Gifu, Japan
Australian Team — Race reports
Day I: Monday 29 August
Event No. 1: Heat 2 Women's Single Scull
Kerry Hore rowed an even race to finish fourth in her heat behind the race favourite Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus. Kerry conserved energy for the repechage to be rowed on Wednesday.
Event No. 2: Heat 1 Men's Single Scull
David Crawshay had a steady first 1000 metres and produced an excellent 3rd 500 metres to move from 4th to 2nd in a heat won by New Zealand's Mahe Drysdale. A solid first row, building confidence to take into the repechage and with the aim of securing a spot in Thursday's semi-finals.
Event No. 3: Heat 1 Women's Pair
Natalie Bale and Sarah Outhwaite rowed a very well judged race to overpower the USA and win Heat 1 of the women's pair. Bale, competing in her first Senior World Championships after being in the Junior Team in 2004, joined fellow West Australian Outhwaite to record a faster time than the other heat winners New Zealand. This will assist Outhwaite as she is also rowing in the women's eight later in the program.
Event No. 4: Heat 3 Men's Pair
Karsten Forsterling and Christian Ryan finished 3rd in Heat 3 of the men's pair and will have to qualify through the repechage. The pair showed good early speed behind the South African pair, the Olympic medalists in Athens. Coach Chris O'Brien will work closely with this combination in the next 48 hours as the crew attempts to gain a place in the semi-finals.
Event No. 5: Heat 1 Women's Double Scull
Sally Kehoe and Amber Bradley drew the Olympic and World Champions New Zealand in their heat. For their first race at a World Championships together, Sally and Amber showed they have plenty of room for improvement, rowing conservatively to finish 5th, and will put everything on the line in Wednesday's repechage.
Event No. 7: Heat 1 Men's Four
This new crew, coached by Tim McLaren, started conservatively and was 4th after 500 metres, behind the crew from the Netherlands. They worked their way into 3rd place by the halfway mark, finishing in 4th place, and will race the repechage on Wednesday.
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Day II: Tuesday 30 August
Event No. 21: Heat 1 Men's Lightweight Pair
George Roberts and Ross Brown finished fourth behind three experienced crews from Italy, Serbia and Montenegro and Great Britain, each of which have competed in international racing during the World Cup series this year. Roberts and Brown will now contest the repechages where they aim to gain a position in Friday's semi-finals.
Event No. 8: Heat 1 Women's Lightweight Double Scull
Marguerite Houston and Kirsty Fleming led all the way to win heat 1 from highly fancied crews from Finland and Greece in the smart time of 6.55.86. The girls established a slight lead of .88 in the first 500 metres and held it all the way to the finish to record a very good win in their first race together in international competition. They now progress to Friday's semi-finals.
Event No. 9: Heat 3 Men's Lightweight Double Scull
Sam Beltz and Cameron Wurf held 2nd place all the way in heat 3, initially behind the Czech Republic and then behind the strong Hungarian crew which took the lead through the first 500 metres and was never headed. A solid first row in international competition for this young double scull.
Event No. 10: Heat 1 Men's Lightweight Four
The new Australian crew of Tim Smith, Todd Skipworth, Michael McBryde and Tom Gibson aquitted themselves very well in heat 1 and have progressed to Friday's semi-final. The crew was back in third place in the middle stages of the race but worked their way into the joint lead in the last 500 metres. They demonstrated good boat speed before just easing off a fraction in the drive to the finish line to finish third behind Germany and Italy.
Event No. 12: Heat 1 Men's Quadruple Scull
The crew of Trent Collins, Craig Jones, Chris Morgan and Jason Day finished 5th in a very tough heat, with the race dominated by European crews. The Australian combination's blend of youth through Collins and Morgan and the experience of Jones and Day will now attempt to qualify for the semi-finals through Friday's repechages.
