Thursday 23rd August 2001, Lucerne, Switzerland.
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The sun is sweltering hot, with much less of a breeze: steaming conditions for the rowers on the water, although at least the Rotsee features thick woods along much of its nature-reserve length, which gives the chance of a little shade for those waiting to go onto the start.
M1x C/D semifinals: three to C final, rest to D final.
Part one sees Matthew Wells (GBR) and Padraig Hussey (IRL) shooting off ahead, Wells taking a half-length lead by 400 metres which he extends to 3+ lengths with some strong sculling in the second quarter. Wells looks more than comfortable as Pavel Chourmei (BLR) moves through into second, and raises his rate to a sprint with 250 to go, to hold off the Belarussian. Then something weird happens - with about five strokes to go, Wells seems to change his mind and decide to lose the race, letting BLR through by a seat by paddling home. It definitely isn't a problem, more a deliberate tactic - perhaps he likes the look of lanes 2 and 5 for the C final more than the middle. The second race has four out of five scullers in a close-matched pack, just Korean Dal-Ho Kim racing bravely at the back. Then Dane Bertil Samuelson begins to falter, and Ralf Kreibich (AUT) leads Timothy Whitney (USA) and Marco Ragazzi (ITA) home. ITA breaks past USA at the end, but all three make the C-final with ease.
M2- C/D semifinals: three to C final, rest to D final.
Croatia's Milin and Lovric, who have usually been close to the top pace, sprint off quickly in this one, but within a few hundred metres are fading rapidly, and trail in eight seconds behind the top three, as first Poland, then Bulgaria power through to take the lead. Brazil take the third C-final place, a nice result. The second race is dominated from start to finish by Ukraine, who end with more than clear water over Slovenia, the latter rowing down Belarus. Moldavia are nearly twenty seconds off the pace.
W1x A/B semifinals: three to A final, three to B final.
The first semifinal sees Sophie Balmary (FRA) take a length out of Ekaterina Karsten (BLR) with Poland's Agnes Tomczak rather comfortably in third. The two leaders languidly hoist themselves along rating 24 to the finish, Karsten clearly comfortable to defend her title from one of the outside lanes on Saturday. That seems a decent enough strategy, 'cos she'll have them all looking round desperately to see where she is, rather than relying on keeping an eye on her in the middle lane. Plus it saves her energy today. Nice tactics from the double Olympic and defending world singles champion. For the second semi, Katrin Rutchow (GER) has the upper hand over Joulia Levina (RUS) and they two sweep down the course with a perfect view of the battle for third between Erica Spinello (ITA) and Irja Ven (BEL), which Spinello gets with about fifteen strokes to go.
Interlude:
Canadian LM2- world champion Ben Storey points out to me, after yesterday's comments on doubling-up that not only are the Greeks also doing the M2+ and M2-, but one competitor has a shot at three medals. Romanian men's Marin Gheorghe is steering the ROM M2+, M4+ and M8+, which are in all three A-finals this coming weekend. I bet his schedule is a busy one...
M1x A/B semifinals: three to A final, three to B final
Hacker (GER) grabs a lead ahead of Chalupa (CZE) with only half a length or so lead as they approach the boat tents. Tufte (NOR) coming through as Chalupa pushes away from the rafts with a massive surge, powering through Hacker and towing Tufte in his wake. Hacker fading quickly, that start took too much out of him, dropping into fourth behind Ivo Yanakiev (BUL). Chalupa sits at 28, letting Tufte through to win the race, as Yanakiev consolidates and easily grabs third. A few seconds after crossing the line, Hacker capsizes, another heat-stroke victim perhaps, although as they tug him into the rescue dinghy, he's holding his seat, so obviously still compos mentis. Doesn't look too serious, as the first aiders get their act together for the first time this regatta, and sensibly take him into the shade near their base on the far side of the lake. For the second semi, Cop (SLO) arrels off hard, giving Mueller (SUI) a good challenge off the start, as Mueller and Fernandez (ARG) belt away behind him. Almost nothing in it at the first marker, Cop crossing the timepoint 0.36 ahead of Mueller, and these two are now starting to drop the field behind them. I think this may be a test of machismo: the two are likely to make the final without trouble, but this is the time for each to try and psych the other out. Both Cop and Mueller are Olympic champions (M2x and M1x respectively, though in different years), and with Sydney winner Waddell (NZL) absent, Mueller thinks this title is his. There are plenty begging to differ, so this is one of the most interesting contests. Power pouring on from both, Free (AUS) has taken Fernandez, and it's still Cop at 900 gone, just a few feet up and racing hard to try and burn off the Swiss sculler. It could get hard for the Slovenian at the finish, local support helping Mueller through, and although he can't hear, the cowbells are already ringing 600 metres further down the track to encourage him on. Perhaps he's got bat's ears - despite Cop's efforts Xeno grabs the lead just before 1500 gone, at a sprightly 37, and now Cop raises the game again, matching his rate and holding paceOK. Now Fernandez is back on Free, Cop and Mueller both being caught as they sprint, Cop could do it, Free comes back, superb finish from all four scullers. It's Xeno on top, Cop second, and Free just pips Fernandez with an expert finishing burst. Ziska fifth, and Jaanson seems tired and low, sculling steadily well back in sixth. Xeno pulls in to the pontoon just beside the finish, to receive the plaudits of the assembled media and get his mugshot in tomorrow's papers...
LM1x A/B semifinals: three to A final, three to B final.
