23 Jan 2012
Repechages continue at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships
The calm weather continued at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Hazewinkel, Belgium as crews worked their way through to the next round of racing. By the end of the day Germany, with entries in each of the 20 events, would have all but one boat through to the next round. At the end of the day the United States would get their men’s eight through to the next round. By the end of the day Greece would have showed that their rowing standard continues to improve.
Three boats would advance to the semifinal from the one repechage and leading at the start was Lithuania. This lead, however, was short-lived as Canada’s Liam Brennan and Graham Rusk pushed through and worked at extending their dominance. No one challenged back and with 500 metres left to row Brennan and Rusk had nearly a four second advantage.
A lot can happen in 500 metres and this race proved that nothing is set until the finish line is reached. With Canada in the lead Chile, Lithuania and Argentina all attacked. In the closing charge Canada just held on to first, Argentina sprinted through to second and Lithuania finished third in a photo finish. Chile was unlucky.
Women's Double Sculls (BW2x)
Three boats would qualify for the semifinal, three boats jumped securely into those positions. After an initial lead by Latvia, Anastasiya Kozhenkova and Anna Kravchenko of Ukraine took to the front of the field holding a slim edge over Latvia who were now being challenged by the Netherlands. At the finish these three crews remained in qualifying positions with the Dutch squeezing past Latvia to take second.
Two repechages required a top three finish by these scullers and in repechage one Jacques Huppes and Olivier Siegelaar of the Netherlands led the way. Huppes and Siegelaar rowed together as juniors two years ago when they won bronze in the quad. Today they remained in the lead ahead of Dawid Kubiak and Artur Sledzik of Poland. Meanwhile Slovenia and Belgium tussled for the remaining spot. A better sprint by Slovenia, rating 39, earned them a semifinal berth.
Greece and Australia went head to head in the second repechage with James McRae and Anthony Males of Australia holding the leaders' advantage through the first half of the race before Stergios Papachristou and Andreas Tilelis of Greece took over. Both boats advance to the semifinal along with Estonia who held off a sprinting Turkey to take third.
The first of two repechages turned on one of the best races of the day when five boats fought it out for the entire 2000 metres for the two available spots. This is how it panned out. New Zealand got away to an early small advantage before being overhauled by Australia and Belarus. The overhaul, however, was far from overwhelming and as the crews moved into the final 500 metres less than two seconds separated the head of the field with Great Britain also very much in the chase. Who would have the best sprint?
Belarus charged taking their rating to 40, Australia held on using 39, New Zealand and Great Britain went neck and neck matching each other’s 41. Belarus and Australia move on to the final.
Repechage two presented a demonstration of clever tactical rowing by Greece when they pulled into the lead going through the middle of the race. The long, flowing Greek style, with Pavlos Gavriilidis setting the rate in stroke seat held a consistent pace to finish ahead of Germany. These two boats will make up the remaining spots in the final.
A three-way tussle went on for two spots in the first of two repechages. Russia, Australia and Japan stayed within spitting distance of each other with Russia’s Ksenia Potapova and Anna Yasykova maintaining a slight edge. At the line Japan had just missed out but all credit to their race that brought them within inches of qualifying. Russia and Australia move on to the final.
Repechage two saw a Greek-Italian fight go on at the head of the field. Christina Giazitzidou and Stella Pavlou of Greece changed leading position with Francesca Gallo and Laura Milani of Italy several times during the 2000 metre race. Greece had the edge at the finish and both boats advance to the final.
Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (BLM2x)
Repechage two demonstrated what commentator Robert Treharn Jones described as beautiful sculling when Russia’s Dmitry Karbusov and Ivan Kudryavtsev took to the lead. Rowing consistently throughout the race Karbusov and Kudryavtsev rowed the perfect race plan that left them just enough room not to have to do a full-out sprint at the end.
Behind them Germany, Slovenia and Hong Kong fought it out for the remaining two qualifying spots. Hong Kong was unlucky. Despite pulling closer in the final sprint by using a 39 stroke rate pace, Hong Kong’s slower rowing earlier in the race left them too far back to catch up. Russia, Germany and Slovenia advance to the semifinal.
Lightweight Men’s Four (BLM4-)
After an initial fast start by Ukraine, the three qualifying boats sorted themselves out with the United States in the lead, Canada in second and Portugal in third. But these crews did not back off. Canada and the United States conducted a head-to-head North American rivalry battle matching each other at 36 strokes per minute through the body of the race, followed by both crews taking it up to 39 in the closing sprint. Portugal’s much shorter stroke style got them to 42 strokes per minute and out of range of Ukraine. The United States, Canada and Portugal move to the semifinal.
In contrast to the rest of the field, the Netherlands looked relaxed as they led the crews home. This came after the Dutch had slowly worked themselves away from Germany with New Zealand and Russia following in third and fourth respectively. All four boats move on to the final.
Men’s Quadruple Sculls (BM4x)
Argentina showed their speed in the first half of this repechage by leading the field. But a stronger second half by Slovenia gave them the lead as Argentina aimed to hold on to their position and hold off Latvia who were charging down the opposite side of the rowing course. Belarus tried hard to get in on the action but it will be Slovenia, Argentina and Latvia going to the semifinal.
Women’s Eight (BW8+)
As Ukraine dropped off the pace, five boats fought it out for four qualifying positions. This fast and furious race was decided only in the last 100 metres as early leaders Canada couldn’t hold on in the ending sprint. Belarus (in the lead), Germany (flying through at the end to take second), Russia (pushing ahead of Australia and into third) and Australia (holding on to fourth) move on to Sunday’s final.
Men’s Eight (BM8+)
Usually at the head of the field the United States found themselves in the unusual position of chase boat as first Estonia and then Romania took the lead. This, the first of two repechages, required a top two finish for advancement to the final. Romania, under the guidance of super-coxswain Ionut Grigore held a consistent pace to finish first. Grigore is also coxing the men’s coxed four at this regatta, but he set records in 2002 when he coxed the junior pair, four and eight and made the final in all three races. The newly formed United States crew, made up of athletes from several different college rowing programmes, pulled off a second place finish and advance to the final.
The Italians in repechage two impressed course commentator and former rower for Germany, Sebastian Franke. Pointing out their rhythm, the Italians rowed one of the most consistent races of the day, almost even-splitting for the entire 2000 metres. This enabled Italy to stay well clear of Poland who had pulled through to second over Ukraine. Italy and Poland move on to the final.