China Dominates Rowing World Cup II
The 42-year-old Jueri Jaanson of Estonia wins gold in the
men’s double. The experienced duo of Georgina and Caroline
Evers-Swindell fall to a beautiful Chinese sculling performance
in the women’s double. A double-header for China in
the lightweight women’s double and Katherine Grainger
of Great Britain learns what it’s like to be second.
Women’s Single Sculls (W1x) - Final
Only Sweden’s Frida Svensson could hold Ekaterina Karsten
of Belarus at the start. But not for long. The back-to-back
World Champion and four-time Olympian did it once again and
did it in true style. Using a long, upright, relaxed-looking
stroke Karsten took to the head of the field and extended
it. Meanwhile the comeback of Bulgaria’s Rumyana Neykova
did not seem to be coming to anything as she sat at the back
of the field. Neykova set the World Best Time in 2002 and
has been racing against Karsten since 1990. Now coming back
from having her second baby, Mario, Neykova is expected to
be the sculler that will truly take on Karsten.
But today wasn’t the day. Instead Xiuyun Zhang of China
was doing the most damage. Zhang is well-known in the rowing
world for being part of the 1993 World Champion quad –
one of the few World Champion medals for China at the time.
But a heart attack forced Zhang out of the Athens Olympics.
Now coached by Italian Beppe de Capua she is back at full
strength and moved into second place in this race with Svensson
slipping into third. The order did not change and Karsten
wins the Holland Beker Ladies Trophy plus 3000 euros. Zhang
takes 1500 euro in second and Svensson wins 750 euros by finishing
third – the same place as in the first Rowing World
Cup.
Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) - Final
Before the race international coach Thor Nilsen predicted
that this would be one hot race. He was right. All of these
six athletes have the talent to win. All of them know each
others idiosyncrasies. All have seen World Cup gold in the
past. As is usual Alan Campbell of Great Britain took the
lead at the start, storming through to the front ahead of
Olaf Tufte of Norway who is better known for his slower starts.
Campbell held on to the lead but both Tufte and the clean-shaven
Marcel Hacker of Germany were making gains. But Campbell was
just holding them off. Then going through the 1250m mark Tufte
raised his rate to 37 and grabbed the lead. Campbell couldn’t
hold the pace. Then winner of the first Rowing World Cup,
Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic began to wind and what
a wind it was. As the rush for the line began Synek lifted
his stroke rate again, and again. With 150m left to row Synek
had hit 43 strokes per minute. Synek takes gold and wins the
Holland Beker Trophy and 3000 euros over Tufte with silver
and Hacker takes bronze. Back in fourth World Champion Mahe
Drysdale mentioned that coming into this, his first international
regatta of the season, he was still looking for his top speed.
Ondrej Synek (CZE) – Gold Medallist: “I feel
great that I was able to defeat the big name rowers who were
Olympic champions. My tactic is succeeding. In Linz I ended
first with a good sprint and I have done the same today.”
Olaf Tufte (NOR) – Silver Medalist: “Ondrej Synek
is getting quick. I’m happy with my second place, though.
I’ve had a lot of problems with my allergies this spring,
but now that summer is coming, it is improving. In Lucerne,
Ondrej is the one to beat.”
Marcel Hacker (GER) – Bronze Medallist: “In some
parts of the race, I let the other rowers go, and that was
my mistake. I’m happy with the bronze because it’s
still in the top of the field. You really have to control
yourself when someone takes a commanding early lead [in reference
to Campbell]."
(To Tufte after the race): “You had a very quick start!
Are you learning?”
Women’s Pair (W2-) - Final
Yage Zhang, 22, of China is in her first international season
finishing 8th at the first Rowing World Cup. Now teamed up
with Yulan Gao, the duo have made marvelous headway through
the early rounds of this regatta. Today they took the lead
of the final with Germany2 holding the pace. But then Australia’s
Kim Crow and Sarah Cook took it off them. Crow comes to rowing
after injury forced her out of her running career and in her
two years of rowing she already has World Championship medal.
