Another perfect day for racing, totally calm and warm. Great results for the Aussies except in the women’s quad, and several crews have emerged as medal prospects, even gold. I sat with the Aussie selectors, David Yates and Charlie Bartlett, and it was interesting to hear their insights into each of the crews. So here goes:

LM2-: Australia and Italy are the clear favorites after winning their heats in style in almost identical times. They were untroubled by any of the other crews and it is difficult to think that this will change in the final. A medal, possibly gold.

LW4X: There was debate about whether even to send this crew yet they are clear gold favorites after today’s row in a time 3 seconds faster than the other heat. Ellen Randell has done a great job to blend them together - they stayed home, no lead-up races, but were ready to race today.

LW2X: Australia won heat 3 in the fastest time of the three, marginally faster than Canada and a full 3. 07 seconds faster than China. A medal prospect, but China has owned this event for two years and will go faster by the final. The Aussies were, according to Charlie, sculling much better than last year, using their slide more fully, and they looked very comfortable.

LM2X: This was a huge field, 30 crews, so today merely found out who goes to the Quarter-Finals to get to semi-finals A/B and who is condemned to the C, D and E finals purgatory. Australia won their heat in the fastest time by over 3 seconds over the five other heat winners, but there were a lot of processions and a lot of foxing. Our guys looked really good but a better picture will emerge only from the QFs.

LM4-: Another huge field, 27 crews, but Australia, Denmark GB, France and China are the clear A Final candidates. Egypt won the second heat but looked flat out to row the same time as the Aussies who were cruising. China, last year’s winner, had a length after 500m then shut down to win in a time over 10 seconds slower than any other heat. They will be back, and the picture will emerge from the QFs. The Aussies were rowing technically much better than last year, very long and relaxed.

W4X: Australia was 4.84 seconds behind the leaders at the 1000M and looked off the pace, although their heat was two seconds faster all the way than heat one. GB is back as firm favourite after being upset by the Chinese in Amsterdam; China was led to the 1000M by Romania, so there are tactics at work. The selectors were puzzled by Australia’s row today; “Their blade-work was excellent and they should be going faster. Was this a tactical row?” There seems to be some trouble keeping the synchronisation throughout the boat. There is a lot of talent in that boat, let’s hope they can turn it around and make the A Final.

M4X: This row was the one that pleased the selectors most of all. “These are all young guys and they will think it’s gold if they can even make the A Final”. On today’s row, they are an (outside) chance in a very hot field. Their time today in coming third behind Italy and Russia would have beaten France and Estonia, who each came second to qualify directly for the A/B semi-finals, and was seventh fastest overall. They were 2.63 seconds off the pace at the 1000M, a bit too far back, but stormed home to finish only 0.71 seconds behind Russia. They will get better from this experience today.

W8+: Wow!! The Aussies simply dismantled the USA, and did it clinically in a beautifully controlled row. I think the US has no answers - they were 2.18 seconds ahead at the 500M but then our girls just rowed them down - 1.63 ahead at the 1000M, 0.93 ahead at the 1500, and finished 2.06 seconds behind. Australia rowed 6:12.79 to Romania’s 6:14.46, who equally clinically took Germany apart in much the same way as the Aussies had, but Australia were faster at each split. Still, this Romanian crew has nearly all of the Athens gold medallists back again so the final will be a cracker. Look for Australia to be chasing down the USA (again) with Romania trying to row them both down in the middle 1000. China was a mild surprise - winners in Amsterdam but today 3.92 seconds behind Romania and looking wobbly. Australia for gold or silver (I think they will again catch the Americans who had no answers when they came at them today - can they stave off Romania?),

M8+: Our big Tom Laurich in 4 seat certainly did us proud, all this time down in our dearest capital city is paying off!! You probably didn’t see the Aussies on TV until right at the end, and they certainly gave everyone a long start, but the last 500M was so exciting to watch - we could see the Aussies start to build. Charlie called it well when he said at the 1500, “We’re going to take the Brits” but it looked an awfully big ask. Our guys were 2.07 seconds behind Canada at the 500M, 4.57 seconds behind at the 1000, still 4.12 behind at the 1500, and finished 1.44 seconds behind while rowing right through GB - they took a massive 2.47 seconds out of them in the last 500 to avoid the repechage and row the second-fastest time. The Brits must be gutted. Still, Australia cannot afford to do that in the final - the second 500 will be the key. Canada is rowing it in 1:21.99 after a first 500 of 1:20.60. Our guys are doing it in 1:24.49 after being 2 seconds down at the 500. They will have to be overlapping Canada at the 1000 to be sure of getting them. A medal, certainly. Gold? Let’s wait for Sunday. James Tompkins might be 42 years old but he still has it, however its great he has to race only once more. The other heats were almost as exciting, with Germany just pipping the Netherlands by 0.06 seconds, with the USA only 0.72 back in third after NED rowed through them - all crews were 5:38.21 or slower vs. Canada and Australia under 5:35.75. Russia beat a rather rattled looking China in the other heat, in 5:37.64. There was no foxing; these are true pace indicators. Now Tom and the boys can kick back a bit in preperation for their next race, its going to be one to watch!

It was a terrific day’s racing, and the Aussies must be well pleased. Now let’s see the women’s quad turn it around - I’ll get Amy’s take on the race tonight…

To keep updated by email:

Your Rowing Correspondent,
Will Liley

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

This entry was posted by Will on Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 at 06:53and is filed under International, News, Results. You can leave a response.