Banyoles, Saturday July 31st 2004 - A finals
The Rowing Service is running live-written commentary on all the A finals at the 2004 World Championships.
For Sunday's A finals click here.
Saturday morning, 10am - Conditions are gorgeous out on the lake, flat as a pancake, and with just a breath of breeze to cool both rowers and spectators out in the fierce Catalonian sun. The stands are filling up as the B-finals take place, with big crowds of yelling parents (sorry, fans) from Britain, Holland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Australia. Lots of Catalonian yellow and orange stripy flags also in evidence: several of the Spanish crews have Catalonian rowers in them, and there is great pride in the local achievements.
Cty G S B Total ROM 5 1 1 7 UKR 2 1 0 3 GER 2 0 5 7 AUS 2 0 1 3 ITA 1 3 0 4 CZE 1 1 0 2 SLO 1 0 0 1 RUS 0 2 0 2 POL 0 1 2 3 GRE 0 1 1 2 BLR 0 1 0 1 CRO 0 1 0 1 GBR 0 1 0 1 NZL 0 1 0 1 CAN 0 0 1 1 LAT 0 0 1 1 NED 0 0 1 1 SCG 0 0 1 1
Junior men's eight, JM8+
f you've missed some commentary, it's because the wireless network went down during the women's eight, and I'm catching up from live-written coverage added later. Presentation for the JM4x, even more blazerati on the medal raft. Very pleased Slovenes, two of whom are pretty tiny for junior champions: great careers as lightweights perhaps ahead of them? (particularly Janez Zupanc).
Lane order for the last junior final is USA/RUS/ROM/GER/CZE/FRA. I think FISA's server has a headache - that might explain the glitches. Boultbee starts in German, so it's the GER eight in front first, after 300m, GER then ROM then RUS/CZE before FRA/USA. ROM coming up on GER strongly, but GER are still keeping them at bay, for the moment. Romanian JW8+ girls are all doing their hair as they wait by the medal raft to land. Out on the water their male counterparts have taken the lead, and have a bit on GER at 500. Going through the second quarter, GER are pushing, they start to come back on ROM, good racing this. 1km gone, GER have the lead now by 0.61, ROM in second, CZE have managed to get a few seats on RUS, and USA/FRA are staggered back. CZE closing up on GER, ROM have gone back in front and are moving away. 250 to go, shouts of "USA!, USA!", ROM at 38 and looking strong, CZE have got in front of GER, RUS slightly back in fourth. ROM will make it a double in the eights, and lead the medal table by miles, good stuff. Big Romanian parties tonight - I wouldn't like to be involved with their senior team, they won't get any sleep!
As the wind gusts strongly the minute after racing ends, it's gold for Romania 5:46.68, silver Czech Republic 5:49.27, bronze Germany 5:49.94, 4th Russia, 5th USA, 6th France. That ends racing for the day, just two more medal ceremonies.
Junior women's eight, JW8+
First some women's quad medals. More happy Germans. The champion quad aren't large girls, but they scull beautifully together.
Lane order is BLR/POL/ROM/RUS/GER/FRA for the eights. Penultimate race. The tailwind increasing. Women's eights are off, and it's GER shooting out first, with RUS and ROM with them, FRA behind, and POL/BLR next. RUS take the lead after a few hundred metres, towing up ROM behind them, then GER. RUS are first past the first marker, they hold the order for a while. RUS a few feet up, ROM keep pushing but the Russians hold them off, GER holding third while POL get ahead of FRA and BLR. POL looking a bit dangerous. 1250 gone, RUS and ROM strong, ROM do another push and get level, last year's gold and bronze medallists. ROM slide forward again, great racing. GER still ahead of POL for the third place. ROM at 36.5, RUS at 35, GER belting along at 38, POL are also in the mix, but probably not close enough for bronze. Last 100 to go, ROM holding on, POL have levelled RUS, GER still trying, and it's a photofinish but I think the three former East European countries have it.
Gold to Romania 6:30.71, silver to Russia 6:32.03, bronze is Poland 6:32.12 (0.09 out), 4th Germany, 5th France, 6th Belarus way back.
Junior men's quad, JM4x
Italy finally get themselves into the anthem list, much jubilation from their supporters. I quite like the Italian anthem - it's got an irrepressible jaunty sound to it, big contrast to the Czech lament. Italian Federation President Romanini doing his usual glad-handing and snuggling up to be photographed with his successful athletes.
