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ROWING SERVICE SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2006 AT DORNEY, ETON
Live Online Commentary, Saturday's medal finals
Trevor and RQ reporting from Dorney Lake, Saturday 26th August
So, here's the plan. We'll take turns to write live commentary for the medal races here, with the auto-refresh set to every 3 minutes or so: if you want to see what's going up every sentence, hit reload yourself.
Races in reverse order, most recent first.
Men's coxless fours, M4-
Here they go. USA lead by a canvas at 300m, from GBR. Maybe being in lane 6 is
helping them - remember they had that re-row the other day in similar conditions.
By 500 though the Brits stick their bow in front. It's these two a couple of
seconds clear, with SLO and NED neck-and-neck for third and FRA and GER fractionally
behind. The nerves we had felt building up before this race disappear as there is
too much to do in terms of commentary and watching to be nervous, and it's unfolding
at what feels like double-speed. Coming down to the halfway point there isn't much
in it, but GBR have doubled their lead - still not even a second though. Game on.
USA have peaked though and powerless to respond as GBR make a move in the third
500. NED fancy a shot at it too and build it up. Williams has a little concerned
look across from the middle of the course, as they move out rating 38 to nearly a
length up. USA in 6 and NED in lane 2 are fighting for the other places, NED just up
I think. GBR really going now at 38, 39 into the last 300m. USA on the near-side and
NED are really picking it up. GBR at 41 almost have clear water now. GBR are taking
this, here comes GER though on another of their fast finishes for a medal, but what
colour? It's silver, and they are as ecstatic with second today as they were with
second in the semi. Less than a second behind them the Dutch 4 have to settle for
Bronze, having disposed of USA but unable to fend off Germany in the dying strokes.
It's hard trying to type up as it happens, and when I looked up with 250m left there
was a wall of noise and 6 fours piling towards me...quite a sight. Now that the
"right" crew has won there is perceptible easing of tension and a relief that the
favourites have won. Rachel has gone to grab a quick interview with the golden boys
prior to their medal ceremony.
Gold Great Britain, silver Germany, bronze Holland, 4th USA, 5th Slovenia,
6th France.
That's the end of the A finals for today, phew, quite a day it's been. Despite the
races being every 10 minutes, there seems to be no time to catch up. It was ok when
just blogging in real time (even if it went up afterwards), but I'd forgotten how
much more stress there is when trying to do online commentary in real time. I'm
adding this comment from the Leander library with a cold beer on the table in front
of me (Trevor here), and with some greate results for the GB team, all is looking
pretty good with the world.
Men's double sculls, M2x
I wonder if this is going to turn out to be as good a weekend as everyone hopes for
Britain? Shame the women's double couldn't quite manage it. Now for the men, as
soon as the M2- medals are awarded. "Australia Fair" over the speakers for Ginn and
Free: now that's a tuneful anthem. Times are in, and GBR W2x were just 0.14 seconds
outside a medal. Bloody good work in their first season together and with a far-from
perfect wind-up to the champs with illness disrupting training.
Pictures of men's doubles on the start, and they barge off, Slovenia's bowball
showing first with France pushing through hard within the first minute. FRA from
SLO from BEL and we can't see the rest. Spik and Cop put in a burst on rippling
waves, trying to close, but it doesn't seem to have much effect. Like the Kiwis in
the last race they look a bit hunched and short. Macquet and Hardy have been
complaining about not having nice water to train on, but they seem to be managing
on this OK! FRA from SLO as they get near halfway, BEL tanking along steadily in
third on the far side by the crowds. FRA pull out, nearly a length up, SLO still
digging away, quite tight shoulders. Spik looks over his left shoulder, POL coming
up from the back of the pack, as SLO wants to have another go, but FRA pulls away
again. 450m to go, FRA looking superb, quite an amazing lead for a doubles race,
SLO starting to raise the rate, GBR on a real charge at the near side, coming from
nowhere. The pack close up on the leaders, FRA are going to be fine, SLO definitely
second, Wells and Rowbotham in third and even closing on second. Brilliant! Just the
slightest chance of some help from the lane, though - the wind is a little bit cross
now and was scheduled to move round in the day. Not good for the GBR M4- who have
their biggest rivals in the more sheltered lanes.