Event No. 13: Heat 2 Women's Eight
Australia's young crew began well in heat 1 and was holding second place through 500 metres, just 0.29 of a second behind Olympic Bronze Medallists the Netherlands. The experienced Dutch crew held the lead all the way down the 2000 metres to win the race, with Australia challenging inside the last 500 metres. With 100 metres to go, the crew experienced equipment breakage resulting in one member having to discard her oar. The crew crossed the line clearly second in what was an excellent performance which will stand the crew in good stead for Sunday's final.
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Day III: Wednesday 31 August
Event No. 1: Repechage Women's Single Scull
Following her heat on Monday, where she drew the red hot favourite Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus, Australia's Kerry Hore approached the one and only repechage with confidence and took the lead from the outset. Kerry, a member of last year's quad scull in Athens, led at each mark and was almost a length clear of her nearest rival from Serbia and Montenegro at 1500 metres and held that margin until the finish in a time of 7.22.35. She now progresses to Thursday's semi-finals with high hopes of forcing her way into the A final to be rowed on Saturday.
Event No. 2: Repechage 1 Men's Single Scull
David Crawshay was among the leading scullers all the way in his repechage, with only the first two to advance to the semi- finals on Thursday. After going through the 500 metres in third place, he moved into second place through 1000 metres. He maintained his place at the front of the field, taking the lead through the 1500 metres mark and rowed conservatively at the finish to be placed second behind Great Britain's Colin Smith. The lightening quick time of 6.38.73 is just 2.4 seconds outside the world's best time held by German Sculler Marcel Hacker.
Event No. 4: Repechage 1 Men's Pair
Christian Ryan and Karsten Forsterling took the lead early in the first repechage of the Men's Coxless Pair, as they did in their heat on Monday. They remained composed and worked into a nice tempo which they held all the way to the finish line, finishing first and advancing to Thursday's semi-finals.
The crew remained calm as both France and the USA challenged them in the last 250 metres, crossing the line half a length clear of France in a time of 6.24.98. Ryan's experience as a member of Australia's eight in Sydney 2000 was no doubt beneficial, as he and the younger Forsterling were placed under enormous pressure near the end of the 2000 metre Nagaragawa course.
Event No. 5: Repechage 2 Women's Double Scull
The Australian women's double scull of Sally Kehoe and Amber Bradley finished second in their repechage and advanced to Saturday's A Final. The crew started well and were well up with the USA and Great Britain early. As the race progressed the USA dropped off the pace, being passed by Norway for third place. It became a race between Australia and Great Britain. At the finish the British crew, which contained two medallists from Athens last year, held off the Australian challenge by half a length (1.02 seconds) in a time of 6.43.19.
Event No. 7: Repechage 2 Men's Four
The young Australian Men's Coxless Four of James Gatti, James Chapman, Matthew Ryan and Jeremy Stevenson started conservatively in their repechage. They held fourth place through the first 500 metres, just behind Switzerland, and worked their way clamly into third place by the 1000 metres mark.
Early leaders Canada held the advantage they established early in the race all the way to the finish, with Australia finishing better than Poland in the second 1000 metres to take second place less than a length (1.76 seconds) behind Canada in 5.45.27, and advance to the semi-finals. A very good row from this combination in the fast conditions and they will benefit from the hit out as they approach further rounds of competition.
Event No. 21: Repechage Men's Lightweight Pair
After competing in a heat race where the world's fastest time was set, the young Australian pair of Ross Brown and George Roberts had to finish in the first three in the repechage to make the semi-finals of the event.
The crew rowed a good even race to finish second to the Netherlands, who were never headed after taking the lead in the first 500 metres. Brown and Roberts started well and were second all the way, with the margin varying down the course and being just 1.39 seconds at the finish line. This crew now joins other Australian crews in the semi-finals to be rowed on Thursday and Friday. They will have gained confidence from today's excellent effort.
Event No. 9: Repechage 2 Men's Lightweight Double Scull
Cameron Wurf and Sam Beltz, who was celebrating his birthday, began well in repechage 2 of the Men's Lightweight Double Scull and settled down in through place through 500 metres. Bowman Wurf, who competed in this boat in Athens, and his Lindisfarne, Tasmania, clubmate maintained the lead through 1000 metres and led all the way to the finish line in a time of 6.13.47. The crew was challenged by Slovakia in the last 250 metres but proved too strong for that crew and now will contest the semi-finals on Friday.
