Racing got underway at the 2022 European Rowing Championships this morning with heats and preliminary races across the 23 boat classes. The Oberschleissheim regatta course, which was originally built to host the 1972 Olympic Regatta, provided good racing conditions with a a slight head wind. There were some great performances from both returning Olympians and new faces, paving the way for some epic semifinals and finals in the coming days.

Perini fastest PR1 men’s single sculler

Italy’s Giacomo Perini, who set a new World Best Time in this boat class at World Rowing Cup II in Poznan earlier this year, won Heat 1 of the PR1 M1x with a time of 9:57.96. The second heat was won by the reigning Paralympic Champion in this boat class, Roman Polianskyi, who is racing internationally for the first time this season. Polianskyi clocked 10:41.94, but was perhaps not pushed. Both scullers will progress directly to the final on Saturday, which will be the first medal race of the 2022 European Rowing Championships.

2022 European Rowing Championships ©World Rowing/Benedict Tufnell

GBR dominate PR3 mixed coxed four

We have become used to seeing Great Britain performing well in this boat class, and today was no exception. Great Britain, steered by Erin Kennedy, led from the start and finished in a time of 7:23.21, 28.56 seconds ahead of France. This was a Preliminary Race and all crews will race again in the final on Sunday, we’ll look forward to seeing if there is any change in the finish order then.

Romania in a class of their own in W2x

Reigning Olympic Champions in the women’s double sculls, Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis were absolutely dominant in the heats. They won the third heat in 7:26.23. Heat 1 was won by Lithuania in 7:39.18 and the Netherlands clocked 7:43.98 to win the second heat.

Can anyone beat the Sinkovic brothers?

Croatia’s Martin and Valent Sinkovic have won gold in the men’s double sculls at all three World Rowing Cups this season and set the fastest time across the three heats today (6:51.69). Can anyone challenge them in the semifinals? Lithuania’s Kelmelis Armandas and Nemeravicius Dovydas won heat one in 6:52.00 and Spain’s Aleix Garcia Pujolar and Rodrigo Conde Romero won the second heat in 7:00.98. The semifinals will take place on Saturday.

2022 European Rowing Championships ©World Rowing/Benedict Tufnell

Great Britain & Ireland fastest women’s fours

Great Britain, who set a new World Cup Best Time at World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, convincingly won the first heat in a time of 7:11.95 this morning. In the second heat, it was Ireland, with two returners from their Olympic bronze medal winning crew. Ireland posted a slightly faster time of 7:10.24. Both crews will progress directly to the final on Saturday along with Romania and Denmark.

All to play for in men’s four

The winning times across the two heats of the men’s four were incredibly close. While Great Britain won Heat 1 in 6:32.26, the Netherlands won the second heat in 6:32.63. Both crews progress directly to the final on Saturday and we could be in for an epic battle!

2022 European Rowing Championships ©World Rowing

Return of the Olympians in the single sculls

The fastest times across the heats of the women’s and men’s single sculls were both posted by rowers who have not raced internationally so far this season. In the women’s event, Austria’s Magdalena Lobnig clocked 8:42.83 in Heat 3. Shortly later, Stefanos Ntouskos from Greece clocked 7:41.36 in the first heat of four, comfortably faster than the winners of the other three heats.

Reigning Olympic Champions are the fastest lightweight doubles

In both the lightweight women’s and men’s double sculls, the fastest times across the heats were clocked by the reigning Olympic Champions. Italy’s Valentina Rodini and Federica Cesarini posted 7:41.67 to win heat one of the lightweight women’s double sculls, although Great Britain’s Imogen Grant and Emily Craig were only marginally slower in the second heat (7:42.44), so we are set for an exciting final on Sunday. In the men’s event, Ireland’s Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan, who are racing together in the double scull for the first time internationally since taking gold in Tokyo, won their heat in 7:02.52 with Italy winning the second heat in 7:06.06

2022 European Rowing Championships ©World Rowing

Can GB retain European Champion title in men’s eights?

Great Britain are the reigning European Champions in the men’s eight. They won the preliminary race today in a time of 5:59.29 with Germany just behind in 6:01.68. The final will take place on Saturday.

Women’s eights wrap up the morning session

This morning’s racing session was concluded
with the heats of the women’s eights. While Great Britain led for majority of Heat 1, Romania came through in the closing stages to win in a time of 6:42.08. The second heat featured the first ever senior international women’s eight from Ireland. Whilst the Irish crew was impressive, it was the Netherlands that took the heat win in a time of 6:50.45.

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