The day started with light rain and wind which began to clear over the morning. Early races suffered choppy water and difficult conditions – these cleared when the rain stopped and the sun came out becoming a cross headwind. The organisers shifted the racing lanes over away from the spectators side because the grandstand was giving a wind shadow to lane 1. Several races finished lane 1 first, lane 2 second despite the changes.
Women’s lightweight double sculls: C final. Four crews and from the off it was clear the French were struglling. The Dutch were sculling carefully and by 500m had one length on the field with Japan second. by 1500m the Dutch had three lengths, the water was a little flatter and a procession had formed behind them. Winning time 8:10.06, second Japan, third France, fourth Poland. FISA Results.
Men’s lightweight double sculls: C Final. Japan led out and by 500m had half a length on Argentina but by half way the Austrians in lane 1 had crept in front and held this to a four second margin at the finish in 7:24 with Argentina second and Japan third. FISA results.
Men’s lightweight pairs: B final. Switzerland are the early leaders and cope well with the conditions to take 2/3 length by 500m over USA and extend this to three seconds at half way. They hold these margins through to the last 500m when Chile in lane one comes up and benefits from the wind shadow to snatch victory by half a second from the Swiss. FISA results.
Women’s lightweight double sculls: B final. The Italians take an early lead with China, Spain and USA following close but by 750m they have one length lead. After the mid-point Italy push back as the USA and China are closing on them and by 1500 USA and Italy are dead level (see times). Teh USA continue their sprint and get their bows in front and are leading with 300m to go they have a canvas advantage rating 35 with China closing in lane 1 at 33 and Italy fighting at 36. The Chinese spurt forward in the last 100m and close to pass USA winning by 2 feet in 7:40.46 with USA 7:40.83. FISA results.
Men’s lightweight double sculls: B final. The USA takes a gutsy start in the worst water to lead out with Slovenia close behind but by 1000m Germany had taken 3/4 length with France 2/3 length behind. Greece quietly moved into third place. The USA take up their rate to overhaul Slovenia and close on Greece. In front at 1500m the Germans at 34 have a canvas over France and both crews start to sprint. In the last 250m the German bowman keeps looking over but they are moving their gow in front and the French respond at 39 rate. The Greeks are 3/4 length behind and closing fast. Germany won in 6:45.57, France second and Greece third. FISA results.
Men’s four: B final. China are the early leaders and the Australians close to lead after 500m with Germany and China close behind. the Dutch are coming through from fourth place and closing on Germany and Canada are one length behind them. In the last 250m the Australians have 3/4 length which Germany closes down to half a length and then a quarter as both crews rate 41. Australia wins in 6:17.54 Germany second, China third. FISA results.
Women’s quadruple sculls: B final. A gutsy performing Swiss crew lead out closely followed by Canada in the adjacent lane. China stay in touch and are half a length down at half way but Switzerland still lead but Canada closes the gap and by 1500 they are level. But the wind shadow favours China in the last 500m they sprint through to overtake both and win in5:52.09 1.5 seconds ahead of Canada with the Swiss third. FISA results.
Men’s quadruple sculls: B final. New Zealand has a small lead over Ukraine at 750m but the Americans are catching up. By 1000m the NZ lead is only a canvas over USA and at 1400 the USA take the lead and these two crews have clear water over the others. passing the 1500m marker the Kiwis take half a canvas lead and up the rate to 38 and have half a length over USA with China moving into third place. Last 150m has NZ 2/3 length rating 40 over the USA at 38 and visibly tiring. NZ win in 6:07.71. FISA results.
Men’s lightweight single sculls: Semi finals. Three crews go to the A final. The wind has moved round to a tail with a light chop. The first semi appears to have all the strong athletes in the race. NZ Duncan Grant leads at 500m and has half a length over italy and the Netherlands with Slovakia closing on the Dutchman, Jaap Schouten. Slovakia take the lead rating 31 with a third of a length ahead of NZ and Italy. Henrik Stephansen of Denmark starts to close in sculling with long strokes – obviously moving his boat further each stroke than the others. At 1500m Slovakia ahs the lead and NZ takes up his rte he’s only 1/2 length down and Italy is also in the race. From 1750 the Dane takes his rate up, maintains stroke length and Italy slows down leaving Slovakia and Denmark to sprint together in adjacent lanes. Denmark wins in 7:20.46 Slovakia second, italy fourth. New Zealand misses out on the final with Netherlands and Brazil. FISA results. The finish order is exactly the same as the lane order.
Second semi is led throughout by Hungary, Peter Galambos. Sculling with a neat technique, he is less troubled by the water conditions that Japan and Germany who follow being 2/3 length behind at 500m. Galambos has clear water at 1000m with Japan and Germany 1.3 and 2.1 seconds behind and Britain’s Peter Chamber in fourth 4 seconds behind. Chambers starts to push back on the German rating 41 and then challenges Japan after 1500 he’s only a length behind. in the last 250m Britain is second and Japan holds his rate while Chambers sprints towards the Hungarian whos lead is comfortable at 1.5 lengths. Japan finally takes his rate up and overhauls Britain to finish second. All three qualify for the final with USA, Germany and Austria going to the B final. Winning time 7:31.75. FISA results.
