The Munich Regatta course provided bright but cold conditions for the junior rowers as they took part in the medal races at the 2021 European Rowing Junior Championships. After some fantastic racing, there was a wide spread of nations on the medal podium.

Junior Women’s Coxed Four A Final

The first medal race of the Championships got underway cleanly with three crews racing for the medals. Ukraine had withdrawn due to a positive Covid-19 case. Italy, who had been the fastest in the preliminary race had a fast start and they were followed by Hungary and then Germany. By the second quarter of the race, Italy had established a clear-water lead, almost five seconds by the halfway marker. Meanwhile, Hungary and Germany were battling it out for the silver medal and, in the third quarter of the race, Germany moved into second place. Italy continued to look untouchable, and didn’t have to raise their rating at all during their race. They crossed the line first to become European Junior Champions.

Result: ITA, GER, HUN

Junior Men’s Coxed Four A Final

With the exact same line-up that won gold at the World Rowing Junior Championships earlier this season, Italy was clear favourites in this event too. They had the quickest start, with a high rating which they maintained to the 500m marker where they led ahead of Russia and Germany. By 750m, Italy was well clear of field and the Czech Republic was also starting to make a move and had pushed ahead of Germany. With Italy continuing to move away, the positions looked fairly set at 1,500m. Despite a final charge from the Czech Republic, Russia held on to silver.

Result: ITA, RUS, CZE, GER, HUN, UKR

Junior Women’s Single Sculls A Final

Phaedra Van der Molen of the Netherlands had the fastest start in the final but by the first timing point, Junior World Champion, Aurelia-Maxima Janzen of Switzerland had moved into the lead. Italy’s Giulia Clerici, who won silver at the 2021 World Rowing Junior Championships, was sitting in third place. In the second quarter of the race, Janzen had made her move, and opened up a clear water lead. Meanwhile, Laine Rumpe of Latvia had worked her way through the field into silver medal position and was putting the pressure on Janzen. With 300m to go, Van der Molen had overtaken Rumpe in the closing stages, to take silver.

Result: SUI, NED, LAT, ITA, GRE, CZE

Junior Men’s Single Sculls A Final

A leading pair of scullers set itself apart in the early stages of the race, with the silver medallist from the Junior World Rowing Championships, Aaron Andries of Belgium, leading the gold medallist from the same event, Povilas Juskevicius of Lithuania. The chasing pack was fighting for the bronze medal with Poland’s Jakub Wozniak in third place at 1,000m. By 1,500m, Italy’s Marco Prati had moved into the bronze medal position. Gold looked pretty set, but Prati really started to put the pressure on Juskevicius. Adries crossed the line first to reverse the result of the World Rowing Junior Championships with Juskevicius holding on to silver.

Result: BEL, LTU, ITA, POL, GRE, TUR

Junior Women’s Pair A Final

Based on times from the heats, eyes were on Romania, who certainly had the fastest start and had established a comfortable lead by the first timing point. The Netherlands was battling it out with Germany for the silver medal. Romania looked like they were set to defend their European title in this boat class as they continued to dominate the race. With 500m left to go, Germany had moved into silver medal position with the Netherlands looking to hold off a challenge from Turkey. Turkey had just too much which the Netherlands could match, and they took their first medal of the Championships.

Result: ROU, GER, TUR, NED, AUT, ITA

Junior Men’s Pair A Final

Hot on the heels of the success of the women’s pair, the junior men from Romania, who are reigning junior world champions, went out ahead of the field, but Slovenia was only 0.28 seconds behind at 500m. Romania had moved out to clear water by the midway point with Slovenia still in the running for the medals. Poland and Norway also looked to have a chance at a place on the podium into the third quarter of the race. With 500m to go, Slovenia had slipped back with Norway and Poland having moved into the medal positions. Nobody seemed to be able to challenge Romania. A final charge from Bulgaria in last 250 of the race put Poland under serious pressure but Bulgaria missed out on bronze by just 0.28 seconds. Romania would take their second consecutive gold.

Result: ROU, NOR, POL, BUL, SLO, BLR

Junior Women’s Four A Final

With four crews racing for three medals, it was all to play for, and there was very little between the crews in the early stages. Romania was then the first crew to make a move, establishing a lead over Greece, despite underrating them. Romania went for another push at the halfway marker. The Greeks had dropped their rating slightly, and Italy had moved into silver medal position – still with a slight overlap with Romania. The medals were still all up for grabs until a crab in the Greek boat allowed Romania and Italy to move away, with Germany still in fourth. It was a real fight to the line between Italy and Romania for the gold with Romania getting there first.