Lane order FRA/NED/AUS/SLO/GER/RUS for the quads. Can't hear the commentary well, but it sounds like Slovenia and Germany up in front, then RUS/FRA, before NED and then AUS. Everyone tightly packed for now, SLO being pulled back by RUS, who have overtaken GER, then NED, FRA, AUS. Past the 500, SLO hold a slight lead over RUS, and FRA coming up to GER for the third position. Extremely close, 1.5 lengths for the whole field, SLO have only a canvas over RUS, NED have pushed past FRA and GER , GER have stayed ahead of FRA, NED sound like they're doing a hell of a push, only 3/4 down on SLO, this could be an incredible finish just like the semifinal was yesterday. Definitely hard to call from the stands, SLO versus NED at the front now, RUS up on GER but not sure where they fit in. Dutch supporters yelling their chants, can't hear a word of commentary. At 1500, it's SLO/RUS/NED/GER/FRA/AUS. NED are pushing again to the line, 50 to go, RUS just holding on, SLO just ahead of them, the Dutch will medal but not major. GER and FRA not far behind, well done Slovenia for doing that from the front under heavy pressure.
Gold Slovenia (including a certain Jan Spik) 6:04.96, silver Russia 6:05.63, bronze Netherlands 6:06.83 (0.2 off), 4th Germany, 5th France, 6th Australia.
Junior women's quad, JW4x
That tailwind is still swirling about, as the Czechs get the JW2x gold medals. Various disconsolate junior men's doubles wait impatiently. The Polish JM2+ bowman seems to be OK, they're paddling slowly back to the boathouses. A few sets of supporters beginning to disperse from the stands. A mournful languid tune for the Czechs.
Women's quads up next, and it's POL/FRA/GER/ROM/UKR/ITA. They're off, and GER out quickest, half a length up of the pack. ROM starting to show in second as GER extend their lead, ROM contains two of last year's champion quad. Then UKR/ITA/POL with FRA a bit behind. ROM begin to claw back some distance, half a length down on GER as they settle into their race pace, and they hold that order to the 500. Up to 1km, GER still in charge, have edged out a few metres on ROM, UKR and ITA still striving for third. it's just over a second between GER and ROM at the halfway mark, but GER starting to surge forward. 1200 gone, they have a full length over ROM, and the rest echeloning behind them. Can they show ROM that it was just illness which gave ROM the win in 2003? And emulate the impressive German senior women's quad? 500 to go, GER up by over four seconds now, and rating 32 to ROM's 33. Germany just looking better and better, ROm now pressured by the Ukrainians, nobody else close for medals. GER continue to move away, 36 on the rate, sprinting hard, a great win. UKR and ROM bowball to bowball, hard to tell but it looks like UKR from here.
Gold Germany 6:40.28, silver edged by Ukraine 6:46.39, bronze Romania 6:46.57 (just 0.18 behind), 4th Italy, 5th Poland, 6th France.
Junior men's double sculls, JM2x
A slight tailwind breeze blows up on the lake, the Romanian JM2+ cox also sandwiched between his rowers (started a trend there, clearly). Nearly time for the men's junior doubles, but first we have to have the UKR national anthem again. The Polish bowman looks a bit under the weather, they're going to try and cool him down before they row back.
Come on guys, we want racing. Right, we're off. Lane order GER/AUS/ITA/POL/CZE/SUI. 150 gone, AUS slightly up, but the rest close together. ITA and GER are the closest behind them, with the Swiss also looking speedy. AUS holding onto the lead after their quick start, but here come ITA, and they push just before 500m. 600 gone, they've got the lead, AUS still in second, GER next, and then POL. CZE and SUI bring up the rear. Quite a breeze now on the course. 1km gone, ITA extending their lead, GER begin to push past AUS, POL and CZE are also coming up. If ITA can hold onto the front, it will be a bigger race for the minor medals. Now POL coming past AUS too, and it's ITA walking away steadily, GER/POL/AUS behind them. ITA at 35, GER the closest to them, GER getting nearer, POL charging up, it's between GER and POL for second, ITA look safe. AUS still clinging on, but they can't do better than fourth. GER sprinting, POL sprinting, it will be very tight for second, POL have the edge, GER slowing slightly, and it's another Polish medal.
Gold Italy 6:30.28, silver Poland 6:34.76, bronze Germany 6:36.28, 4th Australia, 5th Czech Republic, 6th Switzerland.
Junior women's double sculls, JW2x
Big guns come out for the JM1x presentation - FISA bossman Denis Oswald gives the medals, with ex-IOC-supremo Juan Antonio Samaranch in attendance. The Romanian national anthem for the third time.
