Daily Digest: Endurance concludes and Beach Sprints get underway in La Seyne-Sur-Mer

There was something for everyone on day two of the 2023 European Rowing Coastal & Beach Sprint Championships as France’s Plage des Sablettes once again provided stunning racing conditions. While the morning saw the conclusion of the Endurance racing, in the afternoon crowds were treated to the start of the Beach Sprint Championships as the processional time trials got underway.

Dymchenko strikes again

Having won gold in the CMW1x yesterday for Azerbaijan, Diana Dymchenko was back in action again today, this time racing for her Club, Baku Rowing Club. Dymchenko picked up gold again, winning the CCW1x in style, 28.42 seconds ahead of France’s Jessica Berra, representing her Club, “Endaika Arraun Elkartea 1”. Bronze also went to a French Club, “Chablais Aviron Thonon 4”, won by Cindy Pellegrino.

Another gold for Spain

Another familiar coastal rower back in action today was Spain’s Adrian Miramon Quiroga. Having won gold in the solo yesterday, today he was racing in the mixed double with partner Nadia Felipe Garcia. There was disaster for one of the strong British boats in this race as Scrimgeour and McKenzie suffered a broken blade and had to pull out of the race in the early stages. Spain took advantage of these, but it was a constant fight to the line between them and Italy’s Simone Martini and Elena Joana Armeli. After a sprint across the beach, Spain took the honours by just 3.23 seconds with Miramon Quiroga adding another gold to his collection. Bronze went to Sweden’s duo of Maria and Peter Berg.

Change of format

While the Victory Ceremonies for the endurance events were taking place, the course was being reset ready for the beach sprints. Today saw processional time trials for all boat classes giving an early indication of which boats might be the ones to watch later in the competition.

Spain continue to impress but watch out for France and Great Britain

Spain had been impressive in the endurance races and continued to be strong in the beach sprint format, finishing in the top three of four of the six time trials, but they only won one, the first one, when Marcos Delgado Marquez was comfortably the fastest in the JM1x. However, Great Britain and France each set the fastest times in two of the time trials with strong leads. Romania set the fastest time in the M1x when Florin Bogdan Horodi Teanu clocked 3:02.71.

Direct qualification for France in CW1x

With fifteen entries in the CW1x, the format meant that the fastest sculler would secure direct qualification to the “Last 8” meaning one less race while the remaining 14 scullers would need to race a second round to narrow the number down to 7. Almost ten seconds faster than any other competitor was France’s Olympian, Elodie Ravera-Scaramozzino, who raced in the women’s double scull in Tokyo. Her time suggested she is definitely one to keep an eye on when the Last 8 head out tomorrow.

Redemption for Great Britain’s Mixed Double

Having been disappointed to have to abandon their race in the endurance final in the morning, Great Britain’s Sam Scrimgeour and Laura McKenzie took to the water in the beach sprints with a point to prove. Scrimgeour was the first runner and sprinted out to the boat and their course, guided by their boat handler was impressive. With McKenzie pushing herself to the limit as she ran from the boat to the line, they had clocked the fastest time, nearly five seconds ahead of the experienced crew from Spain which had won gold in the morning. The result from Great Britain gained them direct qualification to the “Last 8” while the remainder of the boats will need to contest “Round 2” tomorrow morning

Round 2 for CM1x

The last race of the day was the second time trial for the CM1x. With 18 entries in this boat class, the top eight from the first time trial had secured progression through to the heats while the remaining ten needed to race for the other eight places. Unfortunately it meant the end of the competition for Mark Schembri of Malta and Kurt Struzina of Switzerland

More action tomorrow

If you thought today was exciting, just wait for tomorrow. The beach sprint competitors will go head-to-head in one-on-one battles as they work their way through the rounds looking to be crowned European Champions.