Event No. 12: Repechage Men's Quadruple Scull
The Australian Men's Quad Scull, a new crew after last year's Athens' Olympics crew chose to have time off or pursue other rowing events, advanced to the semi-finals by finishing second in their repechage. The crew established a lead in the early and middle stages of the race, easing down a little as the USA lifted in the dying stages to record the win, with Australia second a half-length behind in a time of 5.46.35.
This was a much better effort from the crew who rowed with more composure than in their heat earlier in the regatta. Experienced stroke Jason Day led the crew well, with Chris Morgan, Craig Jones and Trent Collins all gaining confidence for the semi-finals to be rowed on Friday.
Event No. 13: Repechage Women's Eight
Following a very good performance yesterday in their heat, despite losing an oar from the three seat rower with less than 100 metres to go, the Australian Women's Eight has moved through to Sunday's A Final.
The Australian crew were back in sixth place through 750 metres as the USA established a good lead. Despite still being in fifth place at 1000 and 1500 metres, the crew continued to improve as the race unfolded and came with a well-timed burst to grab third place behind the USA and Great Britain, demonstrating the fitness levels required to win a medal in the event. At the finish the Australian crew was 2.83 seconds behind the winners USA, having been 4.76 seconds behind after 500 metres, and clearly rowed the fastest second 1000 metres.
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Day IV: Thursday 1 September
Event No. 15: Race for seeding row for final Women's Four
The young Australian Women's Four of Robyn Selby Smith, Emily Martin, Pauline Frasca and Kate Hornsey, who are doubling up in the Womens Eight, tackled the first race on Semi Final Group A day to determine which lane they would have in the race for medals on the weekend. After getting away rowing within themselves and underrating the leaders Germany they went through 500 metres in second place but increased their workrate a fraction to take the lead though 1000 metres.
The crew continued to increase their leading margin, going through 1500 metres 3.28 seconds clear of Germany, and went on to record a good win over Germany, Belarus and Korea in a time of 6.25.94. They will row from a centre lane in Saturday's final.
Event No. 16: Race for seeding row for final Men's Coxed Pair
The Australian coxed pair of Sam Conrad and Hardy Cubasch, coxed by Marc Douez, spreadeagled the field in the race for lanes for their event. This young crew established an early lead in the race, recognised as one of the more physically draining events on the World Championships program, heading the USA by 2.18 seconds through 500 metres. They increased the margin to 2.81 seconds through 1000 metres and at the finish were 7.17 seconds clear of Italy who passed the USA through the third 500 metres to take second place. This crew will row the final on Saturday at 11.15 Japan time.
Event No. 1: Semi-final 2 Women's Single Scull
Australia's Kerry Hore, a member of the Quad Scull in Athens last year, faced her biggest challenge in the individual sculling event to date, taking on the world best sculler Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus in semi-final 2 of the Women's Single Scull. Kerry got away reasonably well and was in fourth place through the first 500 metres behind Karsten and the Swedish Sculler Frida Svensson. Karsten lifted the pressure through the 1000 metres and Hore was not able to match the push, dropping back to fifth at that point. Kerry will race in the B Final on Saturday for places 7 to 12.
Event No. 2: Semi-final 1 Men's Single Scull
David Crawshay tackled the men's semi-final 1 with enthusiasm, following the experience he gained in last year's Olympics. He got away well and was in third place through 500 metres behind the New Zealand sculler Mahe Drysdale and Czech Republic sculler Ondrej Synek. The early effort told on Crawshay: he had dropped back to fifth through 1000 metres and maintained that place through 1500 metres. Crawshay finished at the rear of the field and will tackle Final B on Saturday where he can gain a place from 7th to 12th.
