Daily Reviews
Day IV: Sunday 8 August
The final day of action featured three Australian crews as the men’s coxed four and women’s double scull raced in the A Final, while the men’s quad scull took on the B Final.
Men’s Quad Scull
The men’s quad scull narrowly missed a berth in the A Final in a close finish to their semi-final on Saturday and was looking for a strong final showing.
Thomas Sacre, Cameron Smith, Andrew Curnow and Nicholas Wheatley jumped off the line and set the pace for the first 500m before extending this lead to three seconds at the halfway point.
With Russia fading in the crucial next 500m, Ukraine made their move and drew to within three seconds of Australia. Australia valiantly tried to hold the lead in the closing strokes but Ukraine was flying and they crossed the line just 0.04 seconds clear of the gallant Australian crew.
Australia recorded a time of 6:08.22, while Belarus rounded out the top three.
Men’s Coxed Four
Coxed by Jack Alpe, the crew of Thomas Amies, David Watts, Matt Cochran and Angus Moore had improved across every row in the regatta and they looked for one final effort in the A Final of the coxed four.
The pace was quick from the start and Switzerland led the way from Italy, with Australia one place further back.
Switzerland began to open a clear water advantage in the middle of the race, while Australia set themselves the task of hauling in the Italian crew.
They drew to within half a second of the Italians with a quarter to go, but Italy dug in and held off Australia by 0.34 seconds on the line.
Australia’s time of 6:.21.85 was only 2.5 seconds of the gold medallists from Switzerland.
Women’s Double Scull
Madeleine Edmunds and Jessica Hall featured in Australia’s last race of the regatta and in a very strong field.
The Queensland combination found themselves in fifth place off the start, while France, Italy and Greece set the pace.
France and Italy put clear water on the field by the 1000m mark as Australia and Germany joined Greece in a duel for the bronze medal.
Germany proved to be the stronger crew over the final parts and held on for the bronze medal, with Australia five seconds further back in a time of 7:24.73 in fourth place.
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Day III: Saturday 7 August
Women’s Quad Scull
The women’s quad scull of Eleanor Wilson, Katrina Bateman, Chloe Hill and Regan Spark has improved across their two outings and raced from Lane 2 in the B Final.
The girls were looking to round of their regatta successfully and despite being fifth placed through the first 500m, looked smooth alongside the other crews.
In the second 500m Australia moved through the field to sit only behind Italy, and they held this position heading into the final quarter.
Italy proved too strong in the dying strokes, with Australia crossing the line just over a second behind in a time of 6:50.35.
Men’s Coxed Four
Coxed by Jack Alpe, the men’s coxed four crew of Thomas Amies, David Watts, Matthew Cochran and Angus Moore drew Lane 4 for their semi-final as they looked to make it through to the A Final.
After a good performance in the heat on Thursday, the Australian men’s priority boat looked good again in the opening strokes of the race, falling in behind Switzerland after the first 500m.
With three crews progressing to the semi-final, Australia looked comfortable at the halfway mark, as they were half a second adrift of Switzerland and over 2.5 second clear of New Zealand.
Switzerland made sure of their victory in the second 1000m, as Australia also asserted themselves in second place, recording a time of 6:26.42 to make it to the A Final on Sunday.
Women’s Double Scull
The women’s double scull of Madeleine Edmunds and Jessica Hall had won their heat on Thursday which gave them Lane 4 for the semi-final.
They came out of the blocks well in their semi-final and led through 500m from Greece, Norway and the Netherlands, an advantage they maintained at the 1000m mark.
Greece attempted to make a move in the third 500m but Australia withheld the challenge and set sail for the finishing line.
They crossed in a time of 7:17.08, two seconds clear of Greece, while the Netherlands claimed the last spot in the A Final.
Men’s Quad Scull
The Australian men’s quad scull eyed a top three finish in their semi-final as they aimed to make their way into the A Final.
Thomas Sacre, Cameron Smith, Andrew Curnow and Nicholas Wheatley had won their repechage on Friday in an improved row from their heat, and came up against Belarus, Austria, New Zealand, Italy and Norway in the semi-final.
Italy led out from the start, while Belarus and Australia followed close behind at 500m. New Zealand then pushed their way up into second at the halfway mark, while Australia clung onto third.
With 500m remaining Italy and New Zealand were certain finalists as Australia saw Norway come charging at them. In heartbreak for the Australian crew, Norway caught them in the final strokes to grab the last final spot, Australia finishing 0.3 seconds adrift in a time of 6:06.30.
Women’s Four
The women’s four of Hannah Vermeersch, Emma Basher, Olympia Aldersey and Natasha Gay contested the first A Final of the day.
New Zealand got off the line the quickest and established a lead early on, while Australia sat in fourth place at 500m. Australia then swept past Spain and the USA before the 1000m mark and held their advantage coming into the last quarter.
New Zealand held just under a length lead, while Austraila, USA and Germany went bow ball-to bow ball in the closing moments, with Australia being pipped by USA on the line for silver.
Australia recorded a time of 6:51.03, 0.7 behind USA and 0.3 in front of Spain. A well deserved bronze medal for the crew.
Men’s Four
Louis Snelson, Michael Bernerius, Aaron Wright and Thomas Gunton were the last Australian crew in action on Saturday as they lined up in the A Final of the men’s four.
They came off the line well to sit in third position through both the 500m and 1000m marks, before the pace of the final began to kick off.
Romania, Great Britain and Spain were churning out quick rates at the head of the field and despite Australia’s best efforts they finished in sixth place in a time of 6:20.18.
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Day II: Friday 6 August
The second day of the 2010 World Junior Rowing Championships was contested in cold and wet conditions in the Czech Republic. Here is how Australia’s crews fared.
