New Zealand got onto the medal table at the 2015 Under-23 World Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria after winning silver in the men's coxed four overnight. On the fourth day of the regatta four crews also advanced from semi-finals to fight for medals on the closing day of competition tomorrow (Sunday 26 July).
Out of the start Italy popped their bow in front with New Zealand in hot pursuit in the A final of the men's coxed four. New Zealand hit the front through the first 500m marker but Italy did not fade. The front running crews continued to race neck and neck through to the halfway point. At the 1000m point New Zealand had the slight advantage with a canvas length advantage. Italy pushed on to take half boat length margin at the 1500m with New Zealand still holding onto second with Turkey and Australia closing in. The kiwi crew of Louis van Velthooven, Drikus Conradie, Cameron Webster, Corey McCaffrey and coxswain Sam Bosworth had a tremendous sprint to pull almost level with the Italians into the finish line. Italy came away with the Gold in 6:24.57 with New Zealand claiming silver in 6:24.78, bronze went to Germany. Stroke of the men's coxed four Louis Van Velthooven was proud of his crews performance in the A final "It's great to be on the podium. We didn't manage to win, but we are very proud. It was a wonderful race, we were gaining and gaining but it was just not enough."
In the women's four A final USA took an early lead with a quick start, under increasing pressure throughout the race from Canada and Great Britain the USA crew kept their cool, they held onto cross the line first in 6:53.68 for gold. Canada were half a boat length back for silver and Great Britain were a further half a boat length behind for bronze. Australia surged to the line ahead of New Zealand who finished fifth overall in a time just over seven minutes.
Germany took the first men's lightweight double scull semi-final by the scruff of the neck claiming the front of the field early and never relinquished the lead, finishing in a time of 6:29.25. The New Zealand combination of Bryce Abernethy and Matt Dunham were sitting in second through to the halfway mark before Italy broke ahead, New Zealand put up a fight and were level pegging with Italy, but Italy moved away into the final sprint and claimed second with the New Zealanders rounding out the A final places in third. The first semi-final qualifiers will meet the second semi-final contenders from The Netherlands, Spain and Czech Republic in the race for medals.
Italy were leading the charge in the women's double semi-final through to the 1500m marker but ran out steam to dip out completely. The Netherlands soared past and claimed the win in 7:08.57, while the kiwis Brooke Donoghue and Claudia Hyde also jolted into action to finish second with Belarus rounding out the remaining qualification spots for the A final. In the second semi-final Romania, Great Britain and Germany progressed to the medal final.
The lead swapped between four crews in the first 400m of the women's lightweight double scull race, but once the kiwi crew of Jackie Kiddle and Zoe McBride hit the front of their semi-final they were off. Once in the lead they left the other crews in their wake to fight for the two remaining A final spots. New Zealand won the semi-final in 7:05.58 with a five second margin back to Switzerland and Italy claimed the last available qualifying spot. In the second semi-final China, Romania and Greece progressed to the A final.
Ukraine were three quarters of a boat length ahead at the first 500m timing point and New Zealand were battling with Italy and Slovenia in the men's quad semi-final. New Zealand made a break away from the other crews to claw Ukraine back into contention from the 750m mark; by halfway the kiwis were just a third of a length back. Flexing their muscles New Zealand put in a big power piece which was enough to break Ukraine's momentum. New Zealand went on to take a convincing win crossing the line in 5:52.94. Ukraine was second and Italy was the final qualifier. Canada, Australia and Poland were through to the A final from the first semi-final.
The women's quad contested the B Final and finished first with a ranking of seventh overall.
On the concluding day of the 2015 Under-23 World Rowing Championships New Zealand will contest A finals in the women's double, women's lightweight double, men's lightweight double and the men's quad.
The 2015 edition of the age group world championships has seen more than 800 international competitors from 51 countries competing in in 21 boat classes.