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Start of the Women’s Eight repechage at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Junior Women’s Four (JW4-) – Final

The girls from the United States of America were more than ready for this race. Aiming to avenge second place at last year’s championship, where they narrowly lost to New Zealand by a second, the experienced line-up started as they meant to go on – out in front. Lucy Grinalds, Jess Eiffert, Mia Croonquisst, and Chandler Lally held their length of clear water as they approached the line ahead of New Zealand and Great Britain, both crews spurred on by sensational support. Yet, the deafening shouts were not enough. USA crossed the line, arms raised in delight, a second and a half clear of Great Britain in second, who had had their own private battle with New Zealand. The defending World Champions had to settle for bronze. A gold medal for United States of America, a great birthday present for American bow girl Jess Eiffert, and the first World Junior Champions crowned on these future Olympic waters.

Results: USA, GBR, NZL, ITA, GER, CAN

Jessica EIFFERT (USA) – Gold
“It is so cool, I turned 18 today and this is going to be my golden year.”

Amber  DE VERE (GBR) – Silver
“Amazing, really amazing. Because we weren`t in the top five and we were just hoping to get in the medals. It was a bit messy because of the conditions but it was really good. We were neck and neck with the Kiwis, but we were happy because we came closer to them in the race than we did 2 days ago.”

Nicole Lamb (GBR) – Silver
“We’re known to have a consistent middle part of the race, so we relaxed, knowing that we’ve got it.”

Catherine SHIELDS (NZL) – Bronze
“Everyone responded to every call. We were up against some very strong girls. I am really proud of the girls. Everyone deserved the medals they got.”

B-Final

Crews always like to do as good as or better than their crew from the previous year. Australia, however, was not so fortunate this year in the four. After taking bronze in 2010, this year’s boat raced in the B-final and they looked classy. Australia dominated from start to finish and never eased up sprinting home at a 37 stroke rate. This must be small compensation for crew member, Natasha Gay, who was in the 2010 bronze medal boat.

Results: AUS, CZE, FRA, BLR, UKR
 

J

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The podium of the Junior Men’s Coxed FOurs sees Italy take Bronze, New Zealand Silver and Australia Gold at the 2011 Junior World Rowing Championships in Eton, Great Britain

unior Men’s Coxed Four (JM4+) – Final

Though New Zealand and Italy were the fastest qualifiers, Australia had little respect for what was meant to happen. Australia shot out from the start, two seconds clear of Italy in second and New Zealand in third. This order remained during the middle 1000m of the race, by which point the Australian boys Philip Adams, Aaron Wright, Louis Snelson, Alexander Hill and cox Stuart Sim began to enjoy clear water over Italy. New Zealand however had some tricks up their sleeve in the final 500m. Raising their rating to a strong 37, they began to chip away at Italy’s lead, and closed in on the Australians. Italy responded, rating a pacey 39 but it was not enough to hold off the Kiwi boat. At the line, an exuberant and strong Australia were first in 6.21, some three seconds faster than the gold medal average time. New Zealand nipped into second and Italy, second last year, had to settle for third.

Results: AUS, NZL, ITA, UKR, GER, GBR

Stuart SIM (AUS) – Gold
“We have all been training hard over the years individually and it is really great that it all came together like this. We have only been together for one month as a crew.”

Aaron Wright (AUS) – Gold
“In the semi-final we never really got into our rhythm which we were determined to do this time.  We wanted to shut out the other crews early on.”

Alexander HILL (AUS) – Gold
“Unbelievable, amazing, fantastic, awesome.”

Adam SMITH (NZL) – Silver
“Everyone came out very fast and there was lots of noise and excitement.”

B-Final

With 12 year old coxswain Mateja Josic calling the moves Serbia took the lead and held on. This was despite strong pressure from the United States and France. Josic is one of the youngest competitors at this event and after crossing the line in first, Josic can claim the position of being the seventh fastest boat for 2011 in this event. The eigth place for United States is a step down from 2010 when they raced in the A-final.