Event No. 4: Semi-final 1 Men's Pair
Christian Ryan and Karsten Forsterling took on semi-final 1 of the men's pair where New Zealand and Italy were the favoured crews. New Zealand started well and the Australian pair, contesting their first international competition as a combination, started quickly and held third place through 500 metres. By 1000 metres that early effort had taken its toll and they had droped back to fifth place. Forsterling and Ryan tried everything in their repertoire to haul in the leading crews but were unable to improve their position throughout the race and finished at the rear of the field. New Zealand won the race, from Italy and Greece, in 6.16.11.
Event No. 7: Semi-final 1 Men's Coxless Four
The Australian combination of Jeremy Stevenson and James Gatti from Western Australia, who were members of the Australian Junior Team last year, and Matt Ryan and James Chapman from New South Wales raced semi-final 1 of the Mens Coxless Four looking for a place in Saturday's A Final.
The crew enjoyed a good start but the favourites for the race, The Netherlands, took the lead through 500 metres by just on a length over the USA and New Zealand, with the young and inexperienced Australian crew back in sixth place. The order remained the same in the lead group through 1000 metres with the Australian crew moving in to fourth place. They maintained that place for the remainder of the race. It was a good effort from the Australian crew who can now look forward to repeating the effort in Final B on Saturday which should see them find a place among the place-getters in that race.
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Day V: Friday 2 September
Event No. 21: Semi-final 1 Men's Lightweight Pair
Ross Brown and George Roberts opened proceedings for Australia on the second day of semi-finals action, competing in semi-final 1 of the Men's Lightweight Pair. The pair began well as early leaders Italy and Egypt went out of the blocks hard with Egypt leading through 500 metres. The Chilean crew that had been battling for third, fourth and fifth with Australia and Russia in the early stages took the lead through 1000 metres as the Egyptian crew began to tire a little with Italy third and Brown and Roberts in sixth place.
Through the third 500 metres the Australians battled hard at trying to peg back the three leading crews but were unable to make any headway finishing sixth behind Chile, Italy, Egypt, Great Britain and Russia in a winning time of 6.34.47. Brown and Roberts will now contest Final B on Sunday morning.
Event No. 8: Semi-final 1 Women's Lightweight Double Scull
The Australian double of Marguerite Houston and Kirsty Fleming advanced straight to the semi-final by winning their heat on Tuesday morning, consequently drawing a middle lane next to another heat-winning crew from Germany in what appeared to be the tougher of the two semi-finals.
The Australian girls started well settling down in second place behind the early pace setters Germany going through 500 metres about a canvas behind with Italy and Greece pushing each other for third place. By 1000 metres the Germans had opened up two thirds of a length lead over Fleming and Houston with Greece moving into a clear third over the improving Irish crew.
At 1500 metres Germany still led Australia by just over a length with challenges coming from Greece and Ireland. Houston and Fleming dug deep to finish in third place behind Germany and Ireland in a winning time of 7.03.22. They now will contest the A final on Sunday morning.
Event No. 9: Semi-final 1 Men's Lightweight Double Scull
Cameron Wurf and Sam Beltz came to semi-final 1 through the repechage, drawing Olympic and World Champions in the Polish and Italian crews. The Hungarian crew were the early leaders over Italy and Poland with Australia in third place as the crews went through 500 metres. Through 1000 metres Hungary still lead from the improving Italian crew with Wurf and Beltz in third place, narrowly in front of the fancied Polish crew.
In the third 500 metres Wurf and Beltz continued to fight off the Polish crew as Italy began to challenge Hungary. In the drive to the line Hungary held off the challenge from Italy to win in 6.22.82 with the experiencd Polish crew finishing a little too stoutly for the Australian crew, forcing them into Sunday's B Final after a fantastic effort from the young Tasmanain combination.
