Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) – Semifinals

by FISA on 24 Aug 2006 Marcel Hacker of Germany took off like a man possessed in the first of two semifinals.

With his shaven head, dark glasses and a large cross dangling around his neck, Hacker was described by the commentator as a trifle sinister. This race plan was working for Hacker as he got a full boat length lead over current World Champion Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand. Hacker kept the power on, his rating at a high 38 stroke rate with every indication that he is well recovered from a recent hernia operation. Drysdale, rating 34, tried to stay in touch.

Meanwhile a close battle was going on between Belgium’s Time Maeyens, Switzerland's Andre Vonarburg and Sweden's Lassi Karonen, leaving the final qualifying spot completely open. With 500 metres left to row Hacker was still holding on to first, but a more evenly paced race by Drysdale was paying dividends. Drysdale had overlap and was pulling ahead of Hacker. In the heat of the moment Hacker had just one bad stroke. It was all that Drysdale needed. Pulling into the lead, Hacker was shaken. Drysdale takes first, Hacker second and a very impressive final sprint by Maeyens gave the Belgian a spot in the final.

After the finish Drysdale said: 'The only race I won last year was the World Championship final, so ultimately everyone is in the same position to do that. Myself I had a good run to this spot, but you can’t take anything for granted. I’m looking forward to go and beat him (Tufte) to make up for the loss to him at Lucerne.'

Hacker said: 'I still raced hard. Any time in the semi final it is hard. It was very different conditions with it windy.'
Q. How will you relax before the race? Hacker: 'I chill out. I will be sleeping. I’m so relaxed I’m sleeping.'

There’s no hiding Great Britain’s Alan Campbell’s powerful start. Taking off in the high 40s Campbell had the lead as he settled into the body of the race. But Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic, who had taken off out of the start at a 49 stroke rate, was looking good, looking confident and looking like his new cobweb hair style was helping him keep his cool. By the half-way point Synek had grabbed the lead as Norway’s Olaf Tufte came back from a slow start to move ahead of Campbell and into second. Synek remained in the lead, Tufte followed in second while Campbell found himself in a battle with Cuba. Coming into the final sprint Campbell remained outside of the qualification position as he began to wind. Cuba’s Yoennis Hernandez Arruez couldn’t react. Synek takes first, Tufte second and, much to the crowd’s delight, Campbell takes third to qualify.

After racing Synek said: 'I am happy to be in the final. But it is (to be) a very different race because today was difficult because it was trying with the wind. I didn't expect to be ahead of Olaf.'

Result  World Cup World Rowing Championships 2006, Eton - Race 127: M1x  Semifinal A/B 2
boat progression: 1-3->FA, 4..->FB
Rank	Boat	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	Finish	Lane
1	NZL	1:37.64  (2)	3:19.58  (2)	5:01.17  (2)	6:42.58	3
Mahe DRYSDALE
2	GER	1:35.57  (1)	3:17.75  (1)	5:00.94  (1)	6:43.87	4
Marcel HACKER
3	BEL	1:39.10  (3)	3:22.25  (4)	5:04.40  (3)	6:47.14	5
Tim MAEYENS
4	SUI	1:39.29  (4)	3:22.94  (5)	5:06.32  (4)	6:51.19	1
Andre VONARBURG
5	SWE	1:40.94  (6)	3:21.94  (3)	5:07.36  (5)	6:51.85	2
Lassi KARONEN
6	ARG	1:40.03  (5)	3:24.60  (6)	5:21.15  (6)	7:32.42	6
Santiago FERNANDEZ
Key to terms: DNA=Data Not Available DNF=Did Not Finish DNS=Did Not Start DSQ=Disqualified EXC=Excluded BUW=Boat Under Weight

Result  World Cup World Rowing Championships 2006, Eton - Race 128: M1x  Semifinal A/B 1
boat progression: 1-3->FA, 4..->FB
Rank	Boat	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	Finish	Lane
1	CZE	1:38.02  (3)	3:21.00  (1)	5:03.22  (1)	6:45.12	4
Ondrej SYNEK
2	NOR	1:38.23  (4)	3:21.23  (2)	5:05.03  (2)	6:46.52	3
Olaf TUFTE
3	GBR	1:36.83  (1)	3:22.08  (3)	5:08.04  (4)	6:47.43	2
Alan CAMPBELL
4	CUB	1:38.49  (5)	3:22.32  (4)	5:06.71  (3)	6:48.54	6
Yoennis HERNANDEZ ARRUEZ
5	NED	1:39.08  (6)	3:22.84  (5)	5:08.60  (5)	6:50.84	5
Sjoerd HAMBURGER
6	USA	1:37.15  (2)	3:24.76  (6)	5:10.39  (6)	6:54.22	1
Jamie SCHROEDER
Key to terms: DNA=Data Not Available DNF=Did Not Finish DNS=Did Not Start DSQ=Disqualified EXC=Excluded BUW=Boat Under Weight