Gold France, silver Slovenia, bronze Great Britain, 4th Poland, 5th Bulgaria, 6th
Belorus.
Women's double sculls, W2x
Medals for the W2- first, as the M2- land. Colin and Tom drift near the rafts,
shame if they don't row past the crowd, but they ought to anyway - they have a lot
of fans and have done incredibly well this season. AUS M2- come in - what gets me is
that when I meet Drew Ginn he gives me a crick in my neck, he's so tall - but Free is
even bigger. Mahe hanging over the rail of the grandstand being interviewed with his
medal round his neck. He says thanks for the Scullers shouts by the way. Hugh
Matheson goes to talk to him - I think they're going to ask him to do a Eurosport
bit. A quick quote from Marcel comes round - it's the first time any of the flash
quotes have been relevant or quotable really: "I was very, very lucky to get away
with silver. I had an operation eight weeks ago so I was told to do no training, but
I did train a week afterwards." (Hacker, GER M1x). I gather it was a double hernia
operation, but it looks like a leg problem this time, so not the same.
Off they go, and our girls (GBR) go off very fast, but they will have to be careful
or they'll pay for it later. Then the settle comes, and the Kiwis start motoring.
Right up beside them are Belarus, who looked really good in the semis. NZL starts to
drift out, with GBR a bit behind and BLR/AUS starting to close. AUS start to
challenge the lead, and the cheering begins in the stands next to us, full of their
supporters. NZL from AUS, these two could run away with the race. A bit of sun on
the water through the wind. Kiwis are looking really good, very long and strong,
less punchy and smoother than I remember in last year's final. The Aussie heads are
visible though, and NZL are having to push to keep them off. Oh, I think AUS are
responding. This could be the big giant-killing. Yup, 900m gone and AUS are in
front, cross the marker better by a few feet, and actually look the more fluid too,
under-rating the Kiwi twins who look pressured, like it's not happening for them
today. AUS get hold of it really deliberately at the front end, slightly lower
rating than the New Zealanders. This is the banker Kiwi boat, too, what a surprise.
No sign of anyone else on the screen at all, can't see what's happening and our
angle means too difficult by eye. OK wider view, it's GER in third, and GBR in
fourth. NZL under pressure from GER too, while UKR close up on the near side. NZL
trying to close up, AUS trying to get away, NZL go up to 39, GER start to sprint.
200 to go, GBR are going hard, could they get a bronze? Canvas off it, Aussies and
NZL battling it out at the front, GBR get a big lift from the crowd, and now they're
nearing the front, 4 boats in it, but GBR are slowest of the 4. AUS speed up, NZL
fade, GER go, it's a complete confusion as they cross the line, I look at the wrong
time and miss it. Replay please! None of that, but they do announce NZL have bronze.
The British girls had the second fastest last 500, usefully quicker than the
medallists and very very narrlowly missing a gong.
Gold Australia, silver Germany, bronze New Zealand, 4th Great Britain, 5th Ukraine,
6th Belarus.
Men's pairs, M2-
Men's pairs about to start, while Marcel is helped up. He's conscious I think, but they're
going to stretcher him - probably quite wise. It's an event people row themselves to a
standstill in. Looks blanked out as he goes into the ambulance. Back to the race.
Tom and Colin off quite steadily in the first few strokes, but quickly up to 49.
Ginn and Free (AUS) were fastest, but China are out into a very early half-length
lead. A few hundred metres gone and it's CHN from AUS, but the Aussies starting to
hit a really good race rhythm. Behind them NZL in third, GBR fourth. First marker,
and Ginn and Free are beginning to come through. It doesn't take long to erode the
CHN lead and get their bows in front. Bad water again, just as it was on Thursday.