Event No. 10: Semi-final 1 Men's Lightweight Four
The Australian crew of Tim Smith,Todd Skipworth, Michael McBryde and Tom Gibson tackled semi-final 1 of the Lightweight Fours racing alongside two of the favoured crews for Sunday's A Final in Germany and Ireland. Through the first 500 metres Germany led Ireland narrowly from Russia with Australia in fifth place, only 1.04 seconds from the lead. At 1000 metres Germany led Ireland with Australia travelling nicely to move into third place, narrowly in front of Russia from Great Britain and Japan. At 1500 metres Ireland had taken a narrow lead from Germany with Australia rowing well and on the improve in thrid place. At the line Ireland held off Germany in a time of 6.05.84 with the Australians close up third place. The young Australian crew will now contest the A Final on Sunday.
Event No. 12: Semi-final 1 Men's Quadruple Scull
The Australian Quad lined up in a race full of giants from Eastern Europe and began conservatively, being in sixth place through 500 metres behind the Czech Republic, Estonia and Russia. By 1000 metres the Australians were still in sixth but had put their bow into contention for third place behind the leading crews which were unchanged at that point. In the third 500 metres the Australian effort in the second 500 metres started to take its toll and the crew began dropping off the incredibly hot pace. At the finish it was Estonia first in 5.49.19 with the Czech Republic second then followed France, Belarus, Russia and Australia. Australia will now contest the B Final on Sunday morning.
Event No. 74: Race for seeding row for final
Adaptive Men's Single AM1X
Dominic Monypenny, making his international debut, raced for lanes in the "arms only men's single scull" on Day 2 of semi-finals at the World Championships in Japan.
Monypenny spreadeagled the field in the first 500 metres of his 1000 metre race leading Italy and the USA by more than 2 lengths through that point. The Italian sculler kept pushing Dominic all the way to the line in the strong headwind conditions but was no match for him. The Australian sculler secured a centre lane for Sunday's race for medals by winning the event clearly in a time of 7.09.72 from Italy, the USA, the Czech Republic, Great Britain and Greece.
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Day VI: Saturday 3 September
Event No. 1: B Final Women's Single Scull
Kerry Hore from Tasmania, coached by Lyall Mcarthy, represented Australia in the B Final of the Women's Single Scull. Peggy Waleksa of Germany shot out of the blocks and led the field by two lengths through 500 metres with Hore in second place and on the chase for Waleska. At 1000 metres Hore had pegged back the lead of the German sculler to a neat length, with the Great Britain sculler Vernon moving in to third place. Kerry Hore threw out the challenge to Waleska in the third 500 metres and had drawn to the lead at 1500 mertes, although the German sculler was underrating her by 3 or 4 strokes per minute at that point. Kerry continued to push ahead in the final 500 metres and moved clear of the German sculler to win the B Final by more than a length and be ranked 7th in the world. Her winning time was 7.47.93 and she won from Germany, Great Britain, Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa and Latvia.
Event No. 2: B Final Men's Single Scull
David Crawshay from Victoria, coached by Chris O'Brien, raced the B Final of the Men's Single Scull. The Serbian Sculler Stojic led the race early and was holding the lead through 500 metres over The Netherlands sculler Hamburger with Sweden in third and Crawshay in fifth place. By the 1000 metres mark The Netherlands had taken the lead from Serbia and Sweden with David Crawshay now up to fourth.
In the third 500 metres Crawshay pushed hard to peg back the likely place-getters led by The Netherlands, Sweden and Serbia and continued that push into the final 500 metres. By the finish he had hauled in the Serbian sculler and finished third behind The Netherlands and Sweden to be ranked 9th in the world. The winning time was 6.58.17 with the final result being The Netherlands first followed by Sweden, Australia, Serbia and Montenegro, Argentina and Great Britain.
Event No. 4: B Final Men's Pair
Christian Ryan and Karsten Forsterling, coached by Chris O'Brien, began well in the B Final of the Men's Coxless Pair but were beind the early leaders Germany and in second place, with Great Britain third, in the first 500 metres. They maintained the position at 1000 metres with the big move in the race coming from Slovenia who had moved from sixth to fourth by that point. The third 500 metres was vital as the Australian crew battled with the fast finishing Slovenians for second and third, with the Germans holding sway as they had done from the start. In the last 500 metres Germany held on to win from the Slovenians with Ryan and Forsterling third, then followed Great Britain, the Czech Republic and France. The winning time was 6.43.47 and Australia is ranked 9th in the world in this event.
