Remaining heats at the first Rowing World Cup

Some athletes were fresh, some already raced yesterday – twice. Welcome to the second day of the Rowing World Cup.

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x) – Heats

Great Britain are the favourites. As two-time World Champions and the priority crew of their nation, the weight on their shoulders is great but they have the talent to match. Sitting in the favoured centre lane Great Britain led from the start opening up a comfortable gap ahead of France and Romania who challenged for second. One boat moves directly to the final and Great Britain’s Annie Vernon, Debbie Flood, Frances Houghton and Katherine Grainger are it.

Heat two featured two Chinese entries including China One with three of the crew that finished fourth last year in this event (Bin Tang, Aihua Xi and Guixin Feng). Racing the full 2000m, China One had the lead and, despite a good gap back to Germany, raced it to the end. With the top German scullers in doubles at this regatta, Germany looks to be trying out the next tier of scullers. China takes first, the fastest qualifying time and a spot in the final.

Women’s Eight (W8+) – Heats

Was it the tough racing in the pair yesterday? Was it first regatta of the season cobwebs? Was it the season change from the southern hemisphere? Australia finished third in this event last year and were placed in the favoured lane. Today, however, Australia opened at the back of the field. Instead the Netherlands were in the lead and that’s where they remained.

Australia gave it their all to come back but had to pay for the slow start. A very happy Dutch crew take the first qualifying spot in the final. Meanwhile, China has split up their 2006 fourth-placed crew into two and China One in heat one could not hold the pace, finishing at the back – maybe also suffering from yeasterday’s pairs racing.

China Two had a better run in heat two but it was the new Canadian line-up that found the lead and never looked back. Surprisingly at the back of the field Germany One and Germany Two had no sprint available. Canada moves on directly to the final. Was Germany One also feeling the impact of yesterday’s pairs racing?

Men’s Eight (M8+) – Heats

After being World Champions in 2002 and 2003 and then failing to medal at the 2004 Olympics, coach Mike Spracklen is trying a new strategy in Canada. The eight barely registered over the last two years, but this year, the Olympic qualification year, they appear to be finding their pace. Today, after overtaking China, Canada took the lead and comfortably won the first heat to go directly to the final with the fastest qualifying time. China gave it a good shot and also look to have stepped up from last year.

Heat two was full of surprises. Last year’s silver medallists Italy sat at the back of the field and nothing that they could do made a dent on the leaders. Germany also sat back with their number two crew entered in this regatta, their number one reigning World Champion crew not racing at Linz/Ottensheim. Instead it was Russia out at the front and not budging despite a strong piece by Belarus at the 1500m mark. Russia earn a spot in the final.