World Championships 2000

The Rowing Service

Zagreb, Croatia, at Lake Jarun, Wednesday 2nd August 2000

Junior Men's Coxed Four, JM4+

Three to go through to the semi's from each of these two races, and with a burning hot day on the cards, these juniors will be glad to be first off and race in the relative cool. The original 13 entries have been reduced to 12 with the withdrawal of the Ukrainians, so it's two heats of six. In the first race the extremely impressive French crew drew out to an early lead, and just kept on going, steadily moving further and further away from the main pack, and finishing three seconds of GER, RUS, ROM, ITA and USA clear with ease.
Second race and after some close starting, led by Greece, GBR pulled through the pack to a two-length lead, which then came under fire from a ferocious attack by the Yugoslavian four. The British won the battle, going through to the final, but lost the war, as it was a considerably slower heat than the first one. Final order GBR, YUG, LAT, GRE, ARG, CRO.

Junior Women's Coxless Pair, JW2-

Fastest crew only through to the A final, the rest to repechage. Two heats, and Belarus were unbeatable, whipping out to a several-lengths lead from the start, and finishing over half a minute up on GRE, BUL and the USA. Phenomenal rowing.
The second heat wasn't quite as fast as the first, but Germany took it by the scruff of the neck, pulling out a couple of seats from France and then inching away. Czech Republic and China had a fight for third, won by the Czechs at the half-way mark. The whole race fifteen seconds slower than the first heat, which leaves Belarus the clear favourites for the gold. barring accidents.

Junior Men's Coxless Pair, JM2-

Just one crew to go straight to the semi-finals, and the rest relegated to racing again. The first race saw two crews push forward quickly, Poland and Russia, and although they then played chase right down the track, Poland had the upper hand and never let the Russians get closer than a third of a length. Behind these two, France led Hungary, Denmark and Lithuania to the finish and the repechages.
Second heat, and a blasting finale between the Australians and the Italians, won by the boys from Down Under with great confidence. The closest Italy came to them was a third of a length, and the Aussies opened a good gap up as the Italians realised qualification was impossible, leaving the final order AUS, ITA, CHN, CRO, BUL and YUG. In doing this, Australia posted the fastest time of the event by four seconds, a useful gap to wave in the faces of their opposition for the semi's.
The German pair came out to the front, but in the final stages Belarus launched an all-out assault, closing hard on Germany in a spirited dash to the line. Germany held them off, though, and the gap was just too big to erase. Germany through to the semi's, BLR, CAN, AUT, ESP to the repechages.

Junior Women's Coxless Four, JW4-

A single crew per heat to the A final, and in the first race the Germans had it all their own way, with the other crews fanning out in an echelon from them, at least a length between each. Final order GER, FRA, BUL, DEN and RSA. The Danish junior women's four had their bus sniggering this morning, as they bounced into it wearing Kelloggs Rooster backpacks, and sporting yellow flowery flipflops that looked just like duckfeet. Not surprisingly, their coach wore a tolerantly amused "oh no, they're doing it again" expression....
In the second race, we had the USA in front from the word go, and despite a brave attempt by Australian to hang on to them, the gap was widening by the stroke and finished at nearly three lengths. That was the qualification place gone, and Australia led GBR and ITA home for the final positions. USA look good for this event, being totally unpushed and yet posting a ten-second-faster time than the other heat.

Junior Men's Coxless Four, JM4-

Easy to qualify for this one (relatively), with three semi-finals places up for grabs in each heat. The first race was a bit of a plod over, German, South Africa and Belarus confident of their places by half-way and squeezing Italy and Lithuania out of the action by a biggish margin.
The second race was a much tighter affair, Australia taking over the lead at 750 metres out from fly-and-die starters CZE, and then having to hold off an increasingly spirited French four. A race for pride alone, the top three crews being clear by this time (Portugal in third), but Australia simply put the foot down a little and pushed the French away to finish 0.4 seconds clear. A slower heat than Germany's, however, so the full story has not been written yet.
Heat three was another game again, the Chinese four looking very impressive to start with but fading a little as they marked time for the slowest qualifying place. Up ahead of them during the second half of the race, first Canada and then Slovenia drew into the lead, Slovenia putting in a particularly strong final quarter to finish first. CAN, CHN, NED, CRO for the other places. This heat some 2-3 lengths slower than the other two.

