Heat Three had Germany’s top single sculler, Tim Ole Naske in the lead. The young Naske has said his eyes are set firmly on the 2020 Olympics in the single and he has made a good start with a fourth-place finish at World Rowing Cup II. Russia’s Vladislav Ryabcev followed in second as the field spread out into a procession. The two leaders wound down the stroke rate coming into the finish. Heat Four opened with David Prada Fernandez of Spain in the lead. Then Denmark’s Sverri Nielsen took over out in front with Argentina’s Brian Rosso chasing hard. Through the middle of the race the top four boats remained close meaning these rowers could not back off the pace. Nielsen remained in the lead with Rosso pulling through to take second.

Marko Marjanovic of Serbia was out in front in Heat Five with Olympic silver medallist, Damir Martin of Croatia in second. These two boats moved clean away from the rest of the field by the half way point and it looked like the race was already all but over. Martin, however, wasn’t backing off and did a piece through the third 500m taking the lead over Marjanovic. Martin remained in the lead through to the finish, breaking away from the Serbian and then dropping his stroke rate.

Great Britain’s Thomas Barras took the lead at the start of Heat Six, and remained in front of the World Best Time holder, Robbie Manson of New Zealand. Then Manson pushed into the lead. Barras pushed back and managed to get back ahead of Manson. These two boats went head to head into the final sprint. Barras held a slight lead over Manson who then dropped his stroke rate letting Barras get away for the win and also recording the fastest qualifying time by a big margin overall.

Heat Seven opened with World Cup winner, Nico Stahlberg of Switzerland in the lead. Then Poland’s Natan Wegrzycki-Szymczyk pushed into the lead. Wegrzycki-Szymczyk recently medalled at the under-23 championships and he continued to build an advantage as the race continued. Wegrzycki-Szymczyk and Stahlberg had now completely broken away from the rest of the field. There was no challenges going on with Poland and Switzerland taking the two qualifying spots. Heat Eight, the final heat for the men’s single and the final race of the day, opened with Salvatore Monfrecola of Italy in the lead. Then Olympian Stanislau Shcharbachenia of Belarus pushed into the lead with Backeus of Sweden pushing into second. The margins remained tight moving into the second half of the race. Then Shcharbachenia managed to earn the edge with Broenink of the Netherlands and Backeus remaining tight. Broenink then broke away to secure second behind Belarus.

Qualifiers: CUB, FIN, CZE, FRA, GER, RUS, DEN, ARG, CRO, SRB, GBR, NZL, POL, SUI, BLR, NED.