They've started, and it's the Czechs out first - lane order is ESP/ITA/CZE/GER/AUS/POL - ESP contains at least one local girl. AUS hot on the CZE heels, ITA/ESP/GER all very tight next, and only POL languishing a bit, but there is a long way to go. Still CZE holding off AUS at 1000 gone, but now ITA have pushed up into second, and it's CZE/ITA/GER overlapping ITA, AUS now in fourth, CZE heavily under pressure, only 1/2 length up. GER moving away from AUS now, it's still CZE/ITA/GER, and a second race developing behind these three for the last places. Much commentary on the Spanish crew, despite their lower speed. CZE still look in charge, just, ITA hot on their heels, GER don't seem close enough to go for gold. 1500 gone, it's CZE now nearly two seconds up on ITA, GER another two back, but everyone's starting to sprint now. A very impressive row from the Czechs, they're just a length up, still holding on strong, Spain come up towards GER, and are nearly close enough to get bronze, but not quite. It's going to be CZE easily, ITA next, and GER just overlapped by POL and ESP but ok for third.
Gold Czech Republic 7:16.10, silver Italy 7:19.26, bronze Germany 7:20.56, 4th Poland just snipping 5th Spain, and 6th Australia, paying for their fast start.
Junior men's coxed pair, JM2+
More revolting Eurovision ullage over the speakers as the single sculls bounce up for medal presentations. Matt Smith is the FISA-meister who gets to kiss the girl scullers. Big shout of "Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi" as Sally Kehoe picks her gold up. Nasty moment when the controller almost loses the AUS national anthem, but their supporters can sing enough to fill in the gap.
Lane order for the 2+ is UKR/GER/SCG/EST/POL/ITA - this is a straight final, and from the looks of it they didn't race an exhibition, so the lanes are random. This is the last ever JM2+ race at the worlds, under the FISA 'three strikes and it's out' rule. First off is UKR, then POL, ITA, EST, GER and SCG. Fairly incomprehensible commentary, but picking it up at 900 gone, UKR well up on everyone, ITA have taken over POL by a few feet. SCG out the back, but EST and GER still not too far off the minor medals. UKR's lead still extending, ITA having to work very hard to keep POL at bay. Big cheers from the boating area, UKR now more than two lengths up, rating a steady 34, looks like a mile gap behind them from here in the stands. I don't see how UKR can be caught now, as they come up to 1500 still going strong, so the race is for silver and bronze, between ITA, POL, and GER will have to do a lot to get up to them. UKR now at 32, ten seconds up on ITA, who have still managed to keep the Poles at bay. GER starting to creep up, but it's a five-second deficit, ITA still up on POL, ITA's sprint begins, they're at 200 to go while UKR are at 50 to go, ITA moving out on POL, UKR have time to shout, wave and splash their hands while ITA and POL finish.
Gold Ukraine 7:09.98, silver Italy 7:21.65, bronze Poland 7:25.33, 4th Germany, 5th Estonia, 6th Serbia & Montenegro.
Junior men's single scull, JM1x
While we're waiting for the other singles final, the JM4- medal ceremony. Romania's lads marching almost perfectly in time along the raft - they are huge boys, must be well over 6 foot.
Lane order for the race is SCG (Milan Uzunovic), ITA (Ciprian Cursaru), ARG (Rodrigo Murillo), ROM (Daniel Frateanu), NZL (Nathan Cohen) and LTU (Mindaugas Griskonis). Will Frateanu match Lupascu's effort and lead the field out? Five minutes until the race starts. Sorry - computer hiccup. Uzunovic goes out hard, and holds the lead as they pass 1000 metres. Then it's ROM/NZL/ITA/LTU/ARG. SCG and ROM well up on the field, the rest relatively close together. Cohen moving out on the others, Frateanu pushes up, Uzunovic is being reeled in, a good race developing. Past the 500 to go, SCG still leading, ROM a length behind him but it can change fast in these singles races. These two are miles up on the field, Cohen very safe for bronze, here comes Frateanu, Uzunovic tries to respond. ROM's rowing longer and higher, ROM through, SCG failing fast, NZL has come blasting up, and it's over for SCG, who is well ahead enough to keep third, but paddles over the line. Cohen's second silver - he did it last year over the shortened 1000m course in Athens.
Gold Romania (again) 7:00.27, silver New Zealand 7:03.73, bronze Serbia & Montenegro 7:06.05, 4th Argentina, 5th Lithuania, 6th Italy.