Junior Women's Single Sculls, JW1x

Here we had fourteen scullers, and in each of three heats, the top 3 finishers would be booking semi-finals places by right. Heat one was led off by New Zealander Paul Iwining, who dominated the early stages, but a calm Majbrit Olgaard from Denmark notched her way through to take the lead coming into the last 750 metres, and from there relaxed and stretched out, absorbing the Kiwi attacks. Behind them Argentinian Gabriela Best was well clear of YUG and LTU for the final qualifying spot.
In the second heat, although German Julia Heitmann appeared to be well in charge, Italian Gabriella Bascelli pushed through just after 1500 metres gone, and Heitmann clearly then decided to knock it on the head, having proved her point. ITA, GER, ROM for the qualifying spots, and UKR and PAR pushed to the repechages.
Chants of "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!" filled the grandstand for the finish of this race, as Rebecca Chisholm, leader since the start, held off the Czech Republic's Daniele Nachazelova in a very exciting finish. Chisholm was sculling at 30, long and solid, to Nachazelova's lively and shorter rate 33, and the Australian's longer finishes nicely contained the pacy Czech. Croatia followed them home to qualify also, leaving Japan in the cold. On the times, the Italian sculler has the advantage, but since Australian Chisholm took all her advantage in the first 500 metres, there is more to come from Down Under.

Junior Men's Single Sculls, JM1x

Brutal qualifying rules in this event, not surprising with 29 scullers in total. One from each heat to the A/B/C semi-finals, and the rest racing again. First off was a mixed bag, standard-wise, with an impressive Italian sculler, Marco Ragazzi, taking the lead and leaving DEN, CAN, RUS, SLO trailing in his wake.
The second heat was also a bit of a walk in the park, Felipe Leal from Chile neck and neck with Belgian Kim Van Renter Ghem to start with, and then finding an extra gear through the mid-section of the race to finish a length clear, with NOR, NED and CYP filling the remaining non-qualifying places.
Heat three began with CZE's Martin Pavelka taking the lead, and then with a steady race through the middle, Sigitas Klerauskas from Lithuania, who had remained well in touch, raced the perfect strategy, taking the lead with 400 metres to go and then sprinting beautifully to the line. CZE, CRO, POL, YUG in the final places.
The fourth heat was also an East European party, in which Igor Kuzmin of Estonia grabbed the lead from SVK after a slow-ish start, and then kept his nose just in front of Ukraine's Stanislav Verbitskyy to claim the qualification position by two seconds. He did it with a classy rate-34 burst at the end, catching Verbitskyy napping, as the Ukrainian didn't start his final lift until a few strokes later. SVK, HUN, GEO for the last three places.
In the fifth heat, Marc Stoffel kept the Swiss sculling tradition by winning his heat well clear of USA's Shane O'Mara, after leading all the way. These two were significantly ahead of the pack, who finished SWE, MKD and JPN spread over the last 200 metres.
In the final heat Martin Bahls from Germany looked at first as if he was going to walk away with it, but Australian Mitchell Punch claimed back 2 seconds during the third quarter and pulled ahead by 1500 metres. The last section of the race was an lesson in how not to do it, Bahls looking panicky and blown, bum-shoving, barely rocking over, and rating a scrappy 41, while Punch chonked along at 39 with considerably better technique to take first place and go to the semi's. Fastest sculler overall was Italian Ragazzi, despite winning by one of the biggest margins.

Junior Men's Coxed Pair, JM2+

Just one coxed pair per heat to the A final, and the Germans were clearly decided from the start that it would be them. They had a first quarter two seconds clear of the nearest rival, and after persuading the Americans that any challenge was hopeless, brought it in nearly 2 lengths to the good. So GER, USA, PER, CZE, RUS, CRO the end result.
In the second, slower, heat, Yugoslavia had the lead from the start, and held it right through, followed a couple of lengths back by GBR. Yugoslavia were rowing long at 33 and making the most of every stroke, but despite the Brits pushing their rate up at 1700 metres to 36, it wasn't going to work, and YUG maintained their lead with ease. Worse news for the Brits a few strokes later, as the Italians also decided to do a final sprint, and came through very effectively in the last 250 to claim second place. Final rankings YUG, ITA, GBR, UKR, VEN.

Junior Women's Double Sculls, JW2x

We had fifteen crews in this, and a relatively relaxed qualification of the first three in each heat through to the semi-finals. In the first heat, what must be the Greek top JW boat impressed everyone, taking and maintaining a tasty lead. They eased off the power at the end, to nobody's surprise, letting UKR and NED qualify behind them, with CRO and RSA out of the back.
Heat two was also a one-crew race, a very nippy Buglarian double reeling their first few hundred metres off several seconds faster than anyone in the entire event. Denmark could not hlpe to catch them, despite giving it a go for the first 500, and settled for moving 2 lengths clear of the Latvians, while SLO and ISR dawdled in last.
The final race for this event featured a strong German crew well in front, and a totally pointless but very entertaining race for second between France and Italy, which the Italians won by 0.19 seconds after the two crews had matched each other stroke for stroke right up the course. Fourth was Poland, and fifth China. It looks as if the German double have a little more firepower in the bank, which Belarus would do well to take notice of...

