World Under-23 Regatta 2004

The Rowing Service

6th-8th August 2004, Poznan, Poland

The following unashamed British-interest reports come from Chris Tipney and Jennifer George, out to support the GBR team. For links to the results and reports from FISA, see the RS news page. There is also more material on RowTalk.

Saturday 7th August - repechages batch 2

Lightweight women's double scull, LW2x

Rep 1 result - 1st ESP 8.03.79, 2nd ITA 8.04.85, 3rd FRA 8.13.45. First 2 go through
Rep 2 - GBR 4th in yesterday's heat need to finish in first 2 to qualify for semi. At 500 GB in lead 2.5 secs ahead of HKG with JPN 3rd. At 1000 GB still in lead with JPN now moved up to 2nd. JPN move past GB around 500 to go and cross the line with a lead of 1 length over GB and HKG in 3rd. Well done GB go through to final

Women's coxless pair, W2-

GBR lead at 1500 over AUS and ITA. Coming into last 250 GB reasonably comfortable although AUS making final push. GBR win by 1 length over AUS with ITA third. GBR through to A final - well done.
Finishing times: 1st GBR 8.20.04, 2nd AUS 8.22.57, 3rd ITA 8.33.17.

Women's coxless four, W4-

Rep 1 - 1st BLR 7.34.02, 2nd FRA 7.36.85, 3rd GER 7.41.65.
Rep 2 - GBR in lane 3. At 500 GB in 2nd place behind RUS and UKR, first 3 crews very close race at this stage. By 1000 GBR in lead, boat commentary described the GB crew as rowing a mature and balanced race just inching away from the opposition. With 300m to go GB have 2/3 length lead over UKR and RUS. In last 200 GB looking comfortable and have the race well under control. GB win by 2 lengths in a time of 7.33.46. UKR second in 7.37.39, both crews go to A final. Well done GB again.

Men's quadruple scull, M4x

LAT and GER qualify from yesterday's heats. Look out for AUS, POL, ITA and UKR. First two from each Rep into final.
Rep 1 - UKR early leaders, with AUS and ROM making up top three. With 1250 togo the AUS boat has pulled up on UKR, the boat commentary getting very excited at this point as the AUS boat draws alongside the leaders. Coming into the last 250 very close between the first 3 boats. AUS and UKR fighting it out for first position neck and neck to the line. Photo for first honours go to AUS by .33 of a second. Results 1st AUS 6.32.44, 2nd UKR 6.32.77, 3rd RUS 6.34.97. phew!
Rep 2 - FRA POL and ITA battling it out in front, boat commentary that the GBR boat steering could be better having visited the buoys on both sides of the course. At 500 to go it's POL ITA FRA LTU GBR. Coming into the last 250 close race between the local POL boat and ITA for first and second with FRA third. Results: 1st POL 6.32.28, 2nd ITA 6.35.65, 3rd FRA 6.38.75, 4th LTU 6.49.80, 5th GBR 7.07.54.

M4-

2 go through, AUS and GER went through after heats.
Rep 1 - GBR had close race with ITA yesterday to qualify for this Rep but on times they stand a good chance of qualifying for the final. Fingers crossed! Murray Walker eat your heart out....... GBR in lane 3, 900 gone CRO in lead 1.5 m ahead of GBR in second place. in third RUS. At 1500 CRO ahead of GBR by 1 3/4 lengths. Coming into last 250 first three are CRO GBR and RUS. CRO in a comfortable lead with GBR a looking good in 2nd. The battle for 3rd between RUS and POL at this stage. CRO performing exactly to form here, striking 35 and asserting their place in tomorrows final. In last 50m the GBR almost caught by RUS rating 40 with a massive last push, but GBR respond to hold them off and claim the other 'A' finals place - Well rowed GB. Results 1st CRO 6.52.99, 2nd GBR 6.56.29.
Rep 2 - With 900 to go ESP have the lead over ROM by 1/2 a length with ITA in third place, over the line the positions are the same. ESP do well to force out the Italians would should have qualified on yesterdays form. Results 1st ESP, 2nd ROM, times later - not available yet.


Saturday 7th August - semi-finals

Women's single scull, W1x

GB in lane 5 in lead at 500 with HUN 2nd SCG third. By 1000 positions changed SCG in lead with HUN 2nd and GER 3rd. GBR slipped to 4th. 3 secs cover first 4 boats. At 1500 GBR now in 5th, 9 secs off lead. Final result - SCG 8.32.56, GER 8.34.76, HUN 8.39.16, CRO, GBR 8.47.23, FRA. First three to A final
Result of second semi (after photo finish): AUS 8.32.18, POL 8.32.62, SLO 8.33.12. No real surprises here, all top boats from yesterday's racing go through to A final.