Her rough stroke indicates she still has a long way to go
technically, but the duo were showing all of the guts necessary
to win.
Zhang and Gao fought back and reestablished their lead with
2005 World Champions New Zealand’s Nicky Coles and Juliette
Haigh now pushing through and going after the Australians.
Coles and Haigh came together in 2003 to qualify for the Athens
Olympics where they made the final and every year they appear
to mature as rowers. Coming into the final sprint China held
on to the lead, Coles and Haigh challenging back and now Cook
and Crow trying to hold off the Australian number 2 crew as
the finish line came into view.
China cross the line first, New Zealand push past the Australians
to take a well deserved silver and Cook and Crow earn bronze.
Gao Yulan and Zhang Yage (CHN) – Gold Medallists: “We
will not participate in Lucerne, so we want to defend our
number one position in Munich.”
Juliette Haigh (NZL) – Silver Medallist: "We are
not content. Gold is always the best, but the World Rowing
Championship is what matters to us. China looks strong and
they have such a big team that you never know what to expect.”
Sarah Cook (AUS) – Bronze Medallist: "This is
the first time that Kim and I have rowed together. We expected
the others to be strong, so we concentrated on the eight.
In July we will finish our selections for the Olympics, so
at that point we will see in which boat we will be.”
Men’s Pair (M2-) - Final
France’s Erwan Peron and Laurent Cadot shot out of
the start with all of the guts of a crew that knew a win would
come from real hard work. The real hard work continued along
with the lead. But behind them the experienced New Zealand
pair of 203cm tall George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle,
who have been rowing together since the Athens Olympics, were
starting to push through. Bridgewater and Twaddle took World
Champion gold in 2005 but got pushed into silver in 2006.
Croatia’s Niksa and Sinisa Skelin went with the New
Zealanders. What could the French do?
Coming into the final sprint France started to look a little
ragged but still held on. New Zealand took the rating up and
charged, Croatia used their huge strength to fight back. At
the line Twaddle and Bridgewater earn gold. The Skelin’s
earn their second silver medal of the season and France slip
back into bronze in a very gutsy effort. South Africa’s
very established duo of Cech and Di Clemente held on to the
front-running action but could only manage fourth.
Nathan Twaddle (NZL) – Gold Medallist: “We’re
quite satisfied. Last year we went straight from the airplane
into the boat and had a very bad race. Now it was a very close
call, but Australia, the world champions, were of course not
around.”
Niksa Skelin (CRO) – Silver Medallist: “The waves
were smaller than yesterday, so the conditions are okay. Second
place is acceptable, but it is still the early part of the
season. If we stay on this level, it’s OK, but we hope
to get better. We’re in the top three, but Australia
is missing.”
Erwan Peron (FRA) – Bronze Medallist: “We really
weren’t sure what was going to happen in this race.
This is our first year together and we are happy with the
first medal. In Lucerne, the Canadians and Australians will
return, so it will be very challenging.”
Women’s Double Sculls (W2x) - Final
In a show of smooth, consistent synchronized rowing winners
from the first Rowing World Cup Qin Li, 26, and Liang Tian,
21, of China may be the crew to present for textbook rowing.
Li and Tian got out to a lead at the start leaving former
World Champions, Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell of New
Zealand practically standing still and the rest of the field
looking practically motionless. It would be good to note,
lightweights Finland had a solid start but soon fell off the
pace.
As the race progressed Li and Tian moved further and further
away from the rest of the field with the much rougher but
strong style of the New Zealanders unable to make a dent on
the leading Chinese. Meanwhile the youthful Jitka Antosova
and Gabriela Varekova of the Czech Republic were performing
a very gutsy effort. Antosova and Varekova won gold as juniors
in 2005 and gold as under 23s last year won gold. A smooth
but unpressured last 500m by China earned them gold. The New
Zealanders take silver and a very happy Czech Republic take
bronze.
Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell (NZL) – Silver
Medallists: “China is very strong. We were expecting
big things. It’s not enjoyable to lose, but it was a
good start.”