Junior Men's Double Sculls, JM2x

In this event, with 21 crews, one per heat goes through to the semi-finals today. In the first race, Croatia took a commanding early lead over the field, who spread out steadily behind them. But with 400 metres to go, for some reason Croatia couldn't raise it from their rate of 31, and first GBR, then Ukraine, nipped up to the late 30's and then whizzed past them. A late lift to 33 from Croatia had no effect, and that put GBR through with ease, CRO, UKR, BLR, LAT and ESP behind them.
With a frisky cross-tail wind springing up at the finish, times are getting a little quicker, although it can unnerve some crews when the wind hits them at the gaps in the bank along the course. Heat number two was led all the way by a very confident Italian double, while behind them the Czechs overtook Germany in a nice late move, though only ITA get to the semi's, and in the fastest qualifying time. NOR and YUG as fourth and fifth completed the set.
The third heat, a tense dash to the line, disguised the slowest race of all, though you wouldn't believe it from the way the crews blasted into the home stretch. Argentina had the lead to start with, but an increasingly pacy Australian crew rattled their cage in the third section, and grabbed the lead. Argentina responded by raising to 36, which caught the Aussies rather unawares, and both doubles pegged it into the last few hundred metres nose to nose. The battle was won by the South Americans, as the Australians tweaked the buoys and didn't have as much cohesion, while behind them the other three finished CHN, USA and RSA in order.
Heat four of this event was quite a bunfight. Greece made the first showing, but a cracking joint push by Canada and Slovenia took them ahead fairly quickly. Canada couldn't hold off the sustained Slovenian push, though, and by 1500 metres it was all over bar the shouting. Final order SLO, CAN, GRE, DEN, CYP.

Junior Women's Quad Sculls, JW4x

Just one qualifier per heat, and an increasingly difficult wind blowing several crews onto the buoys at the gaps in the bank. In a well-matched heat, NED, NOR and ESP approached the final section without much to choose between them, NED leading, until NOR made an effective push to 34 with 400 metres to go. This took them in front, and NED, who had started fastest, were fading and could not respond, leaving the final order NOR, NED, ESP, AUS, DEN and EST.
The second race was less nail-biting, Germany's quad calmly sculling into a lead of several lengths down the course. Bizarrely, CZE and AUT had a slanging match for second place, won by the Austrians, as CZE had pretty well blown as they crossed the line. Though to be fair, many of these junior crews have not raced much together at this kind of level, and every row is a learning experience for them, worth racing to the last metre. The final places order was GER, AUT, CZE, ROM, GRE and RUS.
The last qualifying place went to Belarus by about half the course, while China, Poland, Japan and Croatia diddled along in their wash. This race was the fastest by a short head, following a scrappy first section with several crews vying for the lead, until Belarus took charge.

Junior Men's Quad Sculls, JM4x

Again one crew to the semi's, and more full heats. In the first of these, there was no contest, Germany well clear of all the rest by five seconds. CZE had lost contact with the Germans early on, but remained ahead of CRO, AUS, UKR, However, the important decision was already made and Germany needed to make only a token lift for the line.
In the second heat, France also took the easy route, clipping along very efficiently nearly three lengths ahead of the pack as they neared the line. Behind them POL, SUI, EST, JPN arranged themselves in the non-qualifying positions.
In a vastly slower third heat, the field was spread, NED overtaking crash-and-burn BUL after the first quarter, and then romping home undisturbed without the rest getting close to them. Final order NED, GRE, ESP, RUS, BUL.
The Italian quad weren't having anyone take their spot, so rocketed off very fast, leaving the pack to flounder behind. By 800 gone the result was clear, letting Italy control the race, despite a valiant effort from Slovenia. Final placings ITA, SLO, SWE, HUN, NOR.

Junior Women's Eight, JW8+

One to go through from each heat of four crews, and the first to claim a final's spot was Germany's eight. They made it a lead from the front, and let USA do all the chasing. This reached a peak at the finish, with the Americans launching an all-out assault, rating 41, for the last 300 metres. This didn't avail them much, alas, and Germany could keep it lively but unpanicked and still stay in front. Final order GER, USA, CAN, GBR - the British eight, with four of their JW4- doubling up, decided to race it for the first couple of hundred metres and then paddle in a minute behind the field at 23.
The second race was fairly similar, Romania dominating this time. They never let the Russians get a sniff after stride, and could sit back and watch an entertaining race for third place between UKR and NZL. Final order ROM, RUS, UKR, NZL, and not much to choose between Romania and Germany's times and race plan. USA could still give someone a scare, with that ultra-quick final 500, but their coaches will doubtless be telling them that it shouldn't be necessary...!