Men’s double sculls: Semi final. France, Australia and New Zealand are the early leaders anad by 500m NZ leads by one third of a length from Australia who have a strong rhythm and French rating 35 close behind. Half way and NZ leads wtih Australia and France 2-3 seconds behind. The water chops up and NZ catch a couple of waves with their blades. The French pull ahead of Australia by half a length wiht the USA one length back and closing. NZ have clear water by 1500 and lead all the way to the line. Behind them Australia and USA at 35 and 36 close to a canvas gap and the Australians sprint moving ahead of France pullilng back to half a length and come second, France third and the USA China and Switzerland are in the B final. Winning time 6:44.77. FISA results.
Second semi has a similar feel with Great Britain leading the field from Germany 2/3 length down by 500m. The Czech republic and Argentina holding onto their stern. Argentina start to close racing the Germans at 1000m all three crews overlapping and the Germans continue to erode the British lead. The Germans lead at 1500m by half a second with Argentina third but the Brits press on and the Germans fade leaving a fast finishing Norwegian crew to come from fifth to third to take the last final slot. Argentina, Estonia and Czech go to the B final. Winning time 6:49.03. FISA results.
Men’s lightweight pairs: Final. Italy lead out with France in second half a length ahead of the field. By 500, France has 2/3 length on New Zealand and Italy with Great Britain in last place. NZ start to press back rating 37 and take half a length on France. They take the lead coming into 1000m with these two ahead of ITaly. They keep pushing away occasionally catching the waves on the recovery. By 1250 NZ has half a length from France and Canada move through to third place. France presses on from 1500 and take a canvas lead and rate one point higher than France. 1750 Canada start to pressure NZ rating 39 and half a length down. France holds their lead and moves away to win; NZ silver and Canada bronze. Winning time 7:18.92. FISA results.
Womens four: Final. Four crews with the Australians and USA leading, NZ and Dutch challenging in the rough water. The USA catch an enormous crab rocking the boat and lose a length – Australia also has some poor strokes but maintains their lead. Coming into 1000 the Dutch and NZ are level and NZ starts to press on as Australia fades but the Dutch move strongly into the lead at 1500 and streak away towards the line handling the conditions far better than the kiwis who then fade to the recoverying Americans who finish half a second behind Australia. The Netherlands take gold in 7:21.09; Australia silver and USA Bronze. FISA results.
Women’s lightweight double sculls: Final. Canada are the early leaders with the Germans half a length behind. Britain under-rates them and sits in the pack with Australia, Germany and Greece. Comding into the 1000m the Greeks edge ahead of Austrlaia but Canada rating 33 still leading by a canvas from Germany. Britain is three lengths down and look to be out of the boat race. By 1500m Candad and Germany are neck and neck with Greece half a length behind The Australians are one length behind and Canada still strong coming into last 500m as the Germans spring and finish one second behind Canada in 8:06.20. Canada win gold, Germany silver and Greece bronze. FISA results.
Men’s lightweight double sculls: Final. The British crew of Hunter and Purchase lead the field and by half way have 1.5 seconds over Italy and New Zealand in joint second place. Ratings are lower than normal as the rough conditions continue. By midway GB has a length over the challengers with 2 seconds between each crew and Canada and NZ neck and neck for third place. The lead is increased at 1500 where NZ and Canada continue one canvas apart and Italy is a length behind the leaders. Sprinting home gold and silver are obvious but NZ and Canada chase each other home with the kiwis taking bronze in 0.03 seconds over the disappointed Canuks. Winning time 7:13.47. FISA results.
Men’s four: Final. Britain takes their customary position at the head of the field and leads to half way by 2/3 length with New Zealand and Greece following behind. At half way the French are rowing confidently and start to challenge the kiwis for second place. They seem to handle the conditions well and coming into 1500 they are level with the British men who shorten up and stiffen as the French push on. Behind them Greece overtakes New Zealand and all four start their finishing sprints – Greece and France start first and the British crew visibly slow (blew up?) and France takes the lead up half a length and the third place challengers both overtake Britain who finishes fourth. Gold to France in 6:45.38, silver Greece and bronze, New Zealand. The crews finish in lane order. FISA results.
Womens’s quadruple sculls: Final. Ukraine are the learly leaders having 1.5 seconds at 500m but the rough waters mean challengers are the ones coping best with the bladework required and Britian and Germany are well placed here. By 1250m Britain has taken the lead and are sculling carefully and with deliberate bladework particularly at the catch. Germany and Australia are level fighting for bronze. The British lead out to 3/4 length and the Germans sprint too late to catch Ukraine but put themselves comfortably into bronze. Winning time 7:12.78. FISA results.
Men’s quadruple sculls: Final. Croatia and Italy quickly put themselves out in front of the field with Russia, Australia and Germany level in a group behind. by 1000m they have two seconds on Germany who are clearly third. Britain doesn’t feature. coming into the last 500m the Croatians swap the lead with Italy and the Germans and Australians do the same for bronze position. Croatia working hard from lane four overhaul the Italians in lane 1 on the line to take gold in 6:15.78 with Italy silver and Australia bronze. FISA results.
Related articles
- World Rowing Championships 2010: Team GB pick up sculling golds (telegraph.co.uk)
- Rough waters rock crews (news.theage.com.au)
- Britain defies winds to win two golds at world rowing championships (guardian.co.uk)
- Olympic champions Zac Purchase, Mark Hunter win lightweight doubles sculls at world rowing championships (sports.espn.go.com)
