International finals at Poznan Rowing World Cup

Many of these athletes had already raced this morning and they were lucky to return to much calmer waters. The tailwind continued to blow with the lightweight women’s single nearly setting a new World Best Time.

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – Final

Sinead Jennings of Ireland has dabbled in double sculling, but she always seems to return to the single to get medals. In 2001 it was a World Champion medal. Today, back in the single, Jennings led the final followed closely by Canada’s Lindsay Jennerich. Jennerich may be feeling unlucky to be racing in this event. Jennerich was in the double last year and qualified that boat for the Olympic Games. She then lost her spot to teammate Melanie Kok.

Jennings kept the speed on. Jennerich held her speed. Coming into the closing 500m Jennerich did a piece and began to close the small gap that she had built. Using a more dynamic stroke Jennerich was closing in on Jennings. At the line Jennerich had earned World Cup gold. Jennings takes silver and Austria’s top lightweight, Michaela Taupe-Traer earns bronze. The Jennings-Jennerich battle brought Jennerich within two seconds of setting a new World Best Time that was set 14 years ago.

Results: CAN, IRL1, AUT, IRL3, SWE1, GER

Gold: Lindsay JENNERICH (CAN)
“It was good to win again. I really have to hand it to Sinead. She got out in front and I let her go. It wasn’t until about 500m to go that I checked for her and really the gap hadn’t grown, so I waited for the red buoy (250m to go) and then jacked it. She gives me a better sense of accomplishment. It’s nice to come out on top with someone that accomplished that you know is pushing you that much. So I’ll give her a big thank you. Her strength gave me the opportunity to rise to the occasion.”

Silver: Sinead JENNINGS (IRL)
“It all went very well until the last ten strokes. I’ve not been in the lightweight single for a while so I’m happy to be on the podium.”

Bronze: Michaela TAUPE-TRAER (AUT)
“The water was very rough, but it is not so bad when you are on the podium! I’m going in the right direction for the World Champs, and I am excited because it’s in my country.”

Earlier the B Final raced with all six athletes giving it their best to the line. At the head of the field Denmark’s Sine Christiansen and Christina Giazitzidou of Greece paced each other stroke for stroke. Christiansen had the edge for most of the race but pulling out the better sprint, Giazitzidou got herself into first and finishes this regatta seventh overall.

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – Final

Jaap Schouten of the Netherlands has not lost a race yet this season. Racing at both Rowing World Cups he has consistently beaten reigning World Champion Duncan Grant of New Zealand. Grant decided to put an end to that today at the third and final Rowing World Cup.

Grant got out to an early lead leaving Schouten to play catch up. The gap was small but Grant had enough of a lead that he could keep an eye on Schouten and work to counter any of his moves. Grant remained in the lead coming into the final sprint. Then Schouten began to move. Grant countered the move by raising his stroke rate. But then it happened. One bad stroke by Grant. Schouten seized the opportunity and took over in the lead. Schouten takes gold, Grant earns silver and Joerg Lehnigk of Germany gets the bronze.

Results: NED, NZL, GER1, DEN, GRE, JPN

Gold: Jaap SCHOUTEN (NED)
“It was a tough race. It’s been tough racing just after the Holland Beker last week. I did the men’s single there. In the last week and a half we also had tough training. We didn’t want to waste the time between the Holland Beker and the Rowing World Cup. So I ended up a bit tired for this, so I’m glad it worked. I’m really happy.”

Silver: Duncan GRANT (NZL)
“The conditions were up and down, particularly during the warm-up. We were lucky because the conditions were better for the start, so I managed to get out in the lead and push away from Jaap. He is the one to beat, and I worked as hard as I could, but I had nothing left in the last 500m and he pushed into me. I am disappointed because I thought I could beat him. I have put in a lot of hard work, but I have obviously got someway to go before Linz, I’ve still got a few seconds to make up.”

Bronze: Joerg LEHNIGK (GER1)
“I was very happy because the last 500m it was Denmark coming on. In the finish, I didn’t know if it was third or fourth, but the announcer said third and I was happy.”

The B Final opened with Austria in the lead before 2004 Olympian Wouter van der Fraenen of Belgium pushed through and into first. Despite a very strong second half by Franco Sancassani of Italy, van der Fraenen remained in first. Sancassani finished second and Hungary took third.

Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-) – Final

The Gkountoulas twins of Greece showed that they had good speed earlier at Grethis regatta. Today they confirmed that. Nikolaos and Apostolos Gkountoulas took off in the lead over Japan’s Yusuke Imai and Yoshinori Sato in second. The Greek brothers have rowed together since being on the junior team seven years ago and they appear to suit this event. Today, with Japan, these two boats remained in the lead through the body of the race. Meanwhile, a close battle was going on behind them between Italy, Great Britain and Austria One.

As the finish of the race came into view Juliusz Madecki and Paul Ruttmann of Austria made their move. They had shaken off the British and were attacking Japan’s position. At the line Greece had held on to first. Austria moved through to second and Japan got third.

Results: GRE, AUT1, JPN1, GBR, ITA, JPN2

Gold: Nikolaos GKOUNTOULAS (GRE)
“It was good but the water is not so good today. The problem was mostly in the last 1000m. It was a nice experience for us racing the first time in the pair. We’re looking for a medal in Linz [World Rowing Senior Championships for non-Olympic boat classes in July].”