Results: SRB, USA, FRA
 

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Serena (B) and Giorgia Lo Bue (S) with their Gold medals after their win in the Junior Women’s Pairs at the 2011 Junior World Rowing Championships in Eton, Great Britain

Junior Women’s Pair (JW2-) – Final

Hot off her sister, Lucy Grinalds’ victory in the junior women’s four, Rosemary Grinalds, rowing with Corinne Bozzini for the United States, had a lot to live up to in this final. However, it was another family affair that really caught the crowd’s attention. Sisters Serena and Giorgia Lo Bue were fastest qualifiers, yet it was France who took the early lead. Despite qualifying through the repechage, France gave the first half of the race everything they could. However, it was not long before the long, and strong strokes of the Italian pair eased ahead, a length clear by 1250m. Cheered on with shouts of ITALIA! from the grandstand, the girls did not relinquish this lead, crossing the line four seconds clear, in 7.25, equaling the gold medal average time of the last five years. France faded badly in the second half of the race which allowed Greece, Germany and Romania to close in on the medals. Whilst Romania could not quite hack the pace, Greece and Germany, both rating 37, took it right to the line. Just 0.2s ahead, Germany clinched silver and Greece took bronze.

Results: ITA, GER, GRE, ROU, FRA, USA

Georgia LO BUE (ITA) – Gold
“We did not expect this at all. At the beginning it went well but we just were in third place. Then we realised that we were getting faster and faster which pushed us quite a lot. Suddenly we were second, and in the last 250m we managed to get even better. I still can’t believe it.”

Eleni DIAMANTI (GRE) – Silver
“We were last after the start and got stronger. Now, I feel exhausted and empty.”

Michelle LAUER (GER) – Bronze
"We are so glad. It is our first Championships. I can’t remember much about the race. I just can remember we  were second after the start and then we came third. My legs hurt a lot but Italy was so fast we couldn’t have caught them. We will try to reach Rio 2016 but who knows.” 

B-Final

South Africa took off at a cracking pace earning a huge lead over Norway’s Christina Augum and Hanna Inntjore. Coming through the 1200m mark, however, South Africa had run out of steam, dropping their stroke rate and looking tired. This is what Norway had been waiting for. Augum and Inntjore pushed into the lead as South Africa’s Catherine Tayler and Holly Norton faded. Yet the gutsy Tayler and Norton then seemed to get a bit of a second wind in the final sprint moving up on the Norwegians. Norway responded well and crossed the line first.

Results: NOR, RSA
 

Junior Men’s Four (JM4-) – Final

Germany were fourth last year in this event, but this year was a different story. Germany qualified fastest for this race, with Romania and Spain not far behind. Starting as they meant to go on, Germany were 2 seconds clear at the halfway mark and pushed further and further ahead. By 1500m, the crew of Maximillian Johanning, Johannes Weissenfeld, Malte Jakschik, and Lukas Frederick Mueller had a length of clear water over the rest of the field to play with. It was no surprise who would be World Champions. Silver and bronze medallists were slightly less predictable. Spain had the slowest start of the field and still languished in fifth position by 1000m. However, a high rating of 43 and a strong finish propelled them to second place ahead of a solid Romanian crew who were caught out by the feisty, fast-finishing Spaniards.

Results; GER, ESP, ROU, BLR, SRB, CRO

Lukas-Frederik MUELLER (GER) – Gold
“The start was fantastic. We were in first place and we could not give up the fight.”

Malte JAKSCHIK (GER) – Gold
“This is the best birthday present I could have. I can’t believe it. “

Jaime LARA PACHECO (ESP) – Silver
“We couldn’t believe it. I am really happy to get this medal.”

Vasile AGAFITEI (ROU) – Bronze
“It is not good but we came in third place. We don’t feel so good today. Still just amazing.”

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Great Britain’s Callum Jones (S), Adam Janes (3), William Kenworthy (2) and Vassilis Ragoussis (B) racing in the B Final of the Junior Men’s Fours at the 2011 Junior World Rowing Championships in Eton, Great Britain

B-Final

At the senior level Greece are close to the top of the pile in the men’s four. Their juniors must be feeding off this status as they put on a fine show to lead the B-final. All six crews remained relatively close through the first quarter of the race before Greece was able to pull away and establish some dominance. But Canada was not giving up and they remained within striking distance of the Greeks. Greece held on to take first with Canada in second. Some exceptionally close racing between Poland and Great Britain meant a photo finish was required for third. Poland prevailed.

