A slight cross tailwind made for fast racing on Tuesday as the 2023 World Rowing Championships hots up. Another six para-rowing crews booked their places at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, and the men’s and women’s eights took to the course for the final heats of the regatta.

Horrie and Pritchard make solid 2023 debuts

There were four good wins from last year’s top four PR1 men’s single scullers in the heats of the event on Tuesday. Australia’s Erik Horrie and Great Britain’s Benjamin Pritchard have not raced on the World Rowing Cup circuit this season, due to injuries and, in Pritchard’s case, becoming a father, but both looked dominant in their heats. World and Paralympic champion Roman Polianskyi of Ukraine took a clear-water win in heat 2, as did European champion Giacomo Perini of Italy in the opening heat, although Perini had to row past both Alexis Sanchez of France and Israel’s Shmuel Daniel after their fast starts.

“It’s great to see the PR1 category now – we had 22 entries for this World Championships, which is unbelievable for PR1 rowing and just shows you where para-rowing is going for the future,” said Horrie.

Paris joy for Skarstein and Samuel

Moran Samuel has been the bridesmaid to Birgit Skarstein’s PR1 women’s single sculls bride for some time, but she showed how her hard work is paying off with a solid scull in Belgrade. The Israeli was challenged by both Ukrainian Anna Sheremet and France’s Nathalie Benoît, but came across the line in a World Championship Best Time of 9:56.42. However, the Norwegian Paralympic, world and European champion was up next and despite a slower first 1000m than Samuel, Skarstein set another World Championships Best Time of 9:54.08. Both Samuel and Skarstein progress to the final, and book their Paris 2024 berths.

“If it was up to me I’d give everyone here a ticket to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, I’d be the worst, I wouldn’t be able to say no to anyone, because it’s such a truly wonderful way of the world coming together, and you see that here too,” a delighted Skarstein said after her race.

“I was happy just to cross the line first in such a tight and hard race. I’m just happy to see our sport getting more and more exciting. Everybody’s fighting and I love it, it’s a lot of motivation,” added Samuel.

World Best Time for Great Britain

After the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Britain’s PR2 mixed double sculls champion Lauren Rowles found herself on the hunt for a new partner, thanks to the retirement of Laurence Whiteley. Her new crewmate, Gregg Stevenson, has proved a more than able replacement and they set their third World Best Time of the season to win their heat, 8:00.57. Ireland’s Steven McGowan and Katie O’Brien won the first heat after a superb battle with last year’s silver medallists from Poland. Both Ireland and Great Britain qualified for the final, and also the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

“We’ve worked really hard – a year ago we weren’t even rowing together, I was about to have surgery, this guy was up in Manchester trying to get his single together. To think a year later we’ve booked our slot for Paris, it’s a really proud day for both of us. You could see that on the finish line. These things are to be celebrated, it’s not every day you qualify for a Paralympic Games,” Rowles said.

Australia and China also on the road to Paris

The key repechage today was the PR3 mixed coxed fours, with the fastest two boats securing a spot in final A alongside yesterday’s qualifiers, plus a Paris 2024 spot. Australia made no mistakes and were well out in front early on. Behind them, Italy and China were locked in second and third with China just moving through Italy by halfway and crossing the line about a length ahead of the Italians. Afterwards, Australia’s Jessica Gallagher said the performance had been much better than the heat and the crew – including newcomers Susannah Lutze and Harrison Nichols – was still finding its cohesion.

GB and Australia lead in the men’s eights

Australia’s victory over Great Britain in the men’s eights at World Rowing Cup III came as a surprise to many. On Tuesday, both won their heats, with Great Britain beating the Netherlands and Australia having to row through the USA to claim victory. The Dutch and the USA also qualify directly for the final. Germany’s efforts to rebuild their once-dominant eight continue – they were third behind the USA in heat 2, but well off the pace of the winners. And there was despair for China who broke an oar off the start, although they will get another chance to show their speed in the repechage.

“It’s good to progress straight through. We were pretty happy with the race as a whole; conditions were pretty challenging and varied but we knew that going in and we definitely kept that in mind. We’re looking forward to continuing to build on the heat and keep training, bringing our boat together, so we’re a faster boat come the final,” said Australian coxswain Kendall Brodie.

Romania back to winning ways in the women’s eight

Romania’s women’s eight looked incredibly strong in their heat, cruising to a six-second victory over Great Britain, who had beaten them in Lucerne a few weeks ago. The British crew came through Italy for second, but will still have to race the repechage, adding to the fatigue for Emily Ford and Esme Booth who are doubling up in the women’s pair. In heat 1, the USA made their season debut in style, overturning a slow start to claim the single qualifying spot ahead of Australia, with Olympic champions Canada in third.

USA coxswain Cristina Castagna said afterwards: “It was my first race with US Rowing so it was exciting to come out with a win. We knew that this was just the first step of what we’re here to do, so we’ll take the small win and we’re dialled into Sunday, how we can improve both technically and as a unit so that we can come out the way we want to.”

Champions progress and sprint finishes in repechages

All eyes were on the second repechage of the lightweight women’s double sculls, where Olympic gold and silver medallists Italy and France were rowing to keep their championships alive after disappointing heat performances. Both crews showed their experience, with Italy leading out before France came through for the win; they were the two qualifying boats from their repechage. In the men’s fours, Poland’s hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Belgrade were dashed after South Africa snatched the third semifinal spot on the line by just 0.02 seconds.

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