Junior Men's Eight, JM8+

The final event of the day, and two heats of six, with one to go through from each. First up was the German versus USA heat again, and they matched their girls, though a sluggish start left the USA in charge for the first couple of minutes. After that German power took hold, and this American crew had already spent half the capital, so didn't have enough to spare for a big attack at the end. Instead they were having to hold off the Russian eight, who had stayed glued to them right up the course, and closed a little more, though missing second place by just 0.3 seconds. Finishing order GER, USA, RUS, POL, CRO, without GER needing to sprint.
The second heat was nearly eight seconds slower, giving much to think about for its crews, none of whom would have finished any higher than fourth in the previous race. First to look tasty were the Ukraine, with a rapid start, closely hounded by NZL and AUT. They managed to repel boarders for 1200 metres, then let it slip to the Brits, who had been creeping up the ranking steadily, and tugging Romania in their wake. Another little surge at 300 m to go for the Brits made their position safe, then they quietly brought it home at cruising pace, while Romania pushed through the Ukraine. Finishing order GBR, ROM, UKR, AUT, CAN, NZL. The Germans will be hard to match, but a good final is assured, whoever qualifies.

AFTERNOON REPECHAGE SESSION
 Men's Coxed Four, M4+

A rather predictable result, this, with one crew dropping out of the competition and the rest to the semi-finals. Lithuania were slowest off and never recovered, leaving Russia, Denmark and Ukraine to decide amongst themselves who would draw the short straw and get the place in the fastest semi-final. The final verdict was Russia by two seconds, and DEN, UKR just 0.5 seconds apart, so Ukraine will have the dubious pleasure of racing the pacey British crew later in the week.

Women's Coxless Four, W4-

Two per rep to the A final, the rest to the B final in this set. In the first race, NED and USA made pretty short work of UKR and RUS, with most of the work done by 1000 metres. Just after that the Dutch, who had produced a pretty slow start, finished a strong push to take them in front, and both crews now had it in the bag, with UKR and RUS third and fourth.
The second heat contained the Polish crew, whose fastest qualifying time must have disappointed them - it would have won them the other heat, in theory. They headed the Danes in the repechage by one second at 500 metres gone, and steadily drew further away without fuss. The Danes were comfortably ahead of Germany by this stage, and took the second final place easily, with Germany third and China drifting in fourth by nearly twenty seconds.

Men's Coxed Pair, M2+

Ukraine opened the bidding in this race, but with places in the A final up for grabs, it was never going to be that simple. From 1400 to 1600 an excellent surge from Italy took them through UKR, and then USA, following closely behind and by now in second place, unleashed a finals-style sprint which claimed them first place with great panache. That takes USA and ITA to the A final, leaving UKR, CRO and GER to the B final.
In the second repechage, also a five-crew race, went all Hungary's way. Leading from early on, they could afford to cruise somewhat as Romania followed them into the second A final spot. Meanwhile, a length-plus behind, Croatia was in a psychological fight with Russia and Great Britain to be first of the rest. They succeeded, with Russia successfully defending fourth place against a dejected GBR pair. [Earlier in the week, Simmons from the GBR 2+ had rather an upset stomach, although he seemed to have recovered by yesterday.]

Women's Lightweight Coxless Pair, LW2-

A single repechage for this event, dropping the last boat out and sending the remainder to the A final, so this was more about lanes than anything else. In a brisker tailwind than earlier, Zimbabwe led the field for some considerable distance before being overtaken by Germany and easing off the throttle. Behind them Greece and Spain bagged the last two finals spots, leaving Hungary out of the competition in fifth.