Gabriela Varekova (CZE) - Bronze Medallist: “We’re
pretty surprised. We’ve only been together for two weeks,
so we didn’t expect to be so close to New Zealand. The
next step is Lucerne.”
Men’s Double Sculls (M2x) - Final
A race of many surprises. Slovenia’s Iztok Cop and
Luka Spik are rarely out of the medals when they race together.
Today they finished fourth. The reigning World Champions,
Jean-Baptiste Macquet and Adrien Hardy of France not only
didn’t medal but ended at the very back of the field,
over 11 seconds down on the leaders. Here’s how the
race unfolded.
Spik and Cop, winners of the 2005 World Rowing Crew of the
Year took off in the lead at the start with Australia’s
new double line-up of Scott Brennan and David Crawshay in
hot pursuit. A strong middle 1000m kept Spik and Cop in the
lead with Australia, Great Britain and Estonia holding the
pace. New Zealand and France had now dropped back. Spik and
Cop kept a wary eye on Matthew Wells and Stephen Rowbotham
of Great Britain. Wells and Rowbotham won the first Rowing
World Cup and are known to start off slowly but pick up the
pace and the power as the 2000m race unfolds.
Coming into the final 500m less than 2 seconds separated
the top four boats with Slovenia still holding the edge as
Wells and Rowbotham charged. But it was Jueri Jaanson and
partner Tonu Endrekson of Estonia, out in lane one, who caught
everyone off guard. Slovenia, Great Britain and Australia
were too busy worrying about each other and had forgotten
about the Estonians. Estonia had done it. Great Britain take
silver and a photo finish between Australia and Slovenia gives
Australia the bronze. This gives Jaanson, 42, a further medal
in his lengthy career. He has been around long enough to have
rowed for the Soviet Union, but he now flies the flag for
the small Estonian nation.
After the finish, French coach Jean-Raymond Peltier spoke
frankly: "Since the beginning of the year, Adrien Hardy
doesn't have a lot of punch. He didn't perform correctly at
the French Championships. In Linz it was no good neither.
We are asking ourselves a few questions and will work on the
technique and the physical condition. On top of this and although
that is not an excuse, they felt a bit isolated in lane 6
... remembering this is the Bosbaan."
Tonu Endrekson (EST) – Gold Medallist: In Linz we were
really too slow in the first 500m. We lost more than two seconds,
and that is too much in such a competitive field. This time
Jueri was in control and it turned out great.
Matthew Wells (GBR) – Silver Medallist: The Estonians
had a very good race. We responded to every crew, but when
the Estonians sped up so dramatically in the last 500 meters,
it was hard to respond.
Scott Brennan (AUS) – Bronze Medallist: The crews were
quite spread out at 1250m. We had to work very hard to get
the medal, but it’s so much nicer to be 3rd than 6th
as we were in Linz.
Men’s Four (M4-) - Final
In the absence of Germany and Great Britain it was definitely
the Netherlands that were the favourites. As favourites do,
the Dutch took off at the head of the field and did all that
they could to stay there. France, the Czech Republic and New
Zealand were the ones on the pace. Going through the middle
of the race the Netherlands had built up more than a boat
length lead over New Zealand now in second.
New Zealand come to this final after having a drink bottle
incident in the semifinal when bow seat Carl Meyer got his
drink bottle stuck under his seat. But the crew managed to
pick up the pace and win their semi. Now into the final sprint
the New Zealanders started to wind. The Netherlands didn’t
react. In the last 50m New Zealand got their bow ahead of
the Netherlands who, again, had to be satisfied with silver.
The Czech Republic take bronze.
James Dallinger (NZL) – Gold Medallist: We did it the
hard way. Our tactic was to lead from the start, but obviously
all of the other crews had the same tactic.
Matthijs Vellenga (NED) – Silver Medallist: You don’t
deserve a medal, you have to win it. This was the best result
possible because the New Zealand crew gained on us very quickly.
Gijs Vermeulen (NED) – Silver Medallist: It was a perfect
race. We now have to learn to accelerate at the end of the
race. The New Zealand guys are really powerful.
Marc Emke (NED) – Coach: We’ve had a great race.
