Men’s Pair (M2-) – Finals

A-Final

With the European and World Champions, Croatia out due to Valent Sinkovic having back problems, this field was looking rather open. Serbia’s Martin Mackovic and Milos Vasic had beaten the Sinovic brothers at World Rowing Cup I, but arriving for this regatta for the first time in 2019 was Australia and New Zealand. Australia’s Joshua Booth and Alexander Hill are the World Champions from the men’s four and New Zealand’s Thomas Murray and Michael Brake had raced in the a-final at last year’s World Championships. They had won their respective semifinals yesterday. At the start Italy 1 had a very fast pace. Then Hill and Booth, rating 41, took over in the lead and got to the first 500m mark out in front.

Australia kept their stroke rate at 40 and remained in front of New Zealand going through the middle of the race. Just behind New Zealand a huge battle was going on for the bronze medal spot between Serbia, Canada 1 and Great Britain 1. Australia continued to move away from the Kiwis with their 40 stroke rate pace and they now had over a boat length lead. But then Brake and Murray went to 42 and tried to close on Australia.

New Zealand was now at 43 with Australia going to 42. The gap was getting smaller and smaller. The New Zealanders ran out of water. Australia had won.

Results: AUS, NZL, CAN1, SRB, GBR1, ITA

Alexander Hill (s), Australia, gold
“This is our first international race together and we were against a really good field. We managed to get a good lead and then it was just about maintaining the gap. So we’re really happy with the result.”

Thomas Murray (b), New Zealand
“It was a good race for us. It has been a really useful regatta to gain some more information and to race new crews. We look forward to racing again in two weeks time. Head wind is no one’s favourite condition to race in, but the course is very fair for everyone.”

Conlin McCabe (s), Canada
“This was our first race this season, so it’s nice to get a medal. We’re happy but not satisfied. We’ve trained in these sorts of conditions so today’s water wasn’t much of a problem.”

Re-watch the race here

B-final

Turkey missed out in the A-final by just half a second in yesterday’s semifinal. That must have taken all of their energy as the duo remained at the back of the field for the entire race. Instead it was France and China and Belarus and Chile and Brazil going neck and neck. At the half way point only two seconds separated these crews. The closeness remained into the final sprint with Dzmitry Furman and Siarhei Valadzko of Belarus 1 having the best sprint and winning in 6:59.

Results: BLR1, FRA, CHN, CHI, BRA, TUR