It was the day-of-truth for a lot of athletes today - forward to semi-finals A/B or purgatory. Rain overnight and the weather was cooler with a slight cross-head wind, though not enough to be unfair. Time comparisons between events were therefore pretty meaningless.

Zoe was in good spirits this morning, and determined not to die wondering but she’d had no help from the Rowing Gods, drawing the Bulgarian world record holder Neykova, the Russian A finalist from last year, and Sweden’s established top gun.

Here’s what happened for the Aussies:

M2+: Australia had to beat only the Czech Republic in a battle of three crews in the first repechage, and did so comfortably behind the Italians in what is a battle-of-the-reserves. Germany comfortably won the second heat. Our guys are into the A final but a medal looks unlikely.

W1X: There were no miracles for Zoe here but being the gun she is, gave it everything and was in it to the 1200, but simply ran out of gas trying to get to the Swedish girl. She had absolutely nothing left over the last 300 metres yet never lost her form and finished a commendable fourth, beating Hungary home. It clearly hurt her today, but the experience of her first World Championships will take her to another level. We should all sing he praises - she did the Club proud (and I’d like to see us insist on her being able to row a double with Amy next season, rather than being kept apart - I started the lobbying with the selectors already). Zoe, well done, commendable effort - you’ve done as all proud!

M1X: As Nick said, Pete rowed the race of his career to account for the Cypriot sculler (who had rowed a faster heat time, and the fastest last 500 in the whole field of 32 scullers) to qualify for the A/B semis, and from his emphatic little fist-pump after he crossed the line, he knew it. He was only about 1.7 seconds behind in 4th at the 1000M (Drysdale of NZ had gone and Campbell of GB was also well clear, but for Peter this race was never about them). He’d closed a little to be under a second behind at the 1500M, and decisively moved through him at about the 1600, as he took the rating up to 34. There was never any doubt who was going to get third after that. He now needs to beat only one other sculler in the B final on Saturday to qualify the boat (the A final might be a stretch, and he will probably scull conservatively in the semi-finals, though he would want to put down a marker). He can definitely do it.

W2X: The Aussies really turned it around today, rowing through the USA to win their repechage comfortably, and looked much better with the switch of the much taller Kerry Hore into the stroke seat. Amber could sit and follow, and just push hard and she did. An A final is back in prospect. A medal? Hmmm…

M2X: The Aussies finished second behind GB but only by 0.6 seconds and were never in doubt to qualify for the A/B semis. David Crawshay said he felt much more composed and in control of this race, and they looked it. “In the heat we had gone out looking to establish a good rhythm but found ourselves fifth at the 500 and were always chasing after that. Today, we just rowed our own race.” They are still a medal prospect, and should make the A final comfortably.

M4-: Job done, and into the A/B semi-finals. Still, this row was not as controlled or impressive as the heat, and they will need to step up to make the A final. They were egg-beating a bit, and didn’t threaten France whom they will need to beat for the one of the last few spots. There were some surprises in this event today. Canada, silver medallists by a hair in Athens and with Barney Williams still stroking the boat, failed badly to make the A/B semis. The USA has at last put some real guns into the 4 as well as the 8, and this boat was stroked by the Athens VIII stroke, Bryan Volpenheim, who can transform a boat like James Tompkins. They will contend, but were still hard-pressed to shake off Ireland in the closest contest of the day. China’s four were a long way back in Canada’s race, suggesting that despite their emergence in the VIII, they still have not found the depth to contend in all boat classes (their 2- is also so-so).

On today’s results, a hard row for Zoe but pride too; a great effort by Peter with more to come, and a turn-around by the women’s double which we hope the quad can repeat tomorrow.

More stories, interviews and photos are worth visiting on the Rowing Australia website. They have put a lot of effort into it, and it’s worth a look. I considered deferring all to them, but we each provide a slightly different slant, so I’ll persevere! Read the interview with James Tomkins - he describes how he looked around at the British stroke, and saw the “uh-oh, here they come!” look in his eyes - James “owns” them now, psychologically…

Will Liley

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This entry was posted by Will on Wednesday, August 29th, 2007 at 08:59and is filed under International, News, Results. You can leave a response.