Event No. 7: B Final Men's Coxless Four
The Australian crew of James Gatti, James Chapman, Matt Ryan and Jeremy Stevenson, coached by Tim McLaren, tackled the B Final of the Men's Coxless Four after a close fourth in their semi-final. The Italian crew began best and led through 500 metres from Poland and the Czech Republic with the Australian combination working in to their rythmn back in fifth place.
By 1000 metres Italy held a nice margin over Poland and the Czechs with the Australian crew now having worked their way into fourth. In the third 500 metres the Australian crew moved past the fading Polish crew and clearly in to third place but about 2 lengths from the leaders Italy. In the drive to the line Italy proved too strong for the field with the Czech Republic holding down second place from the fast-finishing young Australian crew who finished third less than a length from the winners. Australia is now ranked 9th in this event. The final result was Italy first from the Czech Republic, Australia, Ireland, Poland and Germany in a winning time of 6.08.55.
Event No. 15: A Final Women's Four
The Australian crew of Robyn Selby Smith, Emily Martin, Pauline Frasca and Kate Hornsey, coached by Bill Tait, began conservatively as planned in the A Final of the Women's Coxless Four and were in second place through 500 metres, behind the early leaders from Germany.
In the second 500 metres Australia pushed to the front, as per the race plan, and established a lead of almost a length over Germany and Belarus. In the third 500 metres, the Australian crew built on its lead and went through 1500 metres with a clear water lead over Germany, Belarus and Korea.
In the last 500 metres the young Australian crew kept some gas in the tank for the Women's Eight final tomorrow but still won the first World Chamionships medal to be decided at the regatta, handsomely by 7.68 seconds from Germany in second then followed Belarus and Korea. The winning time was 6.55.56.
Event No. 16: A Final Men's Coxed Pair
The Australian crew of Sam Conrad and Hardy Cubasch, coxed by Marc Douez and coached by Brian Richardson, took the lead in the first 500 mertes of the race from Italy and the USA and went through the 500 and 1000 metre marks with a lead of more than a length.
In the third 500 metres Conrad, Cubasch and Douez increased their lead over Italy with the USA struggling at the rear of the three boat field.
In the last 500 metres the Australian pair drove to the line better than the other two crews and won by 6.61 seconds from Italy and the USA in a time of 7.16.61 to give Australia its second World Championship Gold Medal on Day 1 of the finals.
Event No. 3: A Final Women's Pair
The Australian crew of Sarah Outhwaite and Natalie Bale, coached by Lyall McCarthy, made their way to the A Final by winning their heat on the first day of competition and drew lane 4 in the final beside the other heat winners New Zealand.
The young Australian crew got off the blocks fastest to lead in the very early stages of the race and held that lead through 500 metres over the USA and New Zealand. In the second 500 metres the very tough New Zealand crew moved to the lead over Australia and the USA as the Russians started to move into the race.
In the third 500 metres New Zealand powered away to lead Australia by a length with USA half a length behind Australia in third place and fading at the 1500 metres marker. In the last 500 metres the young Australian crew tried hard but could not peg back the New Zealand crew and finished with a Silver Medal.
The winning time for New Zealand was 7.43.83 with Australia second then followed Russia, Romania, Belarus and USA.
Event No. 5: A Final Women's Double Scull
The Australian crew of Amber Bradley and Sally Kehoe drew lane 1 in the A Final of the Women's Double Sculll having qualified through the repechage. The Olympic and World Champions, New Zealand's Evers-Swindell twins, started well as expected and lead early from Bulgaria and Great Britain with Australia in fourth place through 500 metres.
In the second 500 metres the Kiwis opened a lead of a length over Bulgaria and went through 1000 metres with clear water over Bulgaria, with Great Britain and Australia battling for third and fourth place ahead of Germany and Italy. The Australian crew made a move in the third 500 metres to move well ahead of Great Britain and put themselves in the hunt for medals.