Lightweight men's single scull, LM1x

First 3 to A final
Semi 1 - David Currie in lane 6 at 1000 CZE and ITA out in front with MEX and RUS a length behind. GBR in 5th. All scullers in contention and challenging. With 750 to go ITA 2/3 length ahead og CZE who is a canvas ahead of RUS, GBR 3/4 length behind. Tight field still with Currie still with a chance of aplace in the A final. Coming down the last 200 m first three very close with GBR a length behind, a photo finish for first 3 places. GBR finishes in 4th and moves to tomorrow's B final.

Lightweight men's double scull, LM2x

First 3 to 'A' final.
Semi 1 - 1st SLO 07.13.14, 2nd POL 07.13.63, 3rd HUN 07.15.23. GRE knocked out despite coming directly through to the semi from the first heat. HKG the surprise qualifier for the 'A' final, as they were beaten yesterday by ESP & FRA.
Semi 2 - At 500 gone and GB are in 6th place. at 1000m HKG are moving up on ESP for 3rd place, CAN & POR taking a commanding 1st and 2nd at this stage. Coming into view of the stand and the positions remain the same for 1 & 2 but HKG have claimed 3rd and are moving away from ESP and up on the leaders. Across the line and the first three claim their places in the 'A' final. Results 1st CAN 7.22.02, 2nd POR 7.25.13, 3rd HKG 7.29.88, 4th AUS 7.34.30, 5th ESP 7.34.37, 6th GBR 7.37.11. HKG are the surprise qualifiers in this race but will have a tough race tomorrow against hot favorites for medals SLO, POL and HUN!

Men's single scull, M1x

Semi Final 1 - Surprise result: RUS dropping out of contention, and therefore out of the medals, in final stages of semi, with 200 m to go first three LAT, NED GER qualify for tomorrows final - should be a good race! Results 1st LAT 7.51.37, 2nd NED 7.52.25, 3rd GER 7.57.85. All these go through to A final
Semi Final 2 - As yesterday conditions bright sunshine with headwind gradually increasing. Hard work for these single scullers, no doubt the times will reflect this.
Colin Smith the GBR sculler in this race in lane 3 having won yesterday's race, RUS a strong adversary and hot favourite here in Poznan. Other former CCCP reps are expected to qualify with DEN AUT and GER capable of a rocking the boat.(no pun intended!) (The bit above was written before first semi result known - heh ho).
At 1000 AUS and GBR fighting it out for first place. By 1500 AUS and GBR comfortably ahead of rest of field and GBR eding ahead of AUS. Coming into last 250 GBR still leading by (strong sculler enjoying the tough conditions according to commentary on the boat - John Boultbee having trouble keeping tabs on the leaders as the SLO sculler is so far down the field!) two lengths and looking comfortable second AUS, third LTU. Results 1st GBR 8.01.69, 2nd AUS 8.05.59, 3rd LTU 8.11.09. Well done Colin!

Men's coxless pair, M2-

First 3 go through.
Semi 1 - GER well out in front at 1000 with ROM and RUS 6 secs behind. With 500 to go it's still GER in the lead over RUS with ROM now third. Last 250 GER in command of this race with RUS and ROM also to qualify. Results 1st GER 7.28.69, 2nd RUS 7.31.87, 3rd ROM 7.36.27.
Semi 2 - GBR in lane 1 having come second in the reps yesterday, POL and SCG shold feature strongly in this Semi as a result of yesterdays times. At 1000 the GBR crew are in 5th 6 secs behind the leaders the first thee are POL, SCG and LTU. With 500 to go LTU are making a move to overlap with POL. GBR still in 5th SCG POL and LTU still first 3. Last 200 four crews battling for finals places with GBR having made up ground but still in 5th, photo finish for first 3 places. Results 1st SCG 7.26.55, 2nd POL 7.27.07, 3rd FRA 7.27.29, 4th LTU 7.27.63, 5th GBR 7.30.50, 6th ITA 7.45.49.

So with 7 out of 12 boats in A Finals tomorrow an exciting days racing progress - no doubt many high hopes in the GB camp, the weather is set fair again and we wish them all well. Chris and Jenny. Summary of British rankings for finals:

Boat    Final
--------------------
LW2X    A 
W1X     B
W2-     A
W4-     A
LM1X    B
LM2X    B
LM2-    A
M1X     A
M4X     B
M2-     B
M4-     A
M4+     A

Weather forcast for tomorrow: Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. Warm. High 83F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.