Heats; Monday, July 10

W1x Heat 1
Monica Tranel-Michini was the early leader, followed by Latvia and Finland. The Finnish sculler moved into first briefly, as did the Latvian sculler. Soon Michini, the GBR sculler Alison Mowbray, and the Latvian sculler move away from the field down the course. In the final 500 meters, Monica had opened up an open water lead on the entire field, and almost cruised it into the finish, followed by Mowbray. Monica goes straight to the final, all others to tomorrow's rep. A number of scullers shut down in anticipation of tomorrow's racing.

W1x Heat 2
The second heat was a bit tighter,with the Spanish sculler only three seconds ahead of Brandin.

Men's 1x Heat 1

The GBR sculler Matthew Wells led most of the way, but as finish line approached, the Dutch sculler Agelmeers made an impressive assault, pulled even at 200 to go, fell behind briefly, then pulled even with 5 strokes to go. As the two scullers watched each other across four lanes, the GBR sculler nudged his bow into first on the last stroke to win by 0.22 seconds.

Men's 1x Heat 2
This was just about a rowover for the Slovakian sculler Jan Ziska; he won by about 8 lengths as the other scullers nearly paddled over the line.

Men's 2- Heat 1

A scratch by the Ukranian crew led to a redraw in this event.

The Yugoslavian pair of Djordj Visacki (cal guy) and Nikola Stojic (Brown guy) led from the start, and while the Greek pair gave them a good race, the outcome was never really in doubt.

Men's 2- Heat 2

The USA crew was in third at 500 gone, but only by a few feet, and led at the 1000m mark, while posting the fastest 500 m splits for the second, third and fourth 500's. By 300 to go the other crews had shut down and let the US crew take it home. They were likely down around 32 spm rowing into the finish line, with at least three lengths between them and the second place Czech crew.

Women's 2x Heat 1

US wins it by just under a length over the Belorussian crew. Announcing on this one was sparse, sorry for lack of detail. The US crew led for the entire race, posting the fastest 500 m split in all of the first three 500s, and the second fastest in the final 500.

Women's 2x Heat 2

The Romanian double won this one in almost identical fashion to the previous heat; just over a length back to Hungary. The Romanians were at a safe 35 strokes per minute coming over the line.

Men's 2x Heat 1

The Canada double was pushed a little bit, coming from third place at the first 500, second at the 1000, and finall first at 500 to go. The final margin of 1.76 seconds was one of the closer races of the day, although Canada crossed the line at a comfortable rating.

Men's 2x Heat 2

Just after the 1000 mark, the Australians led Spain by only a half-length, and things get hotter from there. Spain drew even near the 500 meter mark, and pushed it to 20 to go, when the Australian crew shut down completely.

Men's Four Heat 1
Just before the 1000 meter mark, the US had 1/2 length over Slovenia, who was moving up hard. The USA responded in the third 500, pushing out to a full length just before the 500 mark, and a couple feet of open water by 500 to go.

That margin did it; everyone else shut down, and the US crew blasted home, cranked the rating up in a rehearsal sprint, several lengths ahead of the field.

Men's Four Heat 2

Yugoslavia put this away early and handled this event easily, crossing at rating in the low-mid 20s several lengths ahead of everyone.
LW Women's 2x
Greece and Canada went after this one together, duking it out the whole way until Greece started to eke out a lead at 500 to go, with GBR a bit off the pace. As the GBR fell back a bit, both Greece and Canada raced it all the way in, with Greece prevailing by a decklength.

LW Women's 2x Heat 2
Bulgaria led from wire to wire, leading by just over a second at 500 gone over Sweden. At the 1500 gone, Sweden was only 0.57 seconds behind, but the Bulgarians began pushing it home, and got enough of a lead that the Swedes shut down inside the 250 mark.

LW Men's 2x Heat 1

Although Spain led the entire race, they were pushed for a solid 1750 meters by the Swedish double. Spain winding up for a full sprint, reaching 40 with 20 strokes to go, but finally pushed ahead enough to lock up first place, and the Swedes shut down and let Spain take it home.

LW Men's 2x Heat 2

Poland won this one easily, coasting into the finish line at 32 spm.

LW Men's 4- Heat 1

Great Britain brought home the win here after being pushed from behind by Portugal the whole way, with no more than 1.01 second between them for the first 1500 meters. Portugal was only 3/4 length behind with 25 strokes to go, but decided not to press for the win and shut down to go through the reps.

LW Men's 4- Heat 2

The Irish crew eased into the final here, with the two lead crews crossing the line rowing inside-arm-only.