Junior women's single scull, JW1x
Some vile Europop over the speakers, which (I'd forgotten) the commentary producer told me he was lining up "to get the juniors going" as the medal-holding totty-girls parade out along the wooden 'catwalk' from the bank to the raft, followed by various FISA and national federation blazerati. Germany's national anthem gets its first play of the weekend for these JW4- girls - it always makes me think of the Monty Python tune for some reason....
Lane lineup for the women's singles is ITA/HUN/ROM/AUS/GRE/GER - interesting how the same countries are turning up again and again in the A-finals. Hungary's first appearance today, but Katalin Szabo is going to have to go some to beat ROM's Camelia Lupascu (JW4x 03 champion) and AUS's Sally Kehoe (JW2x 03 champion). Lupascu leads out, 3/4 up on Kehoe, then GRE's Chrysoula Bougla, Julia Kroeger of GER, and finally Gisella Bascelli of ITA. They reach the 500 with ROM/AUS/HUN, Lupascu looking increasingly dominant. 'La Romanesca' coming in for a lot of praise from the commentators, GRE has pushed past AUS, and HUN still challenging. 1250 gone, the order stays the same, a huge push coming in from the Greek girl, and she's really starting to hunt Lupascu down. Half a length in it, the Greek supporters going wild, ROM looks under pressure, GRE 34 just ahead of AUS, ROM finally putting her sprint in with 50 to go, GRE goes ahead, AUS also beating ROM, three-boat finish, AUS snips ahead of GRE, the last ROM shove takes her back into second, an amazing finish in the last five strokes, the lead changing twice.
Gold Australia 7:52.14, silver Romania 7:52.44, bronze Greece 7:53.51, 4th Hungary, 5th Germany, 6th Italy. An object lesson in how not to go out too hard, there...
Junior men's coxless fours, JM4-
JM2- medal ceremony, much delight from Greece who got silver. They're really getting into rowing, when you consider a few years ago they had barely anyone in A finals, senior or junior. Good stuff, given they're hosting the Olympics. Romania's national anthem, a stirring march.
The race is about to start, lane order is BLR/SUI/CAN/ROM/GER/CRO. I'm being distracted by Kieran West's father, but we hear it's ROM ahead of CRO at the start. ROM holding it through the middle, the microphone fades out, lucky really as Boultbee's German can sound excrable, 1000 metre split shows ROM just feet ahea dof CRO, GER slightly further back, then CAN, BLR, SUI. It's a two-horse race for gold, CRO moving at 1400 gone and take the lead. 1500 ROM surge again, get the lead back, buoys change colour and it's ROM ahead of CRO, with GER holding onto third. CAN come racing up but they've left it a bit too late.
Gold ROM 6:08.52, silver CRO 6:10.82, bronze GER 6:13.86, 4th CAN, 5th BLR, 6th SUI.
Junior women's coxless fours, JW4-
Medal ceremony for the women's pairs first, and we get to hear the Aussie anthem (hang on while I stick my earplugs in to defend against much fan-club cheering). Tricia Smith presents the first women's medals of the day.
The fours are still on the start, baking gently in the heat. Racetracker isn't working, which is a bit of a pain, but at least the commentary should be able to catch up. Right, here we go. Lane order is USA/GBR/BLR/GER/AUS/ROM, and according to the launch commentator the first to show is GER, with GBR and BLR behind them. 200 gone, and GER are a length up, bit of an Italian-style start there (or they caught everyone napping). Boultbee drops into some stylish German to tell the crowd what their crew is up to. ROM coming up to the pace, and it's GER, then USA, BLR, AUS, GBR, ROM, with the last five all very close together at 500 gone. GER are in the middle of the field (lane 4) so it will be interesting to see what effect their lead has on BLR and AUS beside them. The German lead is being eroded now, less than 3 seconds back to USA, but GER push again, and the commentator's starting to call a significant lead. GER way out in front, 5 secs up now, then AUS a snip ahead of BLR, USA a snip behind them, and ROM ahead of GBR two more seconds back from the main pack. GER at 32 and looking comfortable, I think BLR have overtaken AUS, USA coming up on the far side, and it's 400 to go, yes BLR in second as the 1500 times come up, AUS still half a length up on USA to hold onto third. Nothing changing at the bottom end, and it's GER extremely impressive for first, BLR beginning to close the gap but it's too big for them to do any better than silver, AUS and USA scrapping like crazy for the bronze medal. GBR going to try and overtake ROM, AUS hold off USA.
