Canada races in b-final of men’s eight

In almost glass conditions with a very slight head wind, today’s B-finals included Olympic Champions, Canada racing in the men’s eight. The crew showed their class by leading for the full distance to the delight of a huge contingent of Canadian spectators who have come the distance to see their favourite sport in the southern hemisphere.

 

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – B-final

 

A three boat race had two crews tussling at the head of the field. Canada’s Sheryl Preston jumped out first with Olivia Wyss of Switzerland matching Preston’s pace. Last year Switzerland were the World Champions in this event, but with Pamela Weisshaupt in the boat. Wyss had some big shoes to fill. Going through the middle of the race, Wyss found the lead and despite Preston’s best efforts, Wyss remained in first to become seventh overall at these World Rowing Championships.

 

Results: SUI, CAN, JPN

 

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – B-final

 

He may be the 2007, 2008 and 2009 World Champion but Duncan Grant of New Zealand did not make it through to the A-final after suffering in the bouncy water during his semifinal. Today Grant got out just behind Jaap Schouten of the Netherlands before taking the lead and never looking back.

Holding a solid 33 – 34 stroke rate through the body of the race, Grant moved clean away from the entire field. Germany’s Jonathan Koch slipped into second but was nowhere near matching Grant’s pace. Coming into the grandstand end of the race, Grant, in his black boat, pushed through to an open water win and a placing overall of seventh. Koch took second and Schouten was third.

 

Results: NZL, GER, NED, USA, AUT, BRA

 

Women’s Double Sculls (W2x) – B-final

 

It has been a bumpy path for New Zealand’s Fiona Paterson to get to these World Rowing Championships. Paterson has come through suffering with cervical cancer to get back into New Zealand’s national team and she has paired up with Emma-Jane Feathery. Together they grabbed this race by the scruff of its neck and led the whole way. China’s Bin Tang and Liang Tian fought to be second over Denmark’s Lisbet and Lea Jakobsen. The order did not change despite a flying finish by Denmark, which was craftily countered by China. Paterson and Feathery finish this regatta seventh in the world.

 

Results: NZL, CHN, DEN, ITA, FIN

 

Men’s Double Sculls (M2x) – B-final

 

Warren Anderson was the single sculler for the United States last year but made the decision this season to focus on the double. He teamed up with Glenn Ochal and won the US trials to be the double on the US team. At their first international event together, Anderson and Ochal overtook a fast-starting Swiss combination to take the lead.

 

The Americans, however, did not have an easy time of it. At the half way point only a second and a half separated the top five boats with Estonia’s Allar Raja and Kaspar Taimsoo incredibly close. This race was going to have to be decided in the final sprint. Raja and Taimsoo took their stroke rate to 40. Ochal and Anderson held them off at a 38. The finish was incredibly close, but the order did not change.

 

Results: USA, EST, CZE, ARG, SUI, CHN

 

Women’s Eight (W8+) – B-final

 

This three boat race turned out to be all about Germany. The Germans must have been disappointed not to make the A-final, but they gave it their best shot in perfect conditions on Lake Karapiro in today’s B-final. Paus, Guenther, Thiem, Kniest, Siering, Sennewald, Wengert, Kipphardt and coxswain Schwensen, made up the German boat. New Zealand sat behind Germany attacking throughout the 2000m race. The Germans countered every attack, even New Zealand’s 41 stroke rate sprint at the end.

 

Results: GER, NZL, RUS

 

Men’s Eight (M8+) – B-final

 

In 2008 Canada became the Olympic Champions. The following year, coach Mike Spracklen began rebuilding a crew after a number of retirements amongst the Olympians. The rebuilding went well and Canada finished second in 2009. This year the crew did not make the A-final leaving them to do their best to race for seventh in the world. They did it with relative ease leading from start to finish.

China put up a good attack sprinting through to the finish at a 43 stroke rate. But the Poles had an even better sprint, overhauling the Chinese in the last few strokes. Canada, with their handy lead, remained in first.

 

Results: CAN, POL, CHN, UKR, RUS