Great Britain prove their lightweight double skills

Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x) – semifinals

Semifinal One: The reigning World Champions, Christina Giazitzidou and Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece may have spent most of this season rowing apart, but it did not impact their performance today. Jumping out at the start, Giazitzidou and Tsiavou got half a boat length over the field within the first 30 strokes. Following closely behind was Hester Goodsell and Sophie Hosking of Great Britain. The Brits have gathered a number of medals this season and are proving to be consistent performers. The United States followed in third. Coming through the third 500, Hosking and Goodsell had come alongside the Greeks and the two crews matched each other stroke for stroke. Then as the finishing grandstand came into view the New Zealanders came alive. Lucy Strack and Julia Edward took their stroke rate into the high 30s and charged for the finish line. The crowd loved it. Great Britain and Greece held themselves together. The United States didn’t. Great Britain, Greece and New Zealand are in the final.

Meet Sophie Hosking on the World Rowing YouTube channel.

Semifinal Two: Judging by past results and the heats earlier this week, this race appeared to go pretty much to plan. It was just the finishing order that remained a mystery. Germany and Australia have both medalled internationally this season and Canada had the fastest qualifying time from the heats. Lindsay Jennerich and Tracy Cameron of Canada took the starting edge with Australia (Hannah Every-Hall and Alice McNamara) just a nose ahead of Germany (Daniela Reimer and Anja Noske). And this is how the order remained – from start to finish. These were the three crews that expected to perform and these are the three crews through to the final.

Qualifying crews: GBR, GRE, NZL, CAN, AUS, GER

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x) – semifinals

Semifinal One: This race was billed to be very like a final as both the World Champions (New Zealand) and the Olympic Champions (Great Britain) were lining up in the middle two lanes. So far this season Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter of Great Britain have taken one win and Storm Uru and Peter Taylor of New Zealand also have won once. Both crews were going to race to win to get that psychological advantage going into the final. Within an few strokes Purchase and Hunter had grabbed the lead and despite Uru and Taylor rating higher than the Brits, Great Britain moved away through the middle of the race. Uru and Taylor were not looking their best with their strokes shortening, while Great Britain remained long and powerful. As Great Britain and New Zealand moved out further in front, behind them Portugal’s Pedro Fraga and Nuno Mendes were demonstrating their modus operandi. Fraga and Mendes had an incredibly slow start and were playing catch up. Greece may have thought they had third wrapped up, but they had not reckoned with Portugal’s sprint. Coming into the finish Great Britain remained in front with enough lead that they didn’t have to push too hard, New Zealand held on to second and Portugal came flying down the outside. Great Britain, New Zealand and a very happy Portugal qualify for the final.

Meet Storm Uru on the World Rowing YouTube channel.

Semifinal Two: Great Britain and New Zealand may be the favourites in this event, but it was China’s Fangbing Zhang and Tiexin Wang who scored the fastest qualifying time. Zhang and Wang came together for the final Rowing World Cup this season with Zhang spending the early season trying out various partners. Together Zhang and Wang finished sixth at the Lucerne Rowing World Cup. Today they raced their own race to finish first. Canada’s Douglas Vandor and Cameron Sylvester led for most of the race but appeared to lose steam in the closing 500m, while Italy’s Lorenzo Bertini and Elia Luini timed their race well to take second at the line. China, Italy and Canada are in the final.

Qualifying crews: GBR, NZL, POR, CHN, ITA, CAN