Silver: Paul RUTTMANN (AUT1)
“We only went into the pair two weeks ago, the same as Greece. We came 6th in Lucerne, only three days after having started in the pair. I didn’t expect to medal, but it was a hectic race, it was a dream to row! Now we are really looking forward to the World Rowing Championships.”

Bronze: Yusuke IMAI (JPN1)
“I’m very happy. I’m also very hungry because the weight control was difficult. It was my second Rowing World Cup.”

Women’s Four (W4-) – Final

This morning the two crews in this event, Germany and Italy, raced for lanes. Germany absolutely dominated. What could Italy do this afternoon? The race opened with Germany in the lead and Italy following. But, compared to this morning, the gap was smaller. Still the Germans had the better boat speed. At the line Germany had a margin of five seconds. Both boats earn a medal.

Results: GER, ITA

Gold: Josephine WARTENBERG (GER)
“There will be much more competition at the World Rowing Championships. We will have to prepare well if we want to have a chance.”

Silver: Anita PINTO (ITA)
“This is not our first experience at the Rowing World Cup, but the standard is very high. We are always trying to have the best race, and get more experience at the international level. It was a good race even though we came second. There is lots of work still to do.”

Lightweight Women’s Quadruple Sculls (LW4x) – Final

This morning in the race for lanes, Poland and Great Britain fought it out to get to the line first. Poland got the edge. Back on the water this afternoon, Great Britain made their intentions clear by jumping out to take the lead. Poland was prepared and moved with the British. Meanwhile Germany One and Germany Two battled it out for third.

Great Britain’s very experienced crew of lightweights continued to hold the lead and Poland continued to press them. Poland then felt the finish approach and stroke Magdalena Kemnitz took her boat to a 37 stroke rate. Great Britain reacted back raising their stroke rate to 38. Poland went to 40. Great Britain held them off. Great Britain crosses the line in first. Poland takes second and Germany Two out-row Germany One to earn the bronze medal.

Results: GBR, POL, GER2, GER1, CZE

Gold: Jane HALL (GBR)
“We really pushed it with everything. We had another aim to go faster than 6:30, which we did with 6:28. This is the fastest a Great Britain lightweight quad has gone, and it’s just five seconds off the World Best Time, so we’re looking forward to Austria.”

Gold: Sophie HOSKING (GBR)
“It was our first race together as a combination this year so it’s hard coming out for two races. We had a really good position after the first 500m but we wanted to push it all the way to the finish and see about analysing things after. The girls absolutely racked it out.”

Silver: Magdalena KEMNITZ (POL)
“We believed that we could win, but we had some problems with steering. We had a really hard race in the morning. It’s a new crew. We have six trying out for this crew from all different clubs with different technique and only have been rowing week together, so I’m very happy.”

Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls (LM4x) – Final

This morning in the race for lanes, France finished the clear leaders. But this event has been owned by Italy and it is unlikely that the Italians would be willing to concede. France, stroked by Remi Di Girolamo, got out to a good start just a smidgen ahead of Italy and Great Britain.

France held on to the lead and Italy held on to France with Great Britain falling back a bit. Coming into the final sprint France answered the Italian attack by taking their stroke rate to 40. The Italians had no response. France win gold. Italy come through to take silver and Great Britain hold on to bronze.

Results: FRA, ITA, GBR, GER, AZE

Gold: Pierre-Etienne POLLEZ (FRA)
“It was a good race. We have only been together for a week, and we can still improve, but are going well. I just wish there was a little more wind so we could have beaten the world best time!”

Gold: Fabrice MOREAU (FRA)
“It is always our goal to beat Italy, and is our goal for the World Rowing Championships.”

Silver: Stefano BASALINI (ITA)
“France are the ones to beat, and they are very good. We have only had ten days together, and although we are experienced rowers, we haven’t had much time together as a crew. We had a god race, but France had a better one so they won.

Bronze: Simon JONES (GBR)
“This isn’t a bad result given we only got together a week ago, but we are hoping to improve on our performance for the World Rowing Championships. Our main competition will be these guys [France and Italy], but also the Hungarians, they are pretty quick. The Germans are improving too, but so will we.”

Lightweight Men’s Eight (LM8+) – Final

Yesterday, these four countries, Denmark, Austria, Poland and Italy, raced for lanes. Italy took line honours over Poland. They returned to the water today. After a false start, Poland took off in the lead of the second start. Settling into a solid 37 stroke rate pace Poland remained in the lead with Italy, sitting on 38, holding second. The fast opening pace of Poland then began to take its toll. Italy moved ahead of Poland and didn’t look back.

In the sprint to the line Italy remained in first with Poland having to contend with a very fast-finishing Austria. Italy crossed the line in first. There was nothing in it between Poland and Austria. Poland had just held on for second. Austria take third.

Results: ITA, POL, AUT, DEN

Gold: Salvatore DI SOMMA (ITA)
“It was a really hard race, we couldn’t perform at our best because of the conditions here on the lake, with the cross wind. However, halfway through we re-took the race to win.”

Silver: Tomasz MROZOWICZ (POL)
“The race was very tough and the competition was very good. We’re hoping to go to Linz. We wanted to be the best here in Poland but we’re also very happy for second.”

Bronze: Claus JAEGER (AUT)
“It was something else!” [first Rowing World Cup of the 14-year-old cox]

Bronze: Alexander CHERNIKOV (AUT)
“We’re happy. It was a positive surprise because we have not had too much training in the eight. So it’s really motivating for Linz.”