Banyoles, Sunday August 1st 2004 - A finals
The Rowing Service is running live-written commentary on all the A finals at the 2004 World Championships. This page will self-refresh every 5 minutes until A-final racing begins, and then every 30 seconds during racing before being archived as a static page.
For Saturday's A finals click here.
A-finals about to start racing, beginning with the women's 4-. Great conditions here today, a flat lake, slight tail breeze, but pretty fast times expected.
Senior medal table: Cty G S B Total ITA 4 1 0 5 GER 2 0 1 3 FRA 2 0 0 2 DEN 1 0 1 2 CHN 1 0 0 1 CAN 0 3 1 4 GBR 0 1 0 1 POL 0 1 0 1 RUS 0 1 0 1 SUI 0 1 0 1 USA 0 0 2 2 AUS 0 0 1 1 BLR 0 0 1 1 FIN 0 0 1 1 UKR 0 0 1 1 Adaptive medal table: Cty G S B Total GBR 1 1 0 2 USA 1 0 1 2 AUS 1 0 0 1 FRA 0 1 0 1 NED 0 1 0 1 ITA 0 0 1 1 POR 0 0 1 1Men's adaptive (arm) single scull, AM1x
Mixed adaptive (trunk/arms) double scull, TA2x
Last senior non-adaptive medals are awarded while we wait for the next race to begin.
The adaptive double can include both men and women (no restriction on which combination, I think), and features athletes who don't have use of their legs, so use bodyswing and arms to propel themselves. They're waiting at the 1km mark.
The USA's Scott Brown and Angela Madsen are well ahead, something like 250 metres to the good, ahead of Italy and France - it is a straight final. USA's strokes are much longer and stronger than the other two crews, and they have this in the bag: they could stop for a quick sing of their full national anthem (every verse) and still make it to the line first. Behind them, France have taken the silver medal place, and are holding it due to better cohesion. USA cross the line nearly two minutes ahead of France.
Gold USA 4:33.94, silver France 6:27.24, third (not sure about a medal) Italy 6:49.98.
Mixed adaptive (legs/trunk/arms) coxed four, LTAMX4+
Quick medal ceremony for the women's quads while they reset the start for the adaptive races.
The adaptive crews are classified by what they can use, so the rowers in these crews are basically visually impaired. Some have partial vision, and the whole crew (apart from the sighted cox) wear blindfolds to ensure a level competition. They race 1km in most of the races, including this one. This event must be two men, two women, and a cox of either gender. Lane order was determined by heats and a repechage, and is DEN/GER/NED/GBR/POR/HKG.
It is a free start for this race, they don't yet use stakeboats (which are tough to set up quickly on the course). A bit of a breeze to make it hard to align them. Here we go. On form, NED and GBR should surge into a lead, and they do, up on all the other crews. GBR at 33, NED at 37, not clear who's leading. GBR are up, rating 34, NED at 36, nearly halfway down the 1km course, GBR have a length on NED. Third are POR, over GER, DEN and last HKG. GBR extending their lead, 250 to go, clear water now between them and the Dutch, Portugal still holding third. GBR nearly two lengths up and still moving, 50 metres to go, the rest hold their places.
Gold Great Britain 3:39.22, silver Netherlands 3:3:47.00, bronze Portugal 3:52.76, 4th Germany, 5th Denmark, 6th Hong Kong.
Lightweight men's quads, LM4x
A quick medal ceremony for once (LM2-). We like the Danish anthem (well it makes a change, at least) - it's quite a sweet yet stirring tune.
Lane order ESP/GER/ITA/CAN/USA/NED. And the second quads final is still on the start, so we've caught up a bit. Here they go, 200 metres in it's Germany out in front with Italy and Canada, USA close behind. Worth getting a fast start in this, the last non-adaptive final of the championships, but most of the crews settle pretty early, down to 35/36 well before the 500 mark. Germany still holding the lead as they pass the first marker, Italy and USA next, Canada aren't being mentioned on the tracker, and have dropped right back for some reason. I reckon they have a problem. Italy have half a length over Germany, but Canada are ok, they're up chasing third place alongside USA (just weren't seen in the initial timings). Halfway up, Italy now have a length over Germany, USA just inches ahead of Canada and trying to get away, then Netherlands and finally Spain. Italy and Germany in adjacent lanes, great racing, Italy have plenty of space now, sitting in front at 39 as Germany lift it to 38 to try and reel them in. Canada are level with USA as they approach 250 to go, GER at 39, ITA starting to be hauled back, ITA at 40, CAN now well up on USA, CAN starting to charge towards GER, CAN have got GER, ITA under threat from CAN for the gold, CAN on a huge roll here, shrieks from the crowd, ITA hanging on by fingernails, CAN blast through the line, their ear-splitting supporters think they've got it, but they haven't.
