Worlds 1999 Reports - Wednesday 25th August
Updates written during racing wherever possible, unless races were missed, in which case catch-up later.
Conditions: A very frisky tail-wind for much of the morning, freshening steadily from the calmer opening races.
Men's lightweight quad
Four to the finalOne repechage again, and while Germany twiddled their thumbs in the lead, USA and Denmark kept themselves amused with a bit of shoving behind, and Spain did an excellent job to overtake the Argentinians. This South American crew, despite leaving the blocks last, had put on an incredible spurt just before half-way, to take the lead for a few hundred metres, but there was nothing left in the tank, and as the Spaniards came up to them, they faded badly into fifth and lost their shot at the final.Men's lightweight coxless pair
Three to qualify for the A and B semifinals, rest to Final CA single repechage, in which Russia made the first headway, and despite a good lead at 500 metres were eroded steadily by South Africa, Great Britain and the Netherlands, all three of whom had a ding-dong battle to the line. From third at 500 metres to go, the Dutch finished just a hundredth of a second off the top spot, but all three qualified with ease over Russia and Hungary.Men's eight
Two to qualify for the A final, rest to the B finalThe second repechage was the slower race, Great Britain shooting off with a fast first half, up by half a length at the 500 mark and almost clear water at the thousand. This comfort zone left them a little unpushed, until a cracking race developed behind them. Canada had been taken by Croatia off the start, but put in an excellent push before the thousand to squeeze through the Balkans and the Italians by a couple of seats. The Italians however refused to let go, and as they hit the last 150 metres mounted an incredible attack, and were half a seat down at rate 44 with a few strokes to go, and still moving. As they crossed the line the Italian cox stood up, the Canadians bowed their heads, and we didn't need the replay to show us the result. The Italian five-man, Cascone, was so elated he took his blade out of the gate and stood up, brandishing it over his head like a Maori spear-warrior. In front of him, however, his team-mate Rosario was so beaten by the terrific struggle that he collapsed over his oar and had to receive a bit of sympathetic First Aid.The first repechage was probably the best race of the day. Australia led off the start, but blew up quite spectacularly in the third 500 metres, and were over a length off qualifying, with Germany also trailing and now relegated to the B final in the event they took silver in 1998. Meanwhile the Netherlands and Romania, either side of Australia, were sorting out their own one-on-one, separated by just a few seats right through the race, the Dutch just slightly in front. As they passed Australia the defending bronze medallists started to pick up the pace, but Netherlands were racing impeccably, almost even-splitting. Neck and neck to the line flew both crews, Australia towed along in their wake, and the orange brigade took the victory. Then the times appeared, and it became clear both crews had just broken the previous (NED, Lucerne) world best time of 5:23.15: the Romanians registered 5:23.06 and the Dutch 5:22.80. No swimming fans yet, but the defending champions USA and the Kiwis will have to look to their puddles on Sunday. Note: I am told that FISA are having some difficulty with the extraordinary time of 5:20.92 set by the Polish junior eight at the Junior World Championships earlier this month. There have been rumours that the course was short, but that doesn't seem to be by any significant margin which would affect such a time. More important, they will debate in Council whether they should have different world best times for seniors and juniors...... At the moment anyway, the Dutch are still officially top of the list. Women's eight
Four to the A final, rest to the B finalThe Germans winners of this rep found the pace pretty comfortable, and the popular Canadians, stroked by a local girl dubbed "Buffy the Slayer" by the maple-leaf papers, did a good job off a slowish start, to take second place. The saddest case was Byelorussia, starting extremely well but then having a shocking second quarter which left them struggling in fifth ahead of the Kiwis for the rest of the race, despite a good effort at the finish. The Dutch women were steadily in the pack and happy in third, with four qualifying, and Australia will have been pleased to pull up well into the body of the race to take the last place to go through. In the last 250 metres the Canadian women decided to put on a grandstand finish, and gave the German crew a good run for their money. They surged strongly, but despite rating like serious speed merchants, didn't quite dent the German confidence.Men's quad
Two to qualify for the A and B semifinals, rest to C and D finalsThe fourth race here was kind of a foregone conclusion, the Netherlands and Poland having an easy time keeping Great Britain out of the qualifying places.Third repechage, and Australia had little difficulty, along with the USA, in staying well ahead of Sweden and Norway.Cuba and China looked excellent here, swapping the lead in the final stages after the Asians had led by a short head for much of the race. Although neither crew was in danger of being pushed out, Byelorussia and Portugal lengths behind, the two leaders still kept up a strong pace.Ukraine led off here, from the Russians in second place, but Belgium picked up speed, and made their way into second by 800 metres out. Romania were the slowest off the blocks, and then overtook Russia and mounted a strong challenge for second, but were edged into the C/D semi-finals by Belgium, who refused to give way.Women's quad
Three to qualify for the semifinalsA single repechage, this, losing one out of four crews. With Romania looking comfortable out in front, and rowing well within themselves, the battle was on between Italy, Greece and Poland, to avoid being last. Of those, Poland had the best start, but Italy accelerated well as they picked up the race rhythm, and took themselves from last to second in fine order, then started to relax. Meanwhile the Polish women were overtaking Greece, who then laboured, but were unable to stay in touch despite a spirited finish.Lightweight men's coxless four
Three to qualify for the semifinal, rest to the C-finalRepechage one was raced at the end of the day, after the Australians had suffered an equipment failure before the original race. This postponement obviously didn't affect the men from Down Under, who went out strongly and fast, picking up a very comfortable lead of over a length. Next to them were the British, who looked good in second place until the Canadian pair pushed well at 1100, and went a couple of seats up. Top three through, Japan and Greece disappointed. Repechage two was a cracker, USA, South Africa and the Netherlands fighting it out with Spain and Mexico following. The Dutch led off the start by a short head, and inched away through the middle of the race, to half a length. As they neared the grandstands the crowd went crazy, and both crews squeezed the rate up, while the South African four, who had taken a poor start and been lying fourth for much of the race, stuck in a brilliant final 750, and passed Spain, accelerating all the time, to finish just a couple of seats behind the USA in the third qualifying spot.The first repechage was a walkover for the Italian four, well ahead and strolling over the line. Sweden, in lane 4, started very well behind them, but were unable to keep the pace up, and laboured through the third 500 metres while first Germany and then the Russians managed to catch and overtake them. Switzerland were also relegated to the C final, fighting hard but outclassed.Lightweight men's double
Two to qualify for the A and B semifinals, rest to the C and D semi-finalsIn six races the only trailing crew to threaten second place was Hong Kong in the fifth repechage, but only because the USA and Finland ahead of them were slowing down substantially in the final stages. Other qualifiers were GBR with Sweden, Ireland and Portugal, Japan and Slovakia, Netherlands and Austria, and Greece and Denmark.Lightweight women's double
Two to qualify for the A and B semifinals, rest to the C and D semi-finalsFour heats here. In the first Holland and Italy swapped the lead several times, leaving China and Japan out in the cold. Next Greece and Denmark started extremely well, but lost ground in the middle section, as first Hungary and then Switzerland squeezed their way through to qualify, Portugal trailing last. In the third race Poland led all the way, Sweden initially following them but then losing pace very badly, and being overtaken by first Canada and then Zimbabwe. The crocodile-hunters were out, but the home crew qualified with ease. Australia and Bulgaria had the final repechage under control, but Great Britain and Spain fought all the way, the latter pulling out the fastest final section to cross the line .32 of a second short of a place in the semis, after Spain and Austria had dropped right back.