Gold Germany 6:56.54, silver BLR 7:00.49, bronze AUS 7:03.56, 4th USA, 5th ROM, 6th GBR. Germany very happy since it was last year that they had to miss out completely when they picked up food poisoning en masse, allegedly at the Hotel Nireus in Nea Makri, where they were staying for the 2003 Juniors.
Junior men's coxless pairs, JM2-
Before this one goes off, the medal ceremony for the M4+. The British cox insists on standing in the middle of his crew, throwing off the FISA commentators, who expect the crew to stand in the order printed on their sheets. Fortunately Mike Sweeney presents the medals, and realises what's up. Rather a nice lilting anthem for Ukraine, champions. They have clearly solved the diplomatic crisis over whether or not Catalan should be used for the medal ceremony by doing a hasty round-up as the anthem finishes.
Right, catching up with the men's coxless pairs, and the ROM 2- is following their senior women's practice and doubling up in the eight later. ROM just ahead of GRE at 600, then LAT, CAN, SCG (Serbia & Montenegro), finally GER at the back. ROM and GRE now way out in front, battling it out for gold, and all three of CAN, LAT and SCG able to challenge for bronze. LAT have the edge for 3rd as they approach 500 to go, and up at the top it's ROM ahead of GRE by what looks like a length or more, LAT and SCG starting to close on GRE as the line comes up, ROM refusing to sprint, saving their energy, at 36, GRE have pulled away into a secure silver place, SCG just starting to take LAT with 100 to go, LAT respond, SCG holding on, just, it's going to be a foot in it, and one last effort from LAT makes it a photofinish for third.
Right, announced, gold ROM 6:47.21, silver GRE 6:51.31, bronze LAT 6:52.74, 4th SCG 0.17 behind that, 5th CAN 0.21 behind LAT, and 6th GER several lengths back.
Junior women's coxless pairs, JW2-
The race has just started, nothing over commentary yet, just the roll-call. 300 metres gone, mentioning AUS, GER, ITA and USA. The commentary is very faint, fades in an out, can barely hear. Right, it's AUS, ITA, GER, USA, GRE, GBR. 500 gone, splits should be showing soon, margins sound quite tight at the moment. Trying to decipher the Catalan, and it sounds as if AUS are pushing ahead. AUS just over a length up on ITA and GER but GER are pushing. GER move into second at halfway, GRE are in fourth two lengths behind the leaders, GBR and USA battling at the back. 1250 gone, AUS two lengths to the good, there are huge gaps between several crews in this race. AUS over GER over ITA over GRE still, GER still under pressure from ITA. AUS are well clear and should have the gold wrapped up, biggest battle is between GER and ITA for third and second. AUS looking very comfortable at 34, their supporters go wild, GER and ITA are locked in combat with ITA just starting to edge ahead in the sprint, GER respond, ITA go again, ITA will get it, and they finish miles ahead of the last three crews.
Gold Australia 7:27.91, silver Italy 7:29.88, bronze Germany 7:31.37, 4th Greece in a bit of a vacuum, 5th GBR two seconds ahead of 6th USA (correction after official results published).
Junior men's coxed four, JM4+
Bit of a break in racing for a few minutes, to allow the B-final eights to clear the course. It's blisteringly hot here on the lake. The race has started, but there is a problem with the communications from the commentary launch, so we can't get details of what's happening yet. OK, John Boultbee's launch has caught up, and he tells us it's CAN and UKR in the lead, AUS 3rd, then ITA, RSA, and GBR. 750 gone, and it's still UKR/CAN in front, UKR just have the edge, and GBR have pushed through after a poor start to shift into 3rd ahead of ITA and the failing AUS and RSA. UKR falter, CAN go through, and GBR come up to push them on. 1000 gone, and CAN/GBR vie for the lead,
CAN just in front of the GB bow. CAN still leading at 1250 gone, just 1/4 of a length ahead of GBR, with UKR challenging once more. UKR come charging, level with CAN, GBR just behind, GBR go again and they've just passed 500 to go. Difficult to see on the lake as we're at a tough angle, but it looks like UKR just in front, GBR possibly ahead of CAN, these three look good for the medals. UKR having another go, GBR at 38 and CAN at 37, UKR will win, GBR take second, and despite an excellent late charge from RSA, it's CAN in third.
Gold Ukraine 6:24.62, silver Great Britain 6:26.82, bronze Canada 6:27.94. 4th RSA, 5th ITA, 6th AUS. British supporters just in front of me finally smiling (for just about the first time this week). Next comes the first medal ceremony, and then the women's pair starts. FIfteen minutes between races now.