Dutch four finally crack gold at the Rowing World Cup
Racing at the third and final Rowing World Cup for 2007 concluded
with an afternoon of finals races in Lucerne, Switzerland.
The afternoon opened with the Dutch men’s four finally
winning gold and finished with Canada continuing what appears
to be the making of a winning streak in the men’s eight.
Action was as hot as the 30 degree Celsius temperatures at
Lucerne’s famous Rotsee rowing course.
Men’s Four (M4-) - Final A
Great Britain took a big psychological blow in the semifinals
yesterday when New Zealand broke their 27-race winning streak.
New Zealand took a huge confidence boost. Today Great Britain
shot out of the blocks at the start and, following a race
plan that must have been something like, “hold on for
dear life!” the Brits had an early lead. It didn’t
last long. By the half-way point not just New Zealand had
overtaken but also the Netherlands. Great Britain, however,
fought back and with just 500m left to row Steve Williams,
Peter Reed and replacement for the injured regular teammate
Alex Partridge, Tom James with Andrew Hodge in stroke, had
regained the lead.
There was nothing in it. Three boats charged for the line.
New Zealand with the knowledge of their semifinal win. The
Netherlands with the knowledge that they had spent two years
collecting no golds and far too many silvers and bronzes and
Great Britain with the knowledge of their legacy. On the banks
of the Rotsee the crowd rose to their feet. On the water stroke
rates rose. The Dutch had finally done it. Cirkel, Vellenga,
Gabriels and Vermeulen earn their first gold in the four.
Great Britain hold off New Zealand to take silver and the
Kiwis earn bronze. Less than a second separated these three
crews at the line.
Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) - Final A
Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic seems to be maturing as
a racer. He saves himself through the early rounds. He goes
hard when he needs to. He can be fast at the start and still
sprint at the finish. Alan Campbell of Great Britain comes
into this race having beaten the World Champion Mahe Drysdale
of New Zealand for the first time (Henley Royal Regatta last
weekend). Drysdale comes to this final feeling that he has
done good work between not medalling at the Amsterdam Rowing
World Cup and today’s race.
Today Synek shot out at the start ahead of usual starting
leader Alan Campbell of Great Britain. But Synek’s margin
was tiny. Campbell was right there and so was Mahe Drysdale
of New Zealand.
By the half-way point Synek had extended his lead over Campbell
in second and Drysdale in third with Olaf Tufte of Norway
not far back in fourth. Synek must have been feeling a little
nervous. Coming into the final 500 metres both Campbell and
Drysdale were within striking distance. The race was going
to come down to the best sprinter.
All crews charged. Synek didn’t quite have enough in
reserve. Drysdale wins gold, Campbell earns his first Rowing
World Cup medal this season with silver and Synek must accept
bronze. Tufte in fourth will be re-evaluating his race plan
while Sjoerd Hamburger of the Netherlands in fifth must feel
good to be up in the A Final.
Mahe Drysdale (NZL) – gold medal
“This is my first Lucerne win and I will be celebrating
tonight. I really enjoyed the last two times here. It’s
funny when you’re winning how much it hurts. Before
Munich (World Rowing Championships) we’re going to Greece
and Germany. We’ll be up in the mountains. Definitely
the plan is to win a gold medal in Munich, but looking at
the splits here the first 4 are within 2 seconds of each other.
And it’s not going to get easier when you get to Munich.
Especially with those 4 (from the final) plus Marcel (Hacker).
Anyone could have the opportunity to win.”
Ondrej Synek (CZE) – bronze medal
“It was very difficult. I tried a new strategy for this
race. I was very fast at the start. Before Munich I am going
to St. Moritz for 2 weeks for preparations. After that I am
going back to Czech Republic and finally to Munich.”