Women’s Four
The Australian women’s four faced a repechage to make the final after finishing second in their heat on Thursday.
The crew of Hannah Vermeersch, Emma Basher, Olympia Aldersey and Natasha Gay had raced well on Thursday and picked up from where they left off by leading their repechage from start to finish.
They led through 500m by almost a boat length and held this gap comfortably over Spain down the entire course to cross the line in a time of 7:08.14.
Australia and Spain both progressed to the A Final.
Men’s Four
Louis Snelson, Michael Bernerius, Aaron Wright and Thomas Gunton were next up for Australia as they chased a top two finish to make the A Final of the men’s four.
After a third place finish on Thursday they looked for a strong start and produced with a two second lead through 500m, a lead they extended by another second by halfway.
With Germany and Russia looking to pressurise Australian in the second 1000m, Australia responded and held them at bay to take a great win in the repechage.
They crossed in 6:30.43, half a length clear of Germany, who also qualified for the A Final.
Women’s Quad Scull
The Australian women’s quad scull was the third Australian crew to race and they chased a top two finish to make the A Final.
Eleanor Wilson, Katrina Bateman, Chloe Hill and Regan Spark had finished 6th in their heat but they took the race to their opposition from the start and sat in third place behind Poland and Romania through 500m.
Australia passed Poland soon after and was hot on the tail of Romania, while Russia, Italy and Poland all remained in contention.
Romania managed to gain a crucial lead in the closing 500m as Russia, Italy and Australia battled for the final spot, with Russia prevailing in a tense finale.
Australia crossed the line in fourth in a time of 7:02.60, only 1.5 seconds from an A Final appearance.
Men’s Quad Scull
Thomas Sacre, Cameron Smith, Andrew Curnow and Nicholas Wheatley capped off the successful day for Australian crews with a pillar to post win in the repechage of the men’s quad scull.
Following a third place finish in their heat, the crew knew a top two finish would take them to the semi-final on Saturday.
They were impressive off the start and burst to a two and a half second lead after only a quarter of the race.
Stroked by Tom Sacre, Australia continued to dominate the race, holding a lead of almost four seconds with 500m to go, before easing off to cross the line in 6:10.05, just under half a length clear of the Ukraine.
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Day I: Thursday 5 August
The Australian Junior Rowing Team has enjoyed a successful first day of competition at the 2010 World Junior Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.
Australia has six crews competing at the event and here is a run down on how they all fared on the opening day.
Women’s Four
Hannah Vermeersch, Emma Basher, Olympia Aldersey and Natasha Gay raced the women’s four and was the first crew in action for Australia.
The format of the draw meant that one crew would progress to the A Final, with the others all moving to the repechage.
The Australian crew burst to an impressive start and led the field through the 500m buoy, before holding onto this lead at the halfway mark of the race, some 2.5 seconds ahead of Germany.
Germany whittled the lead down to less than a second and a half with 500m remaining and managed to pass the Australian crew and win by a boat length.
Australia crossed the line in 7:14.97 in second place, but showed enough to suggest they will come through the repechage and gain an A Final berth.
Men’s Coxed Four
Coxed by Jack Alpe, the men’s coxed four crew of Thomas Amies, David Watts, Matthew Cochran and Angus Moore was the next crew to feature.
The men’s coxed four was the first male crew selected at the trials and they rowed accordingly in their heat against a tough Italian outfit.
Three crews would go to the semi-final and Australia settled in behind Italy after 500m and remained within a second of the leading crew across the first 1500m.
Italy kicked over the last quarter, while Australia was able to ease off and cross the line second, in a time of 6:52.68, comfortably qualifying for the semi-finals.
Women’s Double Scull
Madeleine Edmunds and Jessica Hall raced in heat 4 of the women’s double scull and chased top spot, with one crew getting the chance to qualify for the semi-finals.
Greece led out from the start and set up a 1.5 second lead over the Australian crew through 500m, before Australia moved back to just a second behind at 1000m.
The two crews went bow ball-to-bow ball at the 1500m buoy and Australia snuck the lead, before extending the gap to over a boat length at the finish line.
Australia’s winning time of 7:36.15 was over three seconds ahead of Greece, while Latvia finished in third place.
Men’s Four
The Australian men’s four crew raced in heat 1 with the knowledge that one crew would progress directly to the final.
Louis Snelson, Michael Bernerius, Aaron Wright and Thomas Gunton came off the pontoon well and were second behind Romania for the first portion of the race.
Romania was able to extend their lead in the middle half of the race, while Spain began to challenge Australia, before passing them in the third 500m.
Romania kicked out to a clear water victory, while Spain claimed second and Australia was third in a 6:39.75
Women’s Quad Scull
The Australian crew of Eleanor Wilson, Katrina Bateman, Chloe Hill and Regan Spark faced a tough heat in the women’s double scull.
Russia set the pace from the early stages and led through all the first three time checks, but all crews were throwing their hats into the ring to challenge for finishing places.
With one crew set to progress, Belarus made their move in the final 500m and took the win by a boat length over Romania and the USA.
Australia finished in 6th place in a time of 7:20.06 and will row the repechage on Friday.
Men’s Quad Scull
The men’s quad scull was the final Australian crew in action on the opening day of the regatta and made an excellent start.
Stroked by Thomas Sacre, the also containing Cameron Smith, Andrew Curnow and Nicholas Wheatley was in first position through 500m, before Italy began to challenge.
The Italians looked strong and passed Australia to set up a clear water lead for the remainder of the race.
Australia duelled with Russia for second, but Russia was able to hold off the Australians, crossing the line two boats clear, with Australia third in 6:33.88.
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