AUS rhythm deceptive - looks like 32, is really 35.5. CHN and NZL having a battle
behind them, with Germany creeping up on the far bank. Those three are clear water
ahead of GBR and CAN. AUS have a class lead now, very nice clear-water gap opening
up, and they look a bit Redgrave and Pinsent ish (that will annoy them!) in their
dominance if not their more slender physique. NZL having to fight off Germany, CHN
slipping back in between them. No sign of the Brits on-screen. Can't see over the
media heads either. GER are in second, NZL third I think, still Australia in charge.
They have a phenomenal lead at 500m to go, while CAN are nearly a length ahead of
GBR. Colin and Tom up to 38, really going, what can they do here. Everyone's up near
40, it's all go. AUS having to burn harder now, GER and NZL still going at it, GB
shouts to cheer the boys on. They won't manage to get back from 6th though. Blanket
finish for third, I think Canada may get it. Just - close to a photo, but not quite.
Gold Australia, silver New Zealand, bronze Canada by a late steal, 4th China, 5th
Germany, 6th Great Britain. Speakers play "Land Down Under" for a few seconds as they
turn round.
Women's pairs, W2-
While we wait for this to start, the sculls come in. Hacker's limping quite
noticeably, and stamping his right leg so maybe it's cramp. Here come CAN leading
the women's pairs, in quite bobbly conditions. In the middle thousand CAN lead
from GER witih NLZ chasing hard. It's still close. The German pair lying second
have put in a good push to establish the silver spot, and all thoughts of
tomorrow's eights race will be banished for the next 5 minutes. GER are in
second by the same amount NZL are third by. CAN are rating 42 to hold off GER,
trying to keep a length up. Looks dominant enough. The Kiwi crew raise their
rate and close on GER, it's very close right on the line. Below me Hacker was
waiting for the medal ceremony and has gone down, hopefully just cramp. There
is a flurry of coaches and concerned on-lookers somewhat detracting from the
celebrations for the women's pairs. I think he's lost consciousness, and
after a short delay the medal ceremony goes on without him. He is still lying down
but they don't look too worried - we can't see - I think he is being given oxygen.
His coach collects the medal for him, not standing on the podium, Andreas looking
suitably humble. All a bit of a scurry to get the ceremony done so the rest of racing
can go on. NZ anthem, while the ambulance comes for Marcel.
Final result from the women's pairs is gold Canada, silver New Zealand, bronze Germany,
4th USA, 5th Holland, 6th Denmark.
Men's single sculls, M1x
What can Campbell do in this one? The draw looks like a who's-who of the
dominant sculling nations, with the World Cup leader Campbell and the
reigning World Champion Drysdale and former World Champions Tufte and Hacker.
Tufte's also Olympic champion, which makes things more interesting. RQ takes
over from Trevor, selfishly wanting to cover this one, but at least he'll be able
to blog on his own page, which we'll put up later. You can compare our different
versions, too...
Campbell and Hacker are the quickest out, Campbell gets a cheer, but Hacker starts
to move away quickly. It's Hacker from Campbell, but don't expect this to last as
Alan's middle 1km is quite a lot steadier than it is for the others. Hacker still
out front at 2:30mins, and Synek starting to show in the tight field behind him.
Drysdale nothing yet, but it won't be long. Here we go, it's 3 minutes done and
Mahe's started to surge, catching Hacker with every stroke. Synek's actually in
second but I don't think that will stay for long. Looks like clear water Hacker
from Synek, Drysdale creeping up fast, Campbell not in the mix at the moment, wait
for 600 to go. Drysdale rating high, only a few feet down from Synek, who almost
has overlap on Hacker. Hacker not looking very troubled, just working away, looking
around a bit, Drysdale goes through Synek before the 500m to go marker, starts to
catch Hacker, has overlap. Into the grandstands, we can't see where Alan is. Drysdale
going like a train, but he may have left too much to catch Hacker, Campbell starts to
charge on the near side but is way back. Drysdale half a length down, 80m to go,
levels, gets him, Hacker at full stretch, superb! We don't think Mahe knows he's won,
he's just sitting. Hacker points and calls over, starts to congratulate him. Great
sportsmanship from these guys. They paddle together, and clasp hands. New world best
time for him too, 6:35.40 beating Hacker's old 6:36.33, brilliant work by the Tideway
Sculler.