Gold Italy 5:58.31, silver Canada 5:58.61, bronze Germany 6:01.43, 4th USA, 5th Netherlands, 6th Spain. As we watch, the silver-medal time is corrected to 5:58.57.
Lightweight women's quads, LW4x
Italy get their third gold, while Canada and the USA collect their first medals of the day.
Lane order for the quads is ESP/SUI/CHN/USA/CAN/NED. They've nearly reached halfway (organisers get no prizes for letting the timing go behind), and it's China, who led to 500, still in the lead. USA still in second, but at 33, Canada pushing at 35, and as they get to 1250, it's China holding off CAN and USA at 32, CAN rating 34, but China looking good at the front. CAN really pushing now, SPain coming up the field slightly from the rear. It's going to be between CAN and CHN for the gold, USA holding off Spain for the bronze, 250 to go. China shovelling their strokes along, way out in front now, Canada havne't got a hope, Spain still charging having levelled SUI. USA still in third, and they finish like that.
Gold China 6:36.78 (7 seconds outside world best time), silver Canda 6:40.84, bronze USA 6:42.56, 4th Switzerland, 5th Spain, 6th Netherlands.
Lightweight men's coxless pairs, LM2-
Eights pick up their medals. A Chariots-of-Fire type tune for them, quite low-key. France and Italy have levelled Germany on the medal table now.
Lane order is GER/AUS/CAN/DEN/ITA/FRA and they've sneaked up to 700 metres while the eights were faffing about with their medals. The tailwind's gusting occasionally, but it dropped before this race again. First to 500 was Denmark, then ITA, AUS, GER, CAN, FRA. The Aussies put in a push, come up to second place just before halfway, and begin to move towards the Danes. Italy trying to hold off Canada who are very close, at 37. AUS at 37 too, they're coming to 1500, DEN up to 40 to try and hold off the rest. ITA still apparently sprinting, have now closed right up on DEN. 1600 gone, AUS pushing, DEN lifting into their sprint, ITA are right up by them. DEN just in front still, 200 to go, ITA have another go, just overlapping the Danish stern, DEN go hell for leather, moving away, 100 to go, they should hold on, CAN have moved into third place, ITA blast, half a length back, quarter of a length, CAN will get it by inches. A huge finish, ITA clocking 51 for their last three strokes.
Gold Denmark 6:40.22, silver Italy 6:40.62, bronze Canada 6:44.03, 4th Australia, 5th France, 6th Germany. Times just 10 seconds behind fastest ever (held by the Chileans from the Seville 2002 World Championships).
Men's coxed four, M4+
More funky tunes for the LM1x medal ceremony. Germany picking up its second lightweight singles medal of the day, which puts them top of the current medal table. The wind has pretty well dropped, just a breath here and there.
Lane order for the coxed fours is FRA/ITA/CAN/USA/SLO/AUS. They'res still on the start. OK, here we go. Looks as if the USA are up - Catalonian commentary so I can't tell. Yup, USA, then CAN, then SLO, FRA, AUS, ITA, but hardly anything between them all at the 500 mark. Stepping it down to the race rate, USA hold a canvas ahead of CAN, SLO still holding onto third. Steady rates - USA 34, CAN 35, but then it's hard lugging a 55-kgs sandbag (sorry, cox) down the course, poor things. ITA start to overhaul FRA, both close to SLO, and they've both passed Slovenia. It's USA, CAN, ITA, FRA at halfway, ITA at 36 and pushing again. Stilll small gaps to the top two crews, CAN at 33, lying back and trying to do it with long strong strokes. USA at 34, coming to 1500, CAN pushing, ITA go up to 39, but can they hold that to the line, CAN still ahead of ITA, USA under threat. CAN charging up towards USA, USA at 38 but being taken, ITA at 39 and still moving through. USA at 40, ITA have nearly matched CAN, CAN by a bowball with 50 to go, ITA push again, photofinish for gold, very hard to judge. The commentator and Italian pressmen all think the Italians got it by a gnat's wotsit.
