Adaptive finals at the World Rowing Champs

Today's A Final racing programme began with the four adaptive rowing events.

Arms only women’s single scull (AW1x)

A storming start to her rowing career, Helene Raynsford of Great Britain took gold at her first ever championships. Raynsford led from the start over Patricia Rollison of the United States who, at 45, is also at her first championships. Raynsford and Rollison continued to be the two leading boats with the real sprint going on for the bronze medal. Canada and Poland charged for the line with Martina Snopek of Poland earning bronze in a photo finish.

Arms only men’s single scull (AM1x)

Dominic Monypenny of Australia stormed onto the rowing scene by taking gold a year ago. Back to defend his title this year, Monypenny shot out at the start rating a high 52 stroke rate. This pace gave him an open water lead within the first 50 metres over Ron Harvey of the United States at his third World Championships. Monypenny continued to charge keeping his rating high and extending his lead. Turning the race into a procession, Monypenny wins gold, Harvey takes silver and Great Britain’s Shaun Sewell stays ahead of Canada to take bronze.

Trunk and arms mixed double sculls

Scott Brown and Angela Madsen of the United States have been racing ever since adaptive rowing became a World Championship sport and today they showed their experience by taking the lead early in the proceedings. Using a lower stroke rate than the rest of the field, settling at 33, Brown and Madsen stayed in the lead with the only real threat coming from Polish newcomers, Yolanta Pawlak and Piotr Majka. Pawlak and Majka maintained a higher 38 stroke rate to keep second with Canada’s Caitlin Renneson and Wilfredo More Wilson sprinting through to earn bronze. Brown and Madsen defend their title and the impressive Madsen now moves on to her new challenge – rowing the Atlantic.

Legs, trunk and arms mixed coxed four

An early lead by the Netherlands soon got overhauled by defending World Champions Great Britain. Returning to the boat from last year for Britain is Alan Crowther, Alastair McKean and Naomi Riches. Joining them, Victoria Hansford and coxswain Alan Sherman, showed that they had the skills to defend the title. At the line Great Britain had a handy margin over the Netherlands to take gold. The Dutch win silver and Canada come through to take bronze.