Today at the Samsung World Rowing Cup in Munich, Germany (15-17 June) five finals in the international (also known as non-Olympic) boat classes and four finals in the adaptive boat classes were staged. Earlier in the afternoon, repachages and semifinals were held in the Olympic boat classes to determine the line-ups for tomorrow's finals.
Finals in the 'International' Boat Classes
Lightweight women's single sculls (LW1x)
The first Final A of the day saw an immense battle on the 1972 Olympic regatta course. Leonie Pless of Germany1 was the early leader but her time at the front of the field was cut short when Belgium's Evi Geent Jens moved into first place to become race leader at the 1000 metre mark. The Belgian held off a strong challenge from Austria's Michaela Taupe-Traer, who won the first and second regattas of the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup series. It was Switzerland's Pamela Weisshaupt however who made a charge at just the right time to take the lead and crossed the line in first place. Geet Jens took silver while Taupe-Traer had to settle for bronze.
Lightweight men's single sculls (LM1x)
The race for gold in this event was between two men; Hungary's Peter Galambos and Italy's Pietro Ruta. It was Galambos who took the early lead but he was unable to hold onto it for long as Ruta passed him at the half-way point. These two led the field, leaving behind a fight for the bronze. Germany's Jonathan Koch crossed the line behind Ruta and Galambos to take bronze.
Lightweight men's pair (LM2-)
Great Britain's Paul Mattick and Adam Freeman-Pask went into this final as firm favourites. This duo won the lightweight men's pair at this season's first World Cup in Belgrade and Freeman-Pask took gold in the lightweight men's single sculls at the second World Cup in Lucerne. No other crew a chance to lead the field as the British duo sat in first place for the duration of the race. After and intense middle of the race, it was the Netherlands2 crew who took silver, pushing Australia into bronze medal position as they crossed the line.
Lightweight women's quad (LW4x)
This regatta is the first time the lightweight women's quad has featured on the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup schedule. Poland dominated the race and showed convincing form as they pushed away from their Danish and Italian challengers. Italy was in silver position until a strong final 500 metres saw Denmark move in to second place to claim silver. Italy took bronze.
Lightweight men's four (LM4x)
2011 World silver medallists Germany were the dominant crew for the majority of this final international boat class race of the afternoon. However they were not able to react to the strong final 500 metres sprint of the Austrian crew. Austria reached the line first to claim gold, Germany took silver whilst Denmark claimed the bronze.
Adaptive Finals
AS women's single sculls (ASW1x)
Alia Lysenko of Ukraine maintained her unbroken record of wins today, taking gold in the AS women's single. World Bronze medallist from Brazil Claudia Santos today took silver. 2011's sixth place finisher, Liudmila Vauchok of Belarus held form in the closing stages of the race to hold off France's Nathalie Benoit for the bronze.
AS men's single sculls (ASW1x)
Although World and Paralympic Champion, Tom Aggar, may have been absent from racing in Munich this weekend, Australia's Erik Horrie's gold medal winning performance today shows that he is ready to challenge for Gold at this summer's Paralympic Games. He stayed ahead of the field throughout his race leaving Korea's Jun-Ha Park to take silver and Great Britain's Andrew Houghton claimed bronze.
TA mixed double sculls (TAMix2x)
Australia's Gavin Bellis and Kathryn Ross have been on form throughout this regatta. Although they placed second to the French duo at the half-way mark, they held their form and pushed through to take gold. France took silver over Ukraine who were the bronze medallists.
LTA mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+)
A great race developed between Germany and Great Britain in the LTA mixed coxed four. Coming into the closing stages of the race it was stroke for stroke between these two powerful crews. Great Britain pushed through the Germans to claim gold. Germany took the silver and Ukraine took bronze.
Olympic boat class finals previews
There is much to look forward to tomorrow in the Olympic boat class finals of the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup. This will be the last time these crews will face each other before the 2012 London Olympic Games regatta. Finals begin Sunday at 10.33 CET.
In the women's pair, Great Britain's Heather Stanning and Helen Glover still remain the crew on form ahead of tomorrow's final, progressing directly to the final during the heats on Friday. Having won two gold medals so far in the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup series, they will be the ones to beat. After a bronze medal in Lucerne, New Zealand also progressed directly to the final in the heats and they are likely to challenge the Brits. Olympic Champions Romania, who won their repechage with an open water lead, are clearly finding more and more speed as we get closer to the Games.