Men's Lightweight Coxless Pair, LM2-

Three repechages for this, and each of them sending three boats to the semi's, and the rest to the C final. The event is, of course, increased from its normal size by the disappointed LM2x who failed to qualify for Sydney, so this is a big field and requires plenty of racing. In the first race, containing a slow Mexican boat, the other three crews of Hungary, Greece and Yugoslavia weren't really in any danger of being shoved out, but they decided to race it in anyway, perhaps not full throttle but an excellent chance to practice their final sprints under competition conditions. Greece took the honours in first, Yugoslavia second, and Hungary third, Mexico fourth.
The second repechage contained the fastest non-qualifiers from the heats, Denmark, so it was no surprise to find them in front after a third of the race. Keeping pace with them, however, were Germany, having a much better race than their first heat, and the spread of the crews ensured that by the finish stretch nobody in the first three crews was having to work too hard. That puts DEN, GER and FRA through to the semi-finals, and USA languishing in the C final.
The third repechage featured another disappointed pair, this time from Canada. The day before, they had thrown everything they had at the experienced British LM2- of Haining and Strange, but had to admit defeat in the final few hundred metres. This time, they were making sure of it, and grabbed an early lead over Sweden and Poland, before rowing it strongly home, Poland also impressing behind them. Sweden and Spain third and fourth to the semi's also, and poor Croatia giving it a good try, but well off the pace in fifth.

Women's Lightweight Single Sculls, LW1x

A similar deal for this event, three to the semi's and the rest tothe C final, so judgment day for the lightweight women. Britain's Tracy Langlands led to the thousand marker (not bad for a sculler with the 'flu), where she was overtaken by fastest non-qualifier from the heats, Mirjam Ter Beek (NED). Ter Beek pushed on to take the first semi-final place, with Sweden's Kristina Knejp behind her and Langlands doing just enough to hold off POR and HKG in third.
A smaller heat, the second, and with Latvia unable to keep on the pace, everyone else had a tidy paddle back, giving the semi-final places to CZE, CRO and ZIM in that order.
The final women's repechage was much more strung out, Germany's Angelika Brand and Sara Baran for Italy miles ahead of the rest for much of the course. Behind came POL and DEN in a catfight for the last semi-final place, the battle won by Katarzyna Demianiuk from Poland, who was 2 lengths clear by the final 100 metres but still kept it going as she claimed her place. VEN in fifth some considerable distance behind.

Men's Lightweight Single Sculls, LM1x

Two to the A/B semi-finals, the rest to the C/D semi's here, and the racing kicked off with DEN and ESP going into the lead for the first race. World Champion from 1999 Carsten Nielsen (DEN) was never going to lose this one after getting the bit between his teeth, and though his largest lead of five seconds was eventually closed down, he did just what was required. Behind him quite an interesting race developed. First GBR's Monnickendam pushed through the failing Spaniard, then USA's Marc Millard stuck in the fastest final 500 metres to take the second place in the semi's. A well-judged race from the American, leaving GBR, RUS and ESP to progress to the doldrums of the C/D semi-finals.
The second race was rather a lot slower, and although the sculler from Slovenia led the field for half the race, he had pushed it too hard, and was readily overtaken by Lubos Podstupka (SVK) and Tomas Haltsonen (FIN), who grabbed the semi-finals positions. YUG, SLO, POR for the last three places in the rep.
The third repechage held experienced Gergely Kokas from Hungary, as well as the Trans-Atlantic Challenge champion Rob Hamill. These two both sculled tactically, making their moves some way down the course and fighting through GER, BUL and CRO to qualify for the semi-finals places in a relatively quick race.
In the final repechage, another nippy one, Swiss Nicolas Laett led from start to finish, with Belgian Wouter Van Der Fraenen making up for a slow start to come through soon into second place. This edged FRA out by a whisker, and CHN, VEN out by miles.

Women's Lightweight Quad Sculls, LW4x

The emphasis was on the battle for third place in this race, three out of four going to the semi-finals and the last out of the competition. With the Dutch and Italians quite merrily pushing along at the front, attention focused on the Russians and South Africans, having an epic battle for third. Crunch point was about 750 to go, when Russia put in a good push and came through, a move which South Africa could not respond to. Finishing order NED, ITA, RUS and RSA.

Men's Lightweight Quad Sculls, LM4x

The top three crews, IRL, POR and USA, had a length on CAN and CZE by 650 metres gone, so the race proper, for the three semi-final places, was by this time over. However, pride kept all three going flat out, and in a close haggle, Portugal and the USA eventually rumbled the Irish quad, who had led from the start to 1700 before running out of replies.

Men's Lightweight Eight, LM8+This first repechage was one of the tightest races of the afternoon, all four crews within one length as they crossed the line. Two to go through, and it was Australia and Denmark who held off Italy and Spain, though the two losing crews were reeling them in all the time during the final sprint. It wasn't quite enough, though, and Denmark in particular kept their heads and remembered that if the oppo didn't get past, it didn't count. AUS, DEN, ITA, ESP.

A similar case in the second rep, though with just three crews the tension was even tighter. Germany kept their noses ahead of the Dutch all the way, but only just, with Japan only just behind them. The race finished with the Dutch successfully holding off Japan to claim the last finals spot, despite an excellent last quarter by the Asiatic crew.