The last 500 metres saw the New Zealand twin's lead reduced however they won the Gold Medal by just over a length from Bulgaria, with Australia winning the Bronze Medal, Germany finished fourth then followed Great Britain and Italy.
Event No. 74: Final Adaptive Men's Single AM1X
After qualifying first for today's final in yesterday's seeding race, Dominic Monypenny took an early lead and was never headed. Despite increasing headwinds, Dominic was able to maintain his position in front of the field and held off a late charge from the Italian sculler in the last 250 metres to win the Gold Medal.
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Day VII: Sunday 4 September
Event No. 21: B Final Men's Lightweight Pair
The Australian pair of George Roberts and Ross Brown, coached by John Driessen, tackled the B Final of the Men's Lightweight Pair in the opening race of the second day of finals. The Netherlands began well and led the field early with the Australian pair in fifth place.
Through the 500 and 1000 metres markers the Great Britain crew had worked their way to the lead over a bunched field that included Brown and Roberts still in fifth place, only 2.13 seconds from the leaders.
Brown and Roberts fought hard through the third 500 metres to hold fifth place and in the drive to the finish line remained in fifth place behind Great Britain, France, The Netherlands and Russia in a winning time of 6.32.46.
Event No. 9: B Final Men's Lightweight Double Scull
Cameron Wurf and Sam Beltz went into the B Final of the Men's Lightweight Double Scull following their fourth place in the semi-final where they put everything they could into making the A Final. They got out of their ground early and were back in fifth place through the 500 and 1000 metres markers behind Great Britain, Japan and the USA.
The effort to make the A Final had taken its toll and the young Australian double tired in the third 500 metres, despite their strong resolve, to drop to sixth place. They were unable to improve on that with the race going to Great Britain in a fast winning time of 6.16.02. Japan finished in second position then followed Slovakia, the USA, the Czech Republic and Australia.
Event No. 12: B Final Men's Quadruple Scull
The Australian Men's Quad Scull of Jason Day, Chris Morgan, Craig Jones and Trent Collins raced the B Final well but could not match their much bigger opposition. They began in fifth place behind early leaders Russia, Great Britain and Ukraine. Despite rowing the equal third fastest second 500 metres they remained in fifth place and again rowed a faster 500 metres than other crews in the third 500 but were unable to improve from fifth. The race went to Great Britain from Russia, USA, Ukraine and Australia in a winning time of 5.43.95.
Event No. 10: A Final Men's Lightweight Four
After a slow start, the Australian crew of Tom Gibson, Todd Skipworth, Michael McBryde and Tim Smith found themsleves lying in sixth place at the 500 metre mark, needing to make a move if they wanted to be in contention for the medals. They did so, moving through the field to sit in third position at the 1500 metre mark.
Australia found themselves within touching distance of the medals and fought all the way to the line with the Irish and Italians, but were beaten to the medals by the fast-finishing Italians in the last 300 metres to finish fourth. France took the Gold with Ireland second ahead of the Italians in a photo finish.
Event No. 8: A Final Women's Lightweight Double Scull
The new combination of Marguerite Houston and Kirsty Fleming lined up in lane six for the final of the Women's Lightweight Double Scull.
Australia got away to a sluggish start and found themselves sitting in fifth position at the 500 metre mark. The crew fought hard to stay in the field but slipped back to sixth position as they found the pace a little too quick, finishing sixth in the A Final. A good effort from this new combination.
Germany first, the USA second and Finland third.
Event No. 13: A Final Women's Eight
With five members of the crew already winning medals at this regatta, Australia lined up confident of their chances in this final. The United States crew set a blistering early pace and took an early lead on the field. Romania, the Olympic Champions at Athens, sat in second position through the 1000 metre mark.
Australia decided it was the time to make a move and race for the line, and overtook Romania to sit in second position behind the USA. With 400 metres to go, the young Australian Women's Eight pushed into the lead and were never headed, winning Gold from Romania and The Netherlands winning bronze.
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