Gold Drysdale (New Zealand), silver Hacker (Germany), bronze Synek (Czech Republic),
4th Tufte (Norway), 5th Maeyens (Belgium), 6th Campbell (Great Britain).
Women's single sculls, W1x
Karsten's event this one, will anyone be able to challenge her? She's got about
three-quarters of a length after 500m so maybe not. Knapkova is rowing long and
menacingly mean-looking in second, looks like she is closing up on Karsten a bit
in the second quarter. Aproaching half-way it's Karsten of BLR just ahead, maybe
1/3 length, with Balmary of France in third. Karsten is pushing away from the
half way, picking up her rate a touch and squeezing a few inches more per stroke
and starts to move on. Conditions are similar to those of Thursday, quite a stiff
wind now and the girls hair is flying. Karsten now, finally, takes a look round
and will like what she sees: a clear-water lead. Svensson (SWE) has crept up on
Balmary (FRA) to try for the Bronze with 500m left. Karsten stil looks like she
has more left if required, in control and rating 33. She won't be headed now, and
behind it's Knapkova in Silver and Svensson is third, Balmary looking a bit
done in and sculled out. Karsten (Belarus) wins another gold, silver Knapkova (Czech
Republic), bronze Svensson (Sweden) 4th Balmary (France), 5th Guerette (USA), 6th
Levina (Russia). Is that Sweden's first senior Worlds medal?
Lightweight men's eight, LM8+
Trevor is going to take over for a while. And I do, so that Rachel can grab
some words with Zac Purchase. The cross-tail wind will make this a fast one...
they're off. USA drop back a bit but the others are pretty level, DEN just
showing a canvas up after 300m. ITA are moving back though and there is no
early advantage. ITA won this event at Lucerne but no-one is giving anyone
anything here. GER and POL vying for the 3rd spot at halfway, but just in
front ITA have pushed, and their faces show unshaven determination as they
make their move. It's working for them, rating 38, but there is still
overlap in the first 5 crews. It's quite a sight to look up and see them
all crashing towards me. What will the heavyweights look like tomorrow I
wonder? ITA rating 40 have nearly a length, but behind them it's hard to call.
POL are pushing as are GER and it's so close, we'll need to wait for the
official verdict...it comes through as GER in silver and POL in bronze,
there can't have been much in that, a foot maybe? So a win for Italy, silver
Germany, bronze Poland, with Denmark, USA and Holland in that order for the
other places.
Lightweight men's single sculls, LM1x
I'm going to keep an eye on this, it's Zac Purchase for GBR and we don't want to miss anything. Medal ceremony for the M2+ now. Very boring anthem for Serbia, and quite long. We've been told although they're still using the Serbia & Montenegro flag for this event, the team is all-Serbia, and I think that was their new anthem.
They're off, and Pappas (GRE) into a quick first lead. Zac's not slow though, matches him fast, and with van der Linden (NED) on the far side, start moving. Great lake shot of the whole field. Pappas puffing, last time Zac got him by about 500, but this time Zunzunegui (ESP) is making a charge, and Zac's trapped between them. Still GRE from ESP, I think GBR next. GRE at about 35, really going. Don't lose contact, Zac.... Aha, 2 minutes gone and I can see his bow moving on the Spanish sculler, and it seems to be closing on GRE as well. It's all about being fastest over the whole course, guys. Pappas puffs out every finish, makes it look like harder work, but don't be fooled.
That push worked very well, and he's through GRE now, with ESP trailing him. My bloody internet connection goes down, or freezes, so I start doing this on a text file to put in later. Zac in the lead, with ESP second. He's only being overlapped by a few feet, that black boat of his drives harder and harder towards the line. GBR from ESP, ESP goes up a gear, GBR supporters start roaring. Zac looks pretty comfortable, rating 35, everyone is screaming. It feels amazing seeing a home win! Across the line, massive cheer, all sorts of celebrations. James Cracknell very satisfied saying "first win of the regatta". Got to go and talk to ZP in a minute when he comes in. Brilliant work.
