Tropical time for day two heats at World Rowing Champs

Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls (LM4x) – Heats

This International boat class had three heats lining up with the top two boats in each heat getting to go directly to the semifinals. In Heat One Great Britain jumped out into the lead at the start. This crew featured Olympian Peter Chambers and they led over France. Brazil’s crew followed in third and were very much on the pace. The British kept the pace going and with a 39 stroke rate into the finish they remained at the head of the field despite the pressure from France throughout the race.

Heat Two saw a fast start by the Czech Republic with a crew that included the very experienced Jiri Kopac in bow. They had taken bronze at World Rowing Cup III in July and were looking to improve at this regatta. Then Greece did a push and moved into the lead by a fraction of a second. At the half way point the entire field remained tight with about three seconds separating them. All of the field still had a chance of being in a qualifying spot. Then Austria did a push and put the Czech Republic under threat. Austria pushed on and moved into second with Greece looking great out in front. A 38 stroke rate took Greece through to the finish line in first and also scored them the fastest qualifying time.

As is their style, Italy jumped out in front in Heat Three. The Italians took gold at World Rowing Cup III this year and they led over China who had slotted into a very close second. Italy would have to keep the pace up if they wanted to hold off China who remained right on their pace. Australia followed in third but would have to do a lot of work to catch up. Beautiful synchronicity saw Italy remain in front with China holding on to second to also qualify.

Qualifiers: GBR, FRA, GRE, AUT, ITA, CHN

Lightweight Women’s Quadruple Sculls (LW4x) – Heats

This boat class had two heats and the aim here was to finish first or second for a direct path to the final. Canada and Great Britain went out neck and neck in Heat One. The British are the reigning World Champions in this boat class and they must have been favourites coming into this race. These two countries hit the first 500m mark absolutely equal with Vietnam in third. The Canadians then did a push and went through the 1000m mark a fraction ahead of Great Britain. From that point on the Canadians gave it their all to remain in the lead as the British were unrelenting. In the final sprint it was again neck-and-neck. Canada got to the line just one stroke ahead of the British. Less than half a second separated the two boats.

China jumped out at the start in Heat Two. This crew included two rowers that raced yesterday in the lightweight double (Dandan Pan and Fang Chen) and they got to the first 500m mark. But then a tussle between Australia and Italy brought the Australians into the lead with Italy closing on China. This race was incredibly tight between three boats at the half way point and a third 500 push was going to be necessary. It was Italy that did the best push and they were able to use a 37 stroke rate to remain in front through to the finish. Australia held on to second with China, in third, now needing to return for the repechage. Italy recorded the fastest qualifying time and will now go to the final as favourites.

Qualifiers: CAN, GBR, ITA, AUS 

Women’s Pair (W2-) – Heats

The two heats in this boat class required a first place finish for a direct path to the final on Saturday. The British got away the quickest in Heat One. They were up against New Zealand’s Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler who set a new World Best Time at World Rowing Cup II earlier this season. The British and Kiwi’s hit the first 500m mark rating 35 with Gowler and Prendergast just a bit ahead of Holly Hill and Melissa Wilson of Great Britain. Spain was also up there in a position to challenge the leaders. Then in the second 500 Gowler and Prendergast started to push away, building up an open water lead. The British had no reply and were now under threat from being overtaken by Spain. The New Zealand duo did not need to sprint the finish coming through at a comfortable pace ahead of the field. Spain sprinted the finish but could not catch the British who remained in second.

Denmark had the best start in Heat Two and they were able to settle into a 34 stroke rate to stay in front of the higher rating American duo. Christina Johansen and Olympic medallist Hedvig Rasmussen of Denmark looked in control and powerful as they led over Megan Kalmoe and Tracy Eisser of the United States. The US had beaten Denmark at World Rowing Cup III in July taking silver to Denmark’s bronze. The crowd was pumped for this race as Eisser and Kalmoe are a major medal chance for the United States and coming into the third 500 the US did a push that brought them into the lead. The crowd responded and so did the Danes moving to a 38 stroke rate. These two boats were neck-and-neck with US going to 40. This was enough to just hold the Danes. The US took the one qualifying spot and recorded the fastest qualifying time.