A long wait. Finally announced, and it's gold to Italy 6:11.53, silver Canada 6:11.55 (closest margin so far, 0.02 seconds), bronze USA 6:11.97, 4th Slovenia, 5th France, 6th Australia. Great racing. The tannoy claims this result isn't official, but they finally confirm it. Boultbee makes his biggest commentator's glitch of the week, starting his spiel by calling it "the men's coxed four championship of Australia"! Anyway, happy Italians.
Lightweight men's eight, LM8+
Medals out for the lightweight women's singles, and a bit of crowd-pleasing as "Sweet Home Alabama" plays over the tannoy while the bigwigs stalk down the wooden catwalk. Jo clutching her right side as she is congratulated by ARA Chairman Di Ellis.
At the FISA Congress on Friday, Australia gave notice that they intend to bring a motion to retain the men's lightweight eight event, even though with just 5 entries this year and the third successive straight final, it should be dropped from the FISA programme. They will challenge the cut at an extraodinary Congress meeting which will be held sometime in the 2005 New Year, I gather.
Lane order is AUS/ITA/GER/USA/FRA for the eights. Ok, they're off, and it's pretty tight right across, just ITA pushing out from the pack, with AUS and USA slightly behind. Lots of last year's medallists in this race. GER pushing up, ITA still at 40 500 metres out, crossing the mark in first. It's Italy, Australia, France, Germany, and the USA have dropped off the list a bit. France pushing, they get up into second ahead of AUS, challenging leaders Italy hard. FRA at 40 coming to 1250, ITA responding, but FRA have taken the lead here by a foot or two. The gap to AUS quite big now, at least a second. GER and USA staggered back in 4th and 5th. FRA up to 42 as they hit the 1500, they're intent on keeping this lead, ITA at 40, FRA are in the outside lane so it must be hard for ITA to respond to them. GER look to have taken AUS as the Italians raise it to 43. 200 to go, ITA at 44, FRA at 41, FRA going again, ITA up to 44, FRA still holding on, the French cox almost stands up as they seal it. AUS did hold off GER for the third medal, which pleases their yellow-clad supporter posse.
Gold France 5:42.57, silver Italy 43.95, bronze Australia 5:46.64, 4th Germany, 5th USA.
Lightweight men's single sculls, LM1x
Medal ceremony for the M2+, and it's the youngest person at the regatta, 14-year-old Italian cox Luigi Longobardi, who should be the most delighted. He probably doesn't know he's going to be felt up by their President Romanini, yet. While we're waiting for the parade of Important People, Sinead Jennings sculls disconsolately past, well behind all the other singles. I think she stopped to congratulate Gaesler before she left the raft area. Medals presented, the Italian anthem makes an appearance. Chris points out that it's just the right tune for an equestrian dressage event.
Lane order POL/ITA/GER/FRA/SUI/UKR. Plenty of good form in this, including Italy's Stefano Basalini (current world champion), Peter Ording from Germany (triple World Cup champion), and France's Fabrice Moreau and Ukraine's Oleksandr Serduyk. Basalini started slowly, and was lying last, but it's GER then UKR at the front, with ITA slowly clawing his way back. 500 gone, Serdyuk takes the lead, with Ording behind him, and they hold it to the 1km mark. Italy up into fourth now, behind Switzerland's Stephan Steiner. Ording puts in a push, retakes the lead, SUI up to 39 to try and improve on 3rd, UKR still second, ITA still fourth. GER still going strong at 33, three boats for gold - GER/SUI/UKR. Here comes Basalini, but he's too far away, SUI sees a chance for at least silver, charging towards GER at 40, but Ording can just hold on.
Gold Germany 7:02.94, silver Switzerland 7:03.54, bronze Ukraine 7:05.93, 4th Italy, 5th France, 6th Poland.
Lightweight women's single sculls, LW1x
Medal ceremony for the W4- about to take place, and the French girls (winners) are holding hands and skipping along the raft. I know they're pleased, but honestly, they're seniors, and it might be more understandable if they were juniors.
Lane order for the singles is BUL/GBR/GER/IRL/FIN/ROM. Top pick in this is Ireland's Sinead Jennings, who has medalled twice before. The German Nina Gaesler has looked impressive at this regatta, and Finn Minna Nieminen is a notoriously quick starter (but can't always keep it going). Brit Jo Hammond medalled earlier at a World Cup, but we hear she's had a rib injury this week, and although racing, has had to have extensive physio in order to be fit.