Gold Great Britain, silver Spain, bronze New Zealand, 4th Slovenia, 5th Greece, 6th Holland.
Lightweight women's single sculls, LW1x
Slightly missed the start of that, but they're off, with Marit van Eupen, the world champion, making all the running early on. Not surprisingly though, the USA's Lisa Schlenker starts moving up, as does Berit Carow from Germany. Van Eupen has clearly put right whatever was bothering her early in the week, and is looking good. The side lane - 2 - has given her an easy way to keep an eye on her competition, and she sneaks a look at 1100m gone. Rating 31, pretty steady, and we see the water get popply, just as it was on Thursday. That day's semis have turned out to be good practice for the finals. The field is closing up on the minor places, everyone looks to have a shot at the medals. It's Germany from Italy on the TV screen, but i can't see where USA's got to. Yup, NED from GER from ESP coming up on the outside, from the rest. About 450m to go, the volunteers in the grandstands are stopping everyone from getting up and walking along, as the six singles charge down the increasingly lively water to the line. Whitecaps on the bubble-line itself. GER closing up on NED, NED responds. She still has clear water, but only just. GER goes again, ESP is also trying to catch up, but here comes ITA on the near side closing the gap to ESP all the time. Bronze could be in doubt, but ESP just amanges to stay ahead. Well done Marit, double world champion. The Dutch photographers get very excited, though Reiner Empacher isn't bothered - she's in a white boat, not one of his. Gold Holland, silver Germany, bronze Spain, 4th Italy, 5th Switzerland, 6th USA.
Men's coxed pairs, M2+
About to go off, and Trev says the reason Nikola Stojic, better known for his M2-, is doing the coxed pair as well is due to a medical withdrawal of the other one. RTJ says it's calm on the start, and it looks it. They're off, and SCG (Serbia & Montenegro) are off first, Nikola's strength and experience helping them get a good start. This is like Redgrave joining in the M2+ as a favour, quite a few years ago. SCG only get about half a length lead though, with GRE (how?), CAN and USA pushing. SCG move out, despite Nikola having raced only a short while ago. Big push from Serbia, with what looks like Canada coming up next, a bit of a blanket for the medal places at the moment behind Serbia. Very low rate from SCG, they're only going at 32, leaning it along. Stojic is at bow, I wonder how much he's pulling it round for the poor cox? Italy come creeping through, nearly at 500 to go, CAN/USA/ITA all shoving hard. Here come the lines, and Canada and Italy are in a battle of their own bowball to bowball. Here go the Italians, Serbia still looking strong, USA start really sprinting with 300 still to go. Canada hanging on, fingernail stuff, Serbia will get the win, silver still in doubt, ITA from CAN from USA but GER charging up too, Stojic's hand goes up before the line, celebrating early, and the Italians just hold their second place. Gold Serbia, silver Italy, bronze Canada, 4th USA, 5th Germany, 6th Greece.
Women's coxless fours, W4-
So, we're about to start the first of the medal-awarding races of the Eton World Championships. I can't really believe we're here at this point, after plans, anticipation and so much time. And they're off, with Australia leading the way, China not far behind. Two strong squads here, they both run tight women's eights, so that's no surprise. Germany next, and then a bit of a muddle. This is a straight final - although seven crews entered, it's down to six so they have only raced for lanes before this.
Halfway, and Australia look formidable, clearly making their bid for the eights places next year. China and Germany pretty well neck and neck in second, but Australia have clear water. USA doing a massive shove forwards, crack through Belarus and the Dutch. Germany still dangerous on the near side, but Australia not bothered. USA have picked off Germany and are going for the Chinese, Australia see the race closing back on them, China jack it up to 39 to push on, Australia now heavily overlapped but aren't raising the rate, Belarus charge through from nowhere as Germany fade and Holland struggle.
Gold Australia, silver China, bronze USA, 4th Belarus, 5th Netherlands, 6th Germany.
Bit of a short break until the coxed pairs, which will go in above the W4-.
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