Germany impresses at the junior rowing worlds

by Melissa Bray

Finals at the 2006 World Rowing Junior Championships saw Germany impress in their medal count, a new Australian men’s pair talent rise and Romania get back to the top of the women’s eight. In flat, sunny conditions, Amsterdam, the Netherlands turned on a day of great weather.

Junior Women’s Four (JW4-)

Great Britain and Belarus both came to this event as top contenders after being the only boats to qualify directly from the heats. But today, in the two centre lanes they suffered steering difficulties and converged. Great Britain, a bit in front, continued to push. The Belarusians were in a panic. But, out of the fracas, the Germans were doing their own thing at the head of the field. Stroked by Johanna Davids (bronze in 2005), the Germans took full advantage of the situation. Was this the start of the German dominance?

The race was not over. Surprising the entire field and sprinting down the outside was Italy. With 500 metres left to row the Italians had got themselves in an overlap position with the Germans. Germany then pulled away. First gold to Germany, Italy receive silver and Great Britain hold on to take bronze.

Junior Men’s Coxed Four (JM4+)

Nerves were evident as a false start brought the six crews back into the starting blocks. On attempt two, Romania shot out into the lead and placed a full-on cat and mouse with Canada. For over 120 strokes there was nothing between Romania and Canada. But coming into the second half of the race, the pace was getting to Canada. What could Canada’s coxswain Ronan Sabo-Walsh do? With Romania slipping away Germany stepped up to attack Canada and by the final 500 metres Germany had overtaken. But there was nothing in it between Canada, Germany and a charging Italian line-up. The sprint was on.

Romania kept their rating high (38 strokes per minute) and held a small lead, Italy continued to wind, and Germany held on. Canada had run out of steam. At the line Romania had done it. Italy takes silver and Germany earn bronze. This gives Romania’s Ioan Mihaila his third junior gold medal. Mihaila now returns to the boat park to prepare for the eight.

Junior Women’s Single Sculls (JW1x)

A hint of what was to come was displayed in the semifinals when Natalia Madaj of Poland blew the field apart in the opening metres. Today Madaj showed that her starts could be even more impressive. By the first 500 Madaj had blown the field away. Could anyone even put a dent on this lead? The answer proved to be simple. No. Juliane Domscheid of Germany gave it a bash. But Madaj only needed to cruise. Coming into the final straight Madaj tapped it along at an easy 30.

The race, however, was far from over. Lindsay Meyer of the United States was charging from the back of the field down the outside lane. Meyer had demonstrated this come-from-behind tactic in the semifinal and she was following the same strategy today. She had left it too late. Madaj finishes first and leaves us all wondering what she can do if pushed. Domscheid takes second and Meyer makes American history by being the first ever junior to medal in the women’s single.

Junior Men’s Single Sculls (JM1x)

Slovenia’s Andraz Krek and Hans Gruhne of Germany met in the semifinal when Krek proved to have the quicker start. This happened again with Krek in the lead crossing the first 500 mark. Gruhne followed closely in second with Aleksandar Aleksandrov of Bulgaria back in third. As in the semifinal the impressive Gruhne then pushed past Krek who appeared unable to react back.

Coming into the final straight last year’s double winner Gruhne had an open water lead with Krek now being challenged by the high rating Aleksandrov. Digging his blades deep into the water Aleksandrov earned silver in the remaining two strokes of the race. Gruhne goes under seven minutes to take gold and Krek has to settle for bronze.

Junior Women’s Pair (JW2-)

Bulgaria’s Nadejda Slavcheva and Iskra Angelova decided a high stroke rate was the way to go and after getting into the lead at the start, Slavcheva and Angelova settled into a high 37 strokes per minute to stay ahead of Kerstin Hartmann and Katrin Reinert of Germany. Slavcheva finished fourth in this event last year and with partner and international newcomer Angelova, their strategy seemed to be working. But Reinert and Hartmann had a bee in their bonnet. This is the third junior champs together and the two previous years they won silver. Using a lower stroke rate it seemed like only time before the Germans would attack.

Meanwhile the very medalled Nicoleta Albu of Romania and her new partner Adelina Cojocariu were trying to get back into the race from more than a boat length down. They had moved into third but were still a little off the pace. As the finish line came into view the Germans began to wind. Reinert and Hartmann had done it. Third time lucky the duo leave with gold, Bulgaria hold on for silver and Romania take bronze.

Junior Men’s Pair (JM2-)

This event has been one surprise after another and today was no exception. Aleksandar Radovic and Ivan Ostojic of Serbia & Montenegro opened as leaders. But coming down the outside lane and closest to the row of coaches following on bikes, Australia was making haste. Adam Wertheimer and Jonothan Hookway of Australia, newcomers to the international scene, were taking on their more experienced counterparts, and successfully. Meanwhile Greece and Romania held their own scuffle for the bronze spot.