Amazingly, despite the injury, it's GBR first at the 500 mark, with IRL a smidge behind, FIN another few feet back, and then GER, ROM, BUL at the back. Nearing 1000, it looks through the binocs as if IRL and GER have moved ahead of GBR, Gaesler pushing. Yup, it's GER in front, IRL pushing through now, and Jennings moves into the lead with IRL/GER/GBR all close together. Jennings is a very tough cookie, has won from the front, the middle and with a late charge, but she's clearly decided to make her mark in the middle this time, and Gaesler is going with her. FIN ahead of BUL for 4th and 5th, and ROM a length further back in last. Coming to 1500, it's still IRL ahead of GER and these two opening up a space. GBR still trying to hold them, the two leaders at 35, FIN has gone ahead of GBR into third, IRL's lead very slender here. GER over-rating IRL, GBR trying to get back into the medals raising it to 35, GER sprinting hard, Jennings has a hell of a job here, Gaesler could get it. Superb racing. IRL still just in front with 50 to go, GER coming again, Jennings catches a crab, GER goes through, FIN and GBR will both medal, amazing stuff. Jennings' crab was just on the second-last buoy-line, about a length off it. Photo for silver.
Gold to Germany 7:38.40, silver finally announced as Great Britain 7:40.22, bronze Finland 7:40.27 (only 0.05 back), 4th Ireland, 5th Bulgaria, 6th Romania.
Men's coxed pairs, M2+
This event has probably saved itself from extinction, since despite some low-number entries in recent years, this time they had a decent number competing and a full B final. FISA commentator John Boultbee likes describing the coxed pair as "the water taxi, or the most difficult way of getting from A to B in rowing". Lane order ESP/SCG/POL/ITA/FRA/DEN.
So they're off and at 500 it's ITA showing slightly up, but the whole pack is close. Hot on their heels are France, with Poland just behind. ITA at a steady 36, holding onto their lead at halfway, but the Poles have barged through Poland. Of course the last time this lake hosted a senior M2+ was in 1992, when the Searle brothers rowed the Abbagnales down just before the line. Clear water between POL and FRA now (2nd/3rd) and with 750 to go ITA are pushing at 40. It's ITA then POL then FRA then SCG then ESP then DEN, SCG and ESP fighting hard for the lower places. ITA come off their push, into a strong race rhythm again, POL can't seem to get their rate above 34. Here we go, 300 to the line, everyone starts charging (but it takes forever to get a coxed pair going!). ITA at 38 still leading, POL still at 38 in second, DEN have hauled right up the field and are challenging SCG while FRA have blown a bit and dropped right back. POL finally send it up to 39, but they haven't enough space. DEN are nearly up to POL and pulling away from SCG. And it's Italy, Poland, Denmark, with the Danes racing the best-judged race from the pack, and the Italians evidently delighted with their win.
Gold Italy 6:54.41, silver Poland 6:55.67, bronze Denmark 6:56.16, 4th Serbia & Montenegro, 5th France, 6th Spain.
Women's coxless fours, W4-
Lane order is RUS/FRA/GBR/BLR/CHN/UKR. It's up on the race-tracker, which seems to have got over its hiccups, and Chris Tipney, who is rating for me, says the British four are rating 38 just after the start. (We'll have to let him off being a bit biased. Looks like Belarus are out in front, then GBR, but the scoreboard says it's BLR then FRA then CHN then GBR then a big gap to the last two. Huge roar from the French supporters when their crew is mentioned. Very tight between FRA, BLR and CHN at halfway, Belarus cruising at 36, but they have just half a canvas on France, who are trying to push past. It's fourth RUS, then fifth GBR and sixth UKR at halfway. The field is spreading out a bit now, still very tight between the first three, looks as if they will be on for the medals. Ukraine rating high, desperately trying to get back into the race, GBR alongside them at the back. The first three not changing as they come down towards 250 to go, FRA pushing at 39 to try and seal this win, they're just slightly ahead of BLR. RUS coming up fast, threatening CHN, who are being ripped apart by BLR. Photofinish for 2nd/3rd.
Gold to France, 6:36.28, silver Russia 6:38.00, bronze Belarus 6:38.07 (0.07 off the better medal), 4th China 6.38.43 (just 0.36 away from the podium, ouch), 5th Ukraine and 6th Great Britain.