Qualifiers: NZL, USA

Women’s Four (W4-) – Heats

This newly announced Olympic boat class had two heats with the goal being to finish first for a direct path to the final. In Heat One the United States was the first to show looking powerful with a crew that is used to the speed of an eight. Great Britain and Poland followed ever so closely. The United States then managed to gain a bit of an edge with Australia now pushing into second. Australia won at World Rowing Cup III putting them as favourites coming into this regatta. Australia had now caught the Americans and the sprint to the line was on. The more experienced Australians were now at 41 stokes per minute and in the lead. The lower-rating Americans tried to hold on but did not have the stamina. Australia had grabbed a spot in the final and with the fastest qualifying time.

Russia, who took silver at World Rowing Cup III had the fastest start in Heat Two with France chasing in second. But margins between the entire field were tight and a second 500m push was in line if a crew wanted to show some dominance. Russia stepped and broke away from the field with Canada and China going neck-and-neck for second. Russia remained in front of this tussle and became the qualifying boat.

Qualifiers: AUS, RUS

Men’s Double Sculls (M2x) – Heats

Four heats lined up with the goal of being in a top two position for a direct path to the semifinals. In Heat One the silver medallists from the Olympics, Lithuania took an early lead. All season Lithuania has been trying different line ups between the quad and the double and Saulius Ritter and Mindaugas Griskonis have earned their spots in the double. Romania chased the Lithuanians but then found themselves being under threat from Switzerland. Barnabe Delarze and Roman Roeoesli of Switzerland then moved ahead of Romania who had no answer to the speed of the Swiss. The Swiss then went after Lithuania and took their rating to 40 in the final sprint, overtaking Ritter and Griskonis. The Lithuanians did not react and looked content to finish in second.

Canada came out of the starting blocks at 43 in Heat Two, but it was not enough to get the lead as this was being held by Miroslaw Zietarski and Mateusz Biskup of Poland. The Poles then managed to pull away from the field with the rest of the field separated by just two seconds. The Dutch got to the half way point in second – but only just. France then pushed on to challenge the Netherlands with Poland now having to take their stroke rate up as the French crew of Matthieu Androdias and Hugo Boucheron charged for the line. Poland and France had qualified with Poland recording the fastest time of all of these races.

Estonia took off using 54 strokes per minute in Heat Three. But it was New Zealand that had the better speed. The gold medallists from World Rowing Cup II and III, John Storey and Christopher Harris of New Zealand came out at 42 and then settled to 40 then 39 to take the lead. Germany followed in second and the crew of Henrik Runge and Ruben Steinhardt of Germany were still in second at the half way point. Meanwhile, out in front Storey and Harris kept a 39 stroke rate pace to remain in front. This moved them to an open water lead with Bulgaria coming up to challenge Germany. Bulgaria’s Georgi Bozhilov and Kristian Vasilev went to 39 to overtake Germany. Storey and Harris, however had enough of a lead that the tussle behind them had no impact on their lead.  

Shooting off the block in Heat Four was Italy’s Filippo Mondelli and Luca Rambaldi who settled into a powerful 38 stroke rate pace. Italy got to the first 500m mark in the lead with a slight margin as a line of four boats formed behind them. Mondelli and Rambaldi then started to break away from the field with Great Britain’s Graeme Thomas and Angus Groom following in second. The British then completely closed the gap on Italy. What a piece! Italy no longer had an open water lead as Thomas and Groom came charging through and grabbed the lead. The Italians looked spent as the British went to 40 strokes per minute. Great Britain had won and Italy had held on to qualify from second.

