Rowing World Cup, Day Two - FISA Race Summaries

by Melissa Bray, FISA on 9 Jul 2006 Surrounded by trees, the waters of the Rotsee Regatta Course in Lucerne, Switzerland often shines with a distinctive green glow. Lighter skies with sporadic sun breaking through the clouds brought out the colour as calm conditions continued for an afternoon of semifinals and repechages.

Read on to find out how the afternoon unfolded.


Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) – Semifinals

Olaf Tufte of Norway is often seen lounging back at the rear of the field only to work his way through to a better position. Today he got out only just behind known fast starter, Alan Campbell of Great Britain. But, impressively, right in the pack was Sjoerd Hamburger of the Netherlands with Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic holding the pace. Less than a second separated these four crews going through the half-way point with Tufte edging into the lead. Only three crews would qualify. The pace remained.

Then 23-year-old Synek began to move, pushing past 23-year-old Hamburger with 23-year-old Campbell hanging on. The crews were going to have to sprint. Tufte, in the lead, stayed calm. Synek, now in second, looked long in the water and confident, Campbell unleashed his sprint. Hamburger couldn’t hold on to the pace. Tufte, Synek and Campbell will meet in Final A.

Semifinal two brought out more of the heavyweights. Sweden’s Lassi Karonen weighs in slightly heavier than Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand. A little shorter, Andre Vonarburg of Switzerland is a touch lighter. But very little separates these three scullers from the colour of their hair down to their socks. As soon as the starter’s gun sounded however, the difference was revealed. Drysdale shot out of the start using a power unable to be matched by any of the competition. Playing the Henley gentleman’s game Drysdale let Karonen get a bit closer. But Karonen was much more worried about local hero Vonarburg.

A Karonen-Vonarburg battle kept the excitement alive before Vonarburg decided they had moved far enough ahead of the rest of the field and buttoned off to take third. Karonen kept the pressure on to move close to Drysdale. Drysdale, Karonen and Vonarburg will meet again in the final.

Women’s Pairs (W2-) – Repechages

American’s Megan Cooke and Anna Mickelson finished fifth at the first Rowing World Cup and today they rowed a more confident race to lead. This left Nicky Coles and Juliette Haigh of New Zealand to do their best from second. With four boats going through to the final a huge gap then formed back to Belarus in third and Germany’s number two crew in fourth. Cooke and Mickelson remained comfortable enough not to sprint. Coles and Haigh looked content in second and Belarus and Germany will join them in the Final.


Men’s Four (M4-) – Semifinals

Slovenia showed that they have stepped up their game this season by winning silver at last month’s Rowing World Cup and today facing bronze medal winners, New Zealand, they held a 1000 metre tussle at the head of the field. New Zealand then slipped back but still remained ahead of the Czech Republic and Italy. Were the New Zealanders foxing? Did the Kiwis need a bit more juice? Stroke Eric Murray will know the answer.

Either way the last very little separated all six boats coming into the final sprint. Slovenia held on to first. New Zealand looked to be doing just enough to hold second. The Czech Republic looked across at the line not sure of their position – they had just snuck through to take third and a spot in the final.

The Dutch-Great Britain showdown that never occurred at the Henley Royal Regatta last weekend got to go for a trial run today. Tussling for the first half of the race Andy Hodge, stroke for Great Britain, got his boat ahead and kept a wary eye on his Dutch counterpart, Gijs Vermeulen, sitting in stroke for the Netherlands.

Great Britain retained a slim margin, but there was practically nothing between these two crews with half of the race gone and they had opened up a handy gap between them and the remainder of the field. The Dutch, however, were making it look a little too easy. Were they doing like the New Zealanders and keeping something for the final? Or were the British just a little too fast? Meanwhile Germany was doing their hardest to get past Ireland and into a qualifying spot. It was enough. Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany will meet again in tomorrows final.


Women’s Eight (W8+) – Repechages

Five crews lined up, one would not advance to the final. This was sorted out relatively early in the piece with France not holding the pace. Despite being in qualifying position leaders Great Britain, Germany and New Zealand still raced the full 2000 metres in preparation for the Final tomorrow. The Netherlands also qualify from fourth.

For full summaries see: www.worldrowing.com/display/modules/news/dspNews.php?newid=323968