The men's pair appears to be clear-cut but there are still unknowns. All eyes will be on New Zealand's Eric Murray and Hamish Bond to win gold, and they looked dominant in their heat winning over the rest of the field by eight seconds to progress directly to the final. However, in the absence of the Canadians who won silver in Lucerne, the French men's pair could be the ones to really challenge the favourites as they led their heat from start to finish virtually unchallenged. Italy could be contenders for bronze, as could Australia.
Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins of Great Britain are favourites for the women's double sculls, and are unbeaten since 2009. They dominated their heat to progress directly to the final. However, Australia looked dangerous in the heats also winning with relative ease, setting up the prospect of a great race tomorrow. Don't rule out Poland or New Zealand either; both won their repechages today and have not been far from the podium this year.
The field appears to be quite open in the men's double sculls. Norway stormed through their semi-final today to qualify fastest for the middle lane. France and Germany will be strong challengers as they are both showing notable speed this season. New Zealand has shown marked improvement from their performance in Lucerne also qualifying for the A Final.
The men's four is a real talking point at this regatta, and the defending Olympic and World Champions, Great Britain, are certainly not having it all their own way thanks to a new Australian line-up. In Lucerne, Australia pushed the British crew right to the line, just losing out. The crews faced each other here in Munich in the semi-finals today in a highly anticipated race, and it was Australia who won, and have the bragging rights going in to tomorrow's final. There is all to play for in the final. Belarus and the Czech Republic will also be in medal contention.
In the absence of World Champions Alexandra Tsiavou and Christina Giazitzidou of Greece, and the Chinese lightweight women's double sculls who won in Lucerne, this event is wide open. Both Great Britain1 and Germany progressed directly to the final, whereas New Zealand, the World Best Time holders, and Denmark faced the repechage to progress. Any of these boats could be in the mix for a medal. A close finish is expected as the competition really steps up ahead of the Olympic Games.
Lightweight racing gets really exciting in the lightweight men's double sculls. After a mediocre performance in Lucerne, Great Britain have shown some serious intent in the semi-finals today, beating the French double who triumphed in Lucerne. New Zealand also won their heat ahead of Denmark, so expect these four crews to be charging to the line for a medal, and one crew to go home disappointed.
Tomorrow's lightweight men's four final is loaded with talent. 2010 World Champions Great Britain and 2011 World Champions Australia will be in the middle lanes and both have the talent and experience to cross the line before any of their opposition. A strong French crew should certainly be watched with interest and, although Olympic Champions Denmark have not showed the same form as the they did in Belgrade at the beginning of May, their fast final sprint can never be ruled out.
Ukraine are the crew to watch in the final of the women's quad. They stormed to victory at the World Cup in Lucerne last month and their plan is certainly to do the same tomorrow. Germany's new line-up is impressive, however, with Annekatrin Thiele and Britta Opelt abandoning their double to strengthen their nation's quad. They will hope to upset the Ukrainian's dreams of gold tomorrow.
The favourites for gold in the men's quad are certain. Croatia have made this event their own over the three seasons they have competed. They have continued to impress throughout their time on the Munich regatta course. Germany will be hoping to reign victorious on home water and will certainly put a strong challenge up to the Croatian crew.
Canada had a tight margin of victory over Romania in the women's eight's race for lanes of Friday. Last month in Lucerne, Canada almost broke the United States' 6 year winning streak but just fell short. Australia's newly-formed eight qualified for the Olympic Games at last month's Final Olympic Qualification Regatta and seem to be gathering the kind of speed that may see them medal in tomorrow's final.
The top two men's single scullers did not race at this Samsung World Rowing Cup. Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand had a bike accident a couple of days ago, sustaining injuries that has kept him from racing and Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic is not racing here as his pre-Olympic preparation means that he has already gone to altitude training. This leaves the event somewhat more open. Favourite for gold is Great Britain's Alan Campbell who won his semi-final today. He was challenged by Sweden's Lassi Karonen, who appears to be coming back on form after a mixed 2012 season to date. Marcel Hacker's home-water advantage may come into play as he has moved into the final as winner of his semi-final.
Belarus' Ekaterina Karsten was the fastest qualifier from the semi-final stages of the women's single sculls and will go head-to-head with winner of the second semi-final Nataliya Mustafayeva of Azerbaijan tomorrow. This will be the first time these two athletes have faced each other this season. New Zealand's Emma Twigg has been returning to form throughout this regatta after a mixed season to date and will certainly look to challenge these two athletes for top rankings.
With the absence of the German men's eight, who are favourites for gold at this summer's Olympic Games, Great Britain look to be the favourites to take gold in this final regatta before London. Their biggest challenge will come from a strong Polish line-up. This will certainly be an intense final.