B Finals at the Munich Rowing World Cup

These races featured many top Italian crews who had been unable to make A Finals and also a number of up-and-coming rowers.

Lightweight Women Single Scull (LW1x) – B Final

Rounding off the Rowing World Cup the race of 57kg women opened finals day. Out of the stable of Danish lightweight rowers Maria Pertl hit the international scene four years ago and at 33 years old is working her way into the top lightweight ranks. Today she earned a seventh place finish at the first Rowing World Cup of the season. Russia’s Elena Lyakisheva followed in second.

Lightweight Men’s Single Scull (LW1x) – B Final

In 2003 Bine Pislar of Slovenia became the under-23 champion. Since then Pislar has been plugging away and now as a 23 year old, Pislar moves permanently into the senior ranks. With that he worked his way through to first by overtaking France, Italy and Germany by pulling off the best sprint. In this close race Germany’s Michael Wieler finished lest than a second back.

Women’s Single Scull (W1x) – B Final

Frida Svensson of Sweden has been plugging away on the international scene as a junior, then as under-23 representative for her country. She then was a late qualifier for the Athens Olympics and is now a regular in the women’s single. Today she led from the start over Poland and China to finish first in the B Final.

Men’s Single Scull (M1x) – Semifinal

Slovenia number two sculler, Luk Spik shot out at the start but was soon swallowed up by the entire field with a Dutch battle going on at the front. The younger Sjoerd Hamburger earned the title of number one Dutch sculler after beating the more senior Dirk Lippits. Today Hamburger proved that he’s still the top sculler for the Netherlands by comfortably staying ahead of Lippits – so much so that Hamburger felt confident enough to lengthen out his stroke and drop the stroke rate.

Women’s Pair (W2-) – B Final

An opening sprint by the United States soon got swallowed up by the rest of the field as six boats jostled for first position. But a stronger second half propelled Canada’s Heather Mandoli and Romina Stefancic into the lead. This is where they stayed. 

Men’s Pair (M2-) – B Final

Italy has been struggling at this Rowing World Cup and appearing in more B Finals than expected. Current world silver medallists Dario Lari and Luca Agamennoni are a case in point. Today they had to work their way through the B Final pack to take line honours. This left the Netherlands in second and Slovenia in third.

Women’s Double Sculls (W2x) – B Final

The young Italian combination of Laura Schiavone, 19, and Elisabetta Sancassani, 23, had a solid start to the season by winning the B Final after pushing through the United States. Sancassani and Schiavone were the fastest under-23 double last year and also finishing sixth at the senior level. They will continue as Italy’s top double this season.

Men’s Double Sculls (M2x) – B Final

Estonia must be using this regatta to help decide crews as two doubles raced each other in this B Final. There may be a shake up as the number two crew of Allar Raja and Igor Kuzmin came through to take the B Final by coming back from a slow start to push past their number one Estonian boat. Raja and Kuzmin also out-sprinted the strong French combination and also pushed current world silver medallists Italy, back to fourth.

Men’s Four (M4-) – B Final

With two Italian crews lining up, it looks as if there will be some serious re-selection going on after this race especially as leading the race was Italy’s number two crew stroked by Aldo Tramontano. Meanwhile, back in the field, Italy’s number one boat was doing little more than trying not to be last. In the middle of the pack Germany lost ground as the race progressed. The Czech Republic takes second and Ireland third.

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x) – B Final

Great Britain’s Jane Hall and Helen Casey came back from problems earlier in the week when a boat-stopping crab relegated them to the back of the field. Today Casey and 1993 World Champion Hall overtook a fast start by Greece to lead for the majority of the race. Greece’s Chrysi Biskitzi and Alexandra Tsiavou held on to second with France sprinting through to take third.

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x) – B Final

With Polymeros in the single a new Greek double line-up of Elias Pappas and Dimitrios Mougios is working their way up the lightweight ranks. Both rowers have worked their way through junior and under-23 ranks to try their best at the senior level. Today they led the B Final from start to finish leaving Slovakia and Great Britain to take the lesser positions.

Lightweight Men’s Four (LM4-) – B Final

Denmark’s lightweight men’s squad is rebuilding after recent retirements and today their new brood contested the B Final with positive aggression. But Russia had other ideas and with a stronger second half managed to push past the Danes and hold them off for the rest of the race.

Men’s quadruple sculls – B Final

Last year they were World Champions, but this year Poland contested the B Final. This didn’t mean Poland had an easy time of it. The Poles started off back in the field and had to work their way to the front. But for the entire race it was China that led the way. Post-racing boat weighing, however, found the Chinese boat under weight and relegated to last.

Men’s Eight (M8+) – B Final

Again Italy featured in a B Final. Last year’s silver medallists, Italy, had their work cut out for them as Romania took off in the lead with Italy following. But the real surprise was to come. Switzerland has put their focus on an eight and under the head coach they are working their way up the eights ranks. At the finish Romania remained in the lead with a happy Switzerland taking second and Italy trailing in third.