We made the difference at 1000m. It’s quite unfortunate
that we ended up losing, but we have to learn to persevere.
Milan Bruncvik (CZE) – Bronze Medallist: We expected
to get to the A Final. We wanted to get the best position
we could. It’s our first year at senior level, so it’s
a good result.
Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x) -
Final
China’s number two crew of Haixia Chen and Hua Yu showed
their worth in the semifinal by leading the entire race and
winning. They did it again today in the final, but they didn’t
just win, they dominated. This must put China1’s (Dongxiang
Xu and Shimin Yan) position as the top Chinese crew in jeopardy
despite being current World Champions and World Best Time
holders. Instead Xu and Yan were in second with their team
mates having a full boat length margin in the lead.
Meanwhile the new combination of Wendy Tripician and Jana
Heere of the United States were working towards being the
only medal for the Americans at this regatta. Surprisingly
Germany struggled at the back of the field. Coming into the
line China2 remained easily in first, China1 make it a double
header taking second and the United States earn a bronze medal
for their country. There was nothing tight or close about
this racing.
Wendy Tripician and Jana Heere (USA) – bronze medallists:
This was our first international race together, therefore
we didn’t expect anything. We are very pleased with
our medal and we will work towards Lucerne and Munich.
Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x) - Final
Yesterday reigning World Champions Denmark’s Mads Rasmussen
and Rasmus Quist took the World Best Time off Italy, setting
the new standard of 6:10.02. Today they rowed another fine
performance dispelling any ideas that lightweight rowing always
leads to close finishes. After overtaking a fast start by
Slovakia, Rasmussen and Quist sailed into the lead showing
extraordinary unity despite their two different sizes. Commentator
Hugh Matheson remarked that this kind of unity must come from
miles and miles of rowing together. These miles and miles
again must have been paying off.
Behind Denmark Great Britain’s new duo of Zac Purchase
and Mark Hunter were back in second but had a solid lead over
Olympic Champions Tomasz Kucharski and Robert Sycz of Poland.
This procession continued until the finish line with the Danes
looking like they still had a lot to give after cruising across
the finish line in gold medal position. Again Rasmussen and
Quist dominate the event. The question is what will happen
at the Lucerne Rowing World Cup with the return of the Italians
and potentially a stronger field.
Mads Rasmussen (DEN) – Gold Medallist: Perhaps I made
it look easy, but I’m really exhausted. Quist appeared
to have some hidden power. The Slovakians started very quickly
and we expected the Brits to hold on.
Mark Hunter (GBR) – Silver Medallist: We have to believe
in ourselves and work a lot more and harder.
Tomasz Kucharski (POL) – Bronze Medallist: We are not
very satisfied. When the USA, Hungary, and Italy participate
in Munich, it will be even more difficult.
Lightweight Men’s Four (LM4-) - Final
Great Britain flew out of the start followed closely by Denmark
in the opening of the lightweight four. Great Britain looked
reasonably smooth. Denmark looked reasonably aggressive. Great
Britain had the edge. But the race had only just begun. Going
through the half-way point reigning World Champions, China
had taken the lead, Great Britain was in second and Denmark
had slipped right back into fourth.
As the rain fell, local crew the Netherlands (number two
crew of three original entries) slipped into the bronze medal
spot after starting out at the back of the field and working
their way up into this position. Meanwhile China and Great
Britain waged a close battle at the head of the field. Coming
into the line there was nothing in it. The aggressive Chinese
crew poured on the power, Great Britain stuck with them. China,
stroked by Jun Tian in his fourth year of international competition,
earn gold, Great Britain take silver and a very happy Netherlands2
take bronze.
Paul Drewes (NED) – Bronze Medallist: We’re going
to send a boat to the Olympics and I want to be in that boat!
Roeland Lievens (NED) – Bronze Medallist: I feel like
a child in Disney World.
Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x) - Final
Great Britain are back-to-back World Champions and winners
of the first Rowing World Cup and, after the earlier rounds
of racing, were definitely the favourites in this event. But
China had other ideas. Guixin Feng, Ziwei Jin, Aihua Xi and
Bin Tang took off at the start with Great Britain and by the
750m mark had gained half a boat length advantage. Under the
guidance of stroke Katherine Grainger, Great Britain’s
most medalled woman rower, the British crew tried to react.
However it appeared that anything they tried had no impact
on the leading Chinese. China continued to pull away from
Great Britain.
Meanwhile Germany, featuring the very accomplished Kathrin
Boron in two seat was in third position, with France a long
way back. The race continued like a procession. No crew seemed
to be able to make a dent on anyone around them. China win
gold. Great Britain take silver and Germany earn bronze.
Katherine Grainger (GBR) – Silver Medallist: It was
a very disappointing race since we feel that we are capable
of beating the Chinese.
Kathrin Boron (GER) – Bronze Medallist: The Chinese
are amazing. Our crew didn’t do particularly well today,
but everything can change by Lucerne.
Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x) - Final
No doubt that the Polish reigning World Champions were the
favourites coming into this event. But at the start it was
the Czech Republic in the lead. This didn’t last long
as Poland stole back the lead and then began to extend it.
The Czech Republic were having difficulty reacting back and
Poland continued to extend. Meanwhile France was a good boat
length back in third. The race remained little more than a
procession as Poland remained on their international gold
medal streak. The Czech Republic were happy with silver and
France take bronze.
Women's Eight (W8+) - Final
In Linz, gold went to Germany, with Great Britain and the
Netherlands in second and third. But in front of their home
crowd, the Dutch women's eight would upset the finish order.
Germany and the Netherlands were the only crews to qualify
directly into the final, the other four qualified by way of
the repechages.
After the first 15 strokes Germany had their nose in front,
but then China took the lead. The Netherlands did not panic
and started closing back in on China, teasing their vulnerability.
By the 1000m mark the Netherlands were in front, intent on
putting on a show in front of their home crowd. The Chinese
were on their right, and the Dutch women, staying calm and
in control, were able to hold them there.
Great Britain and Australia (doubling up in the women's four)
stayed level in fourth and fifth positions throughout the
race, with Great Britain falling behind Australia in the last
500m. Belarus was the one crew which seemed out of touch.
By the last 500m, Germany had closed in on China, and both
crews, racing against each other, were drawing closer to the
Netherlands. The crowd of Dutch spectators was shouting their
crew on. With 150m to go, the Chinese counterattacked, catching
up with the Netherlands from one length behind to only half-a-length.
But the Dutch were on their home waters and stayed in the
lead until the line, followed by the Chinese and the Germans.
Men's Eight (M8+) - Final
Switzerland had not expected to race in the A Final. They
had finished 9th at the Rowing World Cup in Linz and 8th at
the 2006 World Rowing Championships. That is why they had
booked early flights back home this evening. But with a first
place in their semifinal, they had made it, and will need
to rush to the airport.
This final was all about Great Britain. Not about their first
crew, but about Great Britain2, the fun experimental crew
of Juergen Grobler, the national head men's coach. This was
the fastest direct qualifier to the final, combining the famed
men's four and gold medallists from Linz in the men's pair,
Colin Smith and Matthew Langridge. Olympic Champion Steve
Williams was in stroke seat, although he does not usually
stroke at international level. But this was not a competitive
situation between the British crews. Coach Grobler was doing
this for the four - they needed a break - and this was the
mechanism whereby he would maintain the men's four best chance
for a gold medal at future events this season.
At 500m, Great Britain2 were leading, followed by Great Britain1
and China. Those three boats would stay in the top three until
the line. In the last 100m China had a finishing burst which
was clearly very well rehearsed, closing in the gap with Great
Britain2, and overtaking Great Britain1. China’s cox,
apparently very pleased to have gotten so close to Great Britain's
VIP crew, jumped out the boat at the finish line.
2006 World Champions Germany were not the force they were
last year, having qualified through the repechage, and were
never in a position to medal. At the line, Germany crossed
in four and Switzerland in five. Poland, who had qualified
directly into the final in Heat 2, finished last.
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