Result: ROU, ITA, GRE, GER

Junior Men’s Four A Final

Turkey was the first to show with a very slight advantage in the early stages of the race but things were all very close and it was far too early to call. Turkey was starting to open up more of a lead by the halfway marker ahead of Belarus. Italy had a surprisingly slow start, but had moved into third place. It was turning into an exciting race in the second half. Although Turkey had clear-water advantage, Belarus, Italy and Romania were fighting for the remaining medals. In the closing stages, with Turkey maintaining control of the race, Italy and Belarus had secured comfortable silver and bronze medal positions respectively.

Result: TUR, ITA, BLR, ROU, DEN, GER

Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls A Final

The favourites from Switzerland established the early lead, but they were being matched by Romania, with Czech Republic sitting in third place at 500m. Romania had moved into the lead by 1,000m, and was nearly two seconds ahead of Switzerland, with Italy having moved into third place. Romania was showing they had really moved on from the World Rowing Junior Championships, where they came fourth, as they were now leading Switzerland and Italy, who had come first and second respectively at that event. It was another gold medal for Romania at the line with Switzerland holding off a final charge from Italy to take silver.

Result: ROU, SUI, ITA, CZE, POL, GER

Junior Men’s Quadruple Sculls A Final

With 18 entries, the men’s quadruple sculls had been one of the most competitive boat classes of the event and the stage was set for an exciting final. There was a quick start from Germany, who took the early lead, but the picture had completely changed at 500m as the Czech Republic moved into the lead. Meanwhile, Switzerland had also responded and were having a race for the medals with Belarus. Italy, who had won silver at the World Championships was back in fifth place at 1,000m. With 500m left to go, Czech Republic continued to lead but Belarus was looking stronger and stronger. Germany had now slipped right back. Belarus couldn’t catch the Czechs and meanwhile, Russia had moved in front of Switzerland to take the bronze medal.

Result: CZE, BLR, RUS, SUI, ITA, GER

Junior Women’s Eight A Final

Germany took a very slender early lead in the women’s eight, with Romania going with them. By the first timing point, Belarus had moved into the lead with Romania in second and Germany having slipped back to third. With the top two positions remaining unchanged at halfway, Italy had moved in front of Germany to take the bronze medal position, but the medals certainly weren’t set. Into the third quarter, the Czech Republic was starting to move and crept into third place, ahead of Italy. Belarus continued to lead to the line, but they were pushed all the way by Romania and the Czech Republic. Italy dropped back and were out of the challenge for the medals.

Result: BLR, ROU, CZE, ITA, GER

Junior Men’s Double Sculls A Final

The Polish duo who had picked up bronze at the World Rowing Junior Championships earlier this season, took the early lead in this race. There was very little to split the top four crews at 500m. By halfway, the field started to open up with Germany establishing a very small lead over the Czech Republic. In the third quarter of the race, Germany started to extend their lead with the Czech Republic and Croatia fighting for the other two medals and Poland certainly not out of contact either. It was all change in the final stages of the race as Germany had nothing left to give and slipped completely out of the medal zone. With a hugely impressive final sprint, Poland moved from fourth to take the gold medal ahead of the Czech Republic. Croatia picked up their first medal, taking the bronze.

Result: POL, CZE, CRO, GER, GRE, SLO

Junior Women’s Double Sculls A Final

After a very fast start, Belarus established a canvas advantage 250m into the race, and continued to lead at 500m, ahead of Greece and Slovenia respectively. There was then clear water back to the remainder of the field. Greece was putting the pressure on Belarus at halfway and started to move into the lead in the third quarter. Belarus appeared to be fading slightly with Slovenia also moving ahead of them, and Greece opening up more of a lead. Although Belarus had really run out of steam, there was still a large gap back to fourth and so it looked like the medals were fairly set as the crews came into the final stages of the race.

Result: GRE, SLO, BLR, BEL, ITA, DEN

Junior Men’s Eight A Final

The Czech Republic appeared to have the best of starts, but Romania responded quickly. By the first timing point at 500m, the Czech Republic had the advantage with Russia in second. Romania had really started to get into their race pace, and moved into the lead by 1,000m with the Czech Republic pushed back into second place. In the third quarter of the race, Romania was trying to open up clear-water ahead of the pack with Russia in second and Germany now in third place. Russia really put the pressure on Romania in the final quarter of the race, but they didn’t have enough. There was delight for the home supporters as the young German crew picked up the bronze.

Result: ROU, RUS, GER, CZE, ITA, UKR

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Rowers to watch: 2021 European Rowing Junior Championships

Wide spread of medals at 2021 European Rowing Junior Championships

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