First semi a four-boat contest to start with: Chevel (RUS), Basalini (ITA), Varga (HUN) and defending champion Vabrousek (CZE) holding that order as they settle. Then we get some shuffling, first Varga burning through with a good push at 750 gone, and then Basalini creeping up behind him as Chevel fades to let Vabrousek through into third. Finally with the other three out of the picture, Basalini takes over the lead, and Vabrousek moves past a tiring Varga to grab second, the three unrushed and finishing within a length of each other. Second, Sam Lynch looks well within himself, sculling steadily along with clear water over Frederic Dufour (FRA), with Ulf Lienhard (ARG) and Stephen Tucker (USA) neck and neck behind. Through the third quarter and passing the boat tents, Tucker sticks in an excellent push, moving through Dufour into second, with Lynch still clear ahead of the pack. Now Tucker's having a go at Lynch, who's still relaxed at 30 coming into the final 250 metres. Lynch is content to win by under a length, rowing strong but steady, while Dufour beats Peter Ording (GER) who has sneaked into a close fourth while the cameras were concentrating on the leaders.
W2- A/B semifinals: three to A final, three to B final.
BLR get away quickly, RUS half a length behind them and GBR another half-length back at 250 gone. The gaps close as they near the first timing point, with CAN just another second back, and GBR launching a solid push which takes them into second place ahead of RUS just after the marker. BLR still in control, as the rates all settle a little, BLR now looking more than steady at 30, and the pack closing up behind them, CAN forcing a way past RUS. Canada's push get them through GBR, and starting to challenge BLR hard for the lead. Again less than a length covers all three as they start to draw far enough away from the rest to ensure their qualification. CAN now in the lead at 1350 gone, BLR still low-rating and now clearing GBR's bow, and with the rest more than ten seconds back, it could be that these crews have settled for just qualifying without worrying about position. CAN now strong and relaxed at 33, GBR at 36 but within themselves, BLR up it to 32 but can't quite close to first place. On to the second semi, and ROM take it by the scruff of the neck, FRA and AUS whipping out behind them to 250 gone. Germany and China chase these three, and although Romania stay well in charge, the resulting fight sees the French fade as Germany move into third place. Australia look strong, and give ROM a bit of a race at the end, although Damian and Susanu do it the classy way, bunging down massive puddles with a very strong ratio, while staying solidly ahead of the Aussies to the line. Germany holds off the Chinese challenge to keep third: the French look pretty disappointed.
M2- A/B semifinals: three to A final, three to B final.
Off at 46, then down to 39, crossing the first line of buoys first, like bullets, 45 seconds in they have a few feet lead, half a length nearing 500 metres. The rest in a pack, ITA rowing through the Germans and overrating them by a pip, GBR sticking it in and moving away, rating 34 at 900 gone, nearly a length up, ITA push at the same place, but GBR nearly clear now, 35 at the marker. Passing the boat tents at 33, now more than 2 seconds clear, possibly 3, YUG past ITA, GER still in fourth, massive ITA push at 1400 gone, but they aren't catching YUG. GBR now out of the picture in the lead, still at 33 and watching the rest of the race unfold. It's an interesting one: ITA keep attacking and finally burst through YUG with 400 to go. Here we're still watching P&C - they hold it steadily at 33-34 to 250 metres, and there stick in a few at 35 to maintain dominance. Following that, the Italians in second place on a roll keep on blasting, and it spurs Pinsent on to do his famous finishing lift for nine strokes until they cross the line. For the second semi, Di Clemente and Cech (RSA) go haring off, matched by Argentina's Ordas and Balunek on the opposite side of the course. CZE and ROM a little way back, and the Romania push at 600 sees them move into second place, challenging RSA hard and only 0.33 behind at the next marker. RSA responding nicely, a strong effort taking them out to a quarter length. ARG still in third, CZE just next, and these four could be scrapping between them for the finals places. 250 to go, RSA still have it just, now at 41, ROM at 42 and holding off CZE and ARG, the two of those very close for third. 100 to go, RSA know they've got it and relax to 35, happy to let ROM overlap, and a few strokes later it looks as if the Czech bowman Michalek blows, the pair stopping on the line as they lose third place to deserving Argentina.
M2x A/B semifinals: three to A final, three to B final
LTU off quick, ITA also rapid, with HUN and CUB stalking along. ITA move through without difficulty into the lead, and HUN shove up behind them, while LTU drop a bit of speed to let CUB through into third. ESP and GBR at the back of the field, not really threatening for the qualifying places. Crossing the final timemarker, it's still ITA in control, with HUN edging towards them, and a flat-out battle between CUB and LTU for the final spot. HUN close down ITA with a good sprint, CUB have the advantage but the LTU rate whips up, not quite in time - they miss it by about half a length though it goes to a photofinish. GBR fifth paddling at 32, ESP sixth similarly unhurried.
As Friday's crews get out on the lake for a long paddle in the evening dusk, I am mildly amused by the efforts of the organising committee to do a run-through for Saturday's medal ceremonies. They've persuaded IOC committee member Anita de Frantz to join in as the presenting VIP, which is rather good of her, and are busily pretending that Xeno Mueller has just beaten Iztok Cop in the men's single sculls. That raises a loud shout of derision from the press ranks - not that there's anything against Xeno but it's by no means a definite outcome - and they then subject us to the Swiss national anthem in celebration. Lovely stuff. Meanwhile it's eights city on the water, with a large clutch of quads joining in the fun, and the odd coxed four, the USA team sporting a topless bowman who for some reason thinks he's going to get a suntan at this time of night. Just as they're all going home, the 'twentyfour' takes to the water, a 24x+ crew which makes the eights look positively short. It is rowing again this weekend with, I gather, a clutch of world champions in it, so we should see more later - I bet the NLRoei crew will grab a picture of it.
Racing tomorrow begins at 2pm, and I will try to provide the same occasional updates through racing. Eurosport will have another three or so hours of TV footage tomorrow, much of it live and including expert commentary from Tim Foster. This is main Eurosport, not just British, and I gather there is commentary in Italian and French as well as English.