Results: GRE, CAN, POL, GBR, DEN, USA

 

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Shirin Brockmann (S), Rona Schulz (3), Anne Marie Kroll (2) and Fraziska Kreutzer (B) enjoy the sweet taste of victory in the Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls at the 2011 Junior World Rowing Championships in Eton, Great Britain

Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls (JW4x) – Final

Germany are defending champions in this event, and faced a hot race with Romania in this final. From the start, Germany, rating a cool and controlled 35, passed the 500m timing point in first. Romania weren’t far behind, rating 34. However, a strong German crew, rowing low and long, pushed ahead, increasing their lead at each timing point. They crossed the line in 6.31, some 3 seconds clear. The real battle was on for silver and bronze. Despite a slow start, United States had now pushed on for medal contention. As the Netherlands, Romania and USA surged to the line, it seemed impossible to tell who was on the right side of the line as the beeper sounded. In the end, Netherlands had clinched silver, and Romania had edged USA out of the medals by 0.5s for bronze.

Results: GER, NED, ROU, USA, BLR, ITA

Rona SCHULZ (GER) – Gold
“We wore Union Jack socks. It was the idea of our coach. It’s been great championships and we wanted to thank you for your hospitality and kindness.”

Anne Marie KROLL (GER) – Gold
“We knew immediately after start when we managed to keep ahead of Romania and then manage to keep them away. The water was perfect today but then everything always is if you win.”

Ilse PAULIS (NED) – Silver
“The start went well but it could have been better. So after that we were just go, go, go. At  50 metres from the finish we couldn’t think of anything else but winning a medal which was what our coach told us to do.”

 B-Final

Great Britain was extremely unlucky to miss out on the A-final after finishing fourth in yesterday’s semifinal by a mere tenth of a second. But they made the best of today’s race and despite getting away to a slow start, Great Britain had the lead coming into the middle of the race. Margins, however, remained close with less than a second separating Great Britain, Switzerland, New Zealand and Australia. Great Britain kept the pressure on and by the end of the race they had built up a boat length lead to finish seventh overall at this regatta.

Results: GBR, SUI, NZL, AUS, JPN, RUS
 

Junior Men’s Eight (JM8+) – Finals

 

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Italy’s Enrico D’Aniello (C) is hoisted aloft by his overjoyed crewmated Giuseppe Vicinzo, Matteo Lodo, Pietro Zileri, Giovani Abagnale, Leone Barbaro, Bernando Nanni, Marco Marcelli and Guglielmo Carcano as they celebrate winning Gold in the Junior Men’s Eights podium at the 2011 Junior World Rowing Championships in Eton, Great Britain

The last final of the day provided all the histrionics eights racing is famed for. The home crowd had been waiting for a Great British victory all day; would it come in the final race of the day? Italy, who were third last year, had the fastest qualifying time of 6.05 coming into this race by 5 seconds, over a relaxed 6.10 from the British in the heats. Off the start, Italy had a bowball advantage over the British, rating a high 40 strokes per minute. Italy increased this lead as they passed 500m, whilst Germany slotted into second, just a canvas ahead of the British in third. USA were challenging hard for the medals in fourth place but it seemed, the crew did not have quite enough. The medals would be decided between Italy, Germany and Great Britain. Italy remained a length ahead through 1500m and it was clear, unless disaster struck, the World title would be theirs. Germany and Great Britain were matching each other stroke by stroke, both rating 37-38 strokes a minute in the final 200m. More shouts of ‘ITALIA!’ saw their World Champions over the line once again, and Great Britain, as the line approached, took half a boat length out of their German rivals. Just past the line, World Champions Italy jumped up and down in the boat, before tossing their cox Enrico d’Anellio overboard.

Results: ITA, GBR, GER, ESP, USA, CZE

Bernardo NANNINI (ITA) – Gold
“It was a perfect day today and a perfect race. Everyone is so happy and it is like a dream. This is my first gold medal and after the disappointment in Racice we are just amazed. We tried to attack straight away, it was a really short race since the wind was strong. We were leading the whole race.”

Pietro ZILERI (ITA) – Gold
“I want to tell my crew that they are the best in the world. Our strength is in the head and not in the body. We are so happy that we are World Champions.”

Luke BRIGGS (GBR) – Silver
“We took it one step at a time and the Italians went off fast along with Germany. To be honest we raced it like a time trial for as long as we could and only in the last 500 metres did we really see where the other crews were.

Cameron MACRITCHIE (GBR) – Silver
“The Italians were just too quick but it feels really good to go home with a medal. It’s my first and only World Championship and it’s good to get a medal.”

Nico MERGET (GER) – Bronze
“I think the bronze medal is very good, at the World Championships. The Italians are the best crew this year. Some of us might be angry a little bit but we had a very good race plan.”