Qualifiers: SUI, LTU, POL, FRA, NZL, BUL, GBR, ITA

Women’s Double Sculls (W2x) – Heats

Three heats lining up meant that a top three finish was needed for a direct path to the semifinals. In Heat One Germany shot out at a high rating pace with Julia Leiding setting the pace from stroke seat. Then Australia’s Olympia Aldersey and Madeleine Edmunds pushed ahead and they stroked a strong 35 to be in front. Aldersey is the World Best Time holder in this boat class from 2014 and now rowing with Edmunds, the duo started to push away from the field. Germany and the Czech Republic followed in second and third respectively. Then the Czech boat of Antosova and Fleissnerova got their nose ahead of Germany and tried to close on Australia. Then Lithuania began to really move. With Olympic medallist, Milda Valciukaite in bow, they were really moving. Australia had no answer as Lithuania went flying past. Australia just hung on to second with the Czech’s taking third.

New Zealand are the reigning World Champions in this boat class and with their new line up of Brooke Donoghue and Olivia Loe they won at World Rowing Cup III this season. Today Loe and Donoghue led Heat Two from the start. Greece and Denmark followed in second and third respectively. Donoghue and Loe then moved away to an open water lead with a full on tussle going on behind them between Italy Denmark and Greece. As the Kiwis crossed the line in first the three crews behind them went to a photo finish with Denmark the unlucky ones. Italy was second and Greece third.

Heat Three had Olympians Meghan O’Leary and Ellen Tomek of the United States featured in the centre lane. But it was China’s Fei Wang and Yang Lyu who had the lead. All boats settled into a 34-35 stroke rate pace with China remaining just in front. O’Leary and Tomek then moved into second and closed on the lesser experienced China. The Americans have been together for five years and at World Rowing Cup III in July they finished sixth. To the cheers of the crowd, O’Leary and Tomek moved into first. Once there they moved clean away from the rest of the field and crossed the line with the fastest time of all of the heats. China held on to second with France holding off the Dutch to qualify from third.

Qualifiers: LTU, AUS, CZE, NZL, ITA, GRE, USA, CHN, FRA

Women’s Single Sculls (W1x) – Heats

The first boat in each of the four heats would get to go directly to the semifinals on Friday and in Heat One the first to show was Olympic Champion from the quad, Annekatrin Thiele of Germany. Then Olympic medallist from the 2012 London Olympics, Fie Udby Erichsen of Denmark took the lead and held a 33 stroke rate pace. Thiele, at 31, followed in second. Then Canada’s Carling Zeeman began to move. Olympian Zeeman overtook Thiele and went after Erichsen. What a sprint. Going neck-and-neck to the finish bout Zeeman and Erichsen looked exhausted but Erichsen was absolutely holding on as Zeeman overtook. Erichsen pushed back. In a photo finish Erichsen had won by just 0.03 of a second.

Coming from an Olympic medal in the women’s double, Victoria Thornley of Great Britain has made a smooth transition to the single this season. She has picked up World Rowing Cup medals and today Thornley led the way in Heat Two. Lisa Scheenaard of the Netherlands followed in second with Felice Mueller of the United States right on her tail. These three boats broke away from the rest of the field going through the middle of the race. As Thornley pushed away Scheenaard and Mueller were neck-and-neck in second. The statuesque Thornley remained in the lead through to the end to qualify directly for the semifinals.

At the start Magdalena Lobnig of Austria had the lead in Heat Three. Lobnig raced at all three World Rowing Cups this season and she medalled at all three including gold at Poznan. Right from the start Lobnig showed her superiority as she broke away to an open water lead with China and Norway trying their best to challenge from second. China’s Jingli Duan medalled at the Rio Olympics, but she was being dominated by Lobnig today. There was no doubt about the winner as Lobnig formed the biggest winning margin of the day.

Heat Four featured Olympian Jeannine Gmelin of Switzerland who won at World Rowing Cup III in July. Gmelin had the best speed at the start with Irish Olympian Sanita Puspure slotting into second. By the middle of the race Gmelin had earned an open water lead and it would take an almighty push by Puspure to get into the qualifying position. That is exactly what Puspure did in the final sprint. Taking her stroke rate to 37, Puspure closed on Gmelin. The Swiss sculler had to react and went to 35. Puspure kept on coming. There was very little in it at the line with Puspure running out of water. Gmelin had qualified for the final and with the fastest time of all of these heats – an impressive 7:26.

Qualifiers: DEN, GBR, AUT, SUI