As Hookway and Wertheimer moved past Ostojic and Radovic, the favourites from Romania Ionel Strungaru and Marius Luchian moved into the bronze medal spot. At the line Hookway lay down exhausted. Along with Wertheimer they had done it – gold. Ostojic and Radovic take silver in a massive 39 stroke rate sprint and Romania takes bronze.

Junior Women’s Double Sculls (JW2x)

Estonia may have future senior champions on their hands. Kaisa Pajusalu and Jevgenia Rondina literally romped away from the rest of the field gaining a boat length in the opening quarter and then extending it out to open water by the half way point. All the rest of the field could do was try for silver. First Germany gave it a shot and then fell right off the pace. Then Poland gave it a bash, then ran out of steam. Finally Austria’s Lisa Farthofer and Christine Schoenthaler, who had been rowing a very steady race, took over in silver. In bow seat Farthofer is the youngest rower at this regatta, still 14 years old for another week.

Pajusalu and Rondina win in a very impressive time of 7:09. Austria take silver and Romania’s Cristina Ilie and Ionela Curelet push through to earn bronze.

Junior Men’s Double Sculls (JM2x)

This race was all about sharing – sharing the lead. First it was handed to Russia as they opened with the fastest pace. Then Germany took it over through the middle of the race. Defending champions Germany felt a certain right to the lead with last year’s gold medallist Tim Bartels still in the boat. But coming into the final sprint the German margin was slight. Both Croatia, who had been rowing a very steady race, and Denmark were charging down the course, side by side.

As the Germans slipped back Denmark’s Nils Henrik Stene and Henrik Stephansen put their heads down and their rating up. Damir Martin and Valent Sinkovic of Croatia attacked back. Taking their rating to an impressive 43 stroke rate, the Croatians reattacked. But sitting in stroke of the Danish boat, indoor rowing lightweight junior record holder, Stephansen, was using his full body power. In a photo finish Denmark take their first and only medal of these championships, the gold. Croatia earn silver and Germany fade to bronze.

Junior Men’s Four (JM4-)

Coming through the week there was no doubt about the favourites – Great Britain and Germany. Opening the race, however, Slovenia was in the lead with Germany and Great Britain fighting it out for second. Slovenia held on to the lead going through the middle 1000, but the German-Great Britain fight was starting to make an impact. The final sprint came into view, the Germans had gained the leading edge. There was very little in it. Germany was at a 37 stroke rate, Great Britain at a 38. The ratings started to rise. Great Britain got the ball rolling and went to 41. Germany responded with 40. Great Britain answered back with 43. Germany had no response.

Great Britain had earned the gold. Germany settled for silver and, a long way back, Slovenia take bronze.

Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls (JW4x)

Rowing in the boat used formerly by their senior team, Germany pushed into the lead after a fast-starting Austria tried to take command. Sitting in the bow of Germany’s boat, Mandy Reppner is in her third year in this event and going after her third gold medal. She is joined by two international newcomers, Annika Mueller and Tina Manker with three seat, Julia Kroeger having formerly competed in the single.

Following the German example New Zealand took chase. With half of the race gone, Germany had the lead and New Zealand had pushed past Austria to take second. The relatively relaxed-looking Germans then proceeded to move away from the rest of the field. Reppner earns her third gold medal. New Zealand take silver and Austria just hold off a sprinting Greece to take bronze.

Junior Men’s Quadruple Sculls (JM4x)

The red and white checkered Croatians have been having quite the day, but maybe it was coming to an end. At the start of the men’s quad they were sitting completely at the back of the field as Germany took off into the lead with Australia following in second. Australia and Germany came to the finals as the two semifinal winners while Croatia had just squeezed through into this race.

Germany, who retain three of the 2005 silver medal winning crew, remained in the lead as Croatia continued to work their way through the field. In a sprint for the line Germany hold on to gold, Croatia push through to take silver and Australia earn bronze.

Junior Women’s Eight (JW8+)

Following yesterday’s race for lanes the United States was feeling confident. However no one can deny, when it comes to the women’s eight, at all international rowing levels, Romania dominates and today it looked like they aimed to do exactly that. Romania shot out into the lead at the start with the United States in hot pursuit. A strong second 500 by Romania took them further away from the Americans. But the United States, under the command of coxswain Ariel Frost, fought back. Could they close the Romanian gap in the final sprint?

Meanwhile sitting out of a medal spot, Germany decided enough was enough and began to charge. Romania hold on for gold, the United States earn silver and Germany push past Russia to take bronze.

Junior Men’s Eight (JM8+)

Germany won one semifinal, New Zealand won the other. Today they met in the two middle lanes in the final and at the start it was all about Germany, but only just. The big screen flashed in on a close-up of the New Zealand crew. They looked relaxed, their rhythm smooth. They looked focused and with 550 metres left to row they had found the lead. Germany tried to attack back. The New Zealanders held them off.

At the line New Zealand take gold, Germany silver and, from the outside lane, a courageous Italy charged from the back of the field to win bronze.

Next year the junior champs move to Beijing.