Women’s Four (W4-) - Final

A–Final

Russia and Romania won their respective heats two days ago and they met today in this final. Russia finished third at World Rowing Cup I, while Romania come to this regatta after a silver medal at last week’s World Rowing Under 23 Championships with three of the same rowers. Romania took a canvas at the start of the race with absolutely nothing between the rest of the field. Only Germany was slightly back. The Dutch, who came to this race via the repechage, then did a big surge and they moved into second ahead of Russia and extremely close to Romania.

The field still remained tightly packed as they came into the all-important third 500. At the under-23 championships a week ago, many of the races were decided in the third 500. Then Poland moved up and they were in the bronze medal spot with the Dutch fighting back. Going to 43 Russia got their bow ball ahead of Romania. The Romanians also went to 43 to try and hold on. Poland tried to match it and that gave them the bronze medal. Russia had set a new European Best Time. Their time of 6:39.97 was a big seven seconds faster than the previous time set yesterday by Great Britian.

Results: RUS, ROU, POL, GBR, NED, GER

Elena Oriabinskaia (s), Russia, gold
“That was a strong race. We are very happy with it, and with coming first. We trained a long time for this, and that was a really beautiful row.”

Madalina Heghes (b),  Romania, silver
“It was a good race. We started hard and we wanted to find a good rhythm. We gave everything out there and this silver medal is after competing last week in the Under 23 Championships as well.”

Maria Wierzbowska (s), Poland, bronze
“An awesome race. We were slow off the start and were in 5th, but trusted in ourselves and kept to the plan. It’s tough conditions out there, with different winds all over the course.”

Re-watch the race here 

B-final

Italy went off at about 42 strokes per minute with Denmark taking off at a faster rate and getting into the lead. The Danes were the next fastest from yesterday’s repechage and they had the lead, but only just over Greece and Italy. Denmark went to 37, Italy was at 39, Greece was at 38. Italy went to 42. Denmark only just held them off, helped by a wobbly stroke in the Italian boat.

Re-watch the race here