Many of the world's talented young rowers began their journey to the top of the sport as the 2015 Under-23 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria got underway in bright but hot conditions which saw the temperature gauge rise to 36 degrees celsius.
10 races across three boat class categories were contested on the first day of competition. With the possibility of qualifying directly for the finals, which will be contested over the weekend, the on water action was fast and furious. New Zealand started the competition with just two crews in action on day one.
Bryce Abernethy and Matt Dunham got off to a flying start as they finished second in the men's lightweight double scull heat where the progression required them to finish in the top four to proceed to the quarter-finals. The New Zealanders were successful finishing in a time of 6:44.56 just over three seconds behind the race leaders from Germany. Hungary and Japan were safely through to the next round in third and fourth position.
Amy Mills, Samantha Voss, Hannah Bailey and Lexi Kerr representing New Zealand were one of 12 crews contesting the women's quad in the heats. The New Zealanders were racing in the second heat which saw the French charge to the front out of the start, however it wasn't a position they would hold onto with Germany pushing past them through the first 500m timing point. Germany held onto their front-runner status for the remainder of the race taking the only direct A final qualification placing by finishing first in a time of 6:41.33. New Zealand finished in fifth in 6:49.80 and will now challenge a repechage. In the first heat of the women's quad Australia lead from start to finish and head straight to the A final with Germany.
There will be more exciting heats racing on tonight (Thursday 23 July - day two) with the first kiwis up being the women's under-23 four where there are 11 entries and two heats. New Zealand will also contest the men's coxed four, women's double scull, men's quad and the women's lightweight double.
New Zealand will be represented in a total of seven under-23 age group crews at the 2015 Under-23 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from 22 to 26 July. The regatta has a total of 820 international competitors from 51 countries competing in in 21 boat classes.