Lightweight Men’s Four (LM4-) - Final A
In the absence of current World Champions, China, the gold
medal spot could have gone a number of ways as no other crew
has been really dominating the medals podium lately. Great
Britain may be changing this. Under former Cambridge University
coach Robin Williams, the British lightweight men have been
showing quite a resurgence. Today the Brits took to the lead
of this A Final and worked and holding it. The rest of the
field, however, had different ideas.
Going through the half-way point just 2.5 seconds separated
the top five crews. Great Britain continued to push the pace
and managed to get a gap on Australia and Canada. France and
the Netherlands, though, were not letting go. Great Britain,
the Netherlands and France charged for the line. The three-way
closeness took the race to a photo finish. Great Britain had
won – just. France takes silver and the Netherlands
earn bronze.
Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x) - Final A
Great Britain are the current World Champions but a loss
to China at the Amsterdam Rowing World Cup did not go down
well. Despite China not being at Lucerne, Great Britain decided
they wanted to stamp their name well and truly on this event
and send out a message to both China and former women’s
quad dominating nation – Germany. They shot out of the
start at 46 with Germany trying to emulate on 45.
The British then, stroked by Katherine Grainger, opened up
a boat length lead over Germany by the first 500m mark. Germany,
with the great Kathrin Boron now sitting in bow seat, fought
their way back. Great Britain increased their power. Coming
into the final sprint Great Britain and Germany had opened
a good gap over the rest of the field with Romania sitting
in third well ahead of Australia in fourth. Great Britain
sprinted for the line to earn gold. Germany take silver and
Romania win bronze.
Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x) - Final A
Russia have created a mixture of new talent and experience
to make their new-look quad. Alexander Kornilov won the single
as a junior in 2003. Nikael Bikua-Mfantse, with Kornilov,
won bronze last year as under 23 athletes. Along with Nikita
Morgachev and Alexey Svirin the Russians shot out of the start
in first. But a slight stutter in just one stroke by the Russians
gave second place, the Czech Republic the lead. Russia regained
their composure and held on to the Czechs and by the last
500m the Russians had clawed their way back into the lead.
But the race was not over.
Coming from behind France was charging for the line. Russia
and the Czech Republic held on. At the line only one second
separated first, second and third. Russia had done it –
gold. France, who may be wishing that they sprinted sooner,
take silver and the Czech Republic earn bronze.
 Women’s
Eight (W8+) - Final A
The United States are reigning World Champions and last year
they set a World Best Time. The Germans are currently number
two in the world and already have a gold and silver medal
from this season. Germany wants to take the Americans down.
The United States just wants to win. Together these two crews
shot out of the starting blocks glued to each other. The United
States had a whisker of an advantage, but going through the
half-way point there was barely anything between the two leading
crews. Meanwhile the Netherlands had slipped into third ahead
of a battle between Great Britain and New Zealand.
Coming into the final sprint the United States, with Mary
Whipple in the coxswain’s seat, decided enough was enough
and that they really wanted to shake off the Germans. In the
space of about 10 strokes Whipple took her crew from 35 strokes
per minute up to a mighty 43. The US opened up a boat length
lead. The US take gold. An exhausted stroke, Susan Francia
lies down in the boat. Germany remain in silver position and
the Netherlands take bronze.
Men’s Eight (M8+)
With a win at the first Rowing World Cup and then a win last
weekend at the Henley Royal Regatta, Canada must come into
this race with a level of confidence. The same can probably
not be said for current World Champions Germany. So it wasn’t
completely surprising to see Canada in the lead at the start.
What would Germany do? Under the guidance of Peter Thiede,
the uber-coxswain who doubles as a coaching assistant, Germany
held tightly to the Canadian pace. However, by the half-way
point Canada had a boat length over the Germans with Germany
now more concerned about the threat coming from a rejuvenated
Russia.
Sprinting to the line Germany tried to hold off the Russians
but also go after Canada. The result was Germany held on to
the silver medal spot. Canada take gold and a very happy Russia
earn bronze.
|
