Stormy conditions for first day of World Championships

Friday 23 July 2010

 The first day of the Under 23 World Rowing Championships was suspended late in the afternoon following a good start by Australia’s crews in the morning session in Brest, Belarus.

 With four Australian crews still to race on the opening day of the sixth staging of the Under 23 World Championships, a large thunder storm put a halt to proceedings, with the remaining heat races now to be contested on Friday morning local time.

 In fast, tail wind conditions in the morning, the Australian women’s four started proceedings well for Australia as they won their heat to book a place in the A Final on Saturday.

 The all South Australian crew of Jessica Molsher-Jones, Peta White, Renee Chatterton and Mary Connelly made use of the conditions to record a time of 6:46.02, leading home Germany by 1.5 seconds.

 The Australian men’s four suffered a setback shortly before racing as Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC) withdrew from the heat due to a virus. Dunkley Smith was replaced by men’s eight member, Alex Fowler (TAS), with Fowler helping Dominic Grimm (NSW), Nicholas Purnell (NSW) and Will Lockwood (VIC) to a third place finish in a time of 6:21.43.

 Third place allowed Australia to qualify for the semi-final on Saturday, with Dunkley Smith still a chance to feature if he recovers in time.

 The Australian women’s lightweight quad scull of Hannah Jansen (WA), Annabel Gibson (TAS), Alexandra Hayes (WA) and Gabrielle Kukla (QLD) recorded third in their heat, while Adam Kachyckyj (QLD) and Ed de Carvalho (NSW) finished fourth in the heat of the men’s lightweight double scull, with both crews now set to race in the repechages on Friday.

 The men’s eight, men’s lightweight four and women’s and men’s quad sculls all were unable to race due to the storm and will row their respective heats on Friday morning.

 National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson says the first day of the regatta provided a bit of everything.

 “It always makes it hard on the crews when racing is suspended, especially when athletes have completed a full warm up and are ready to race,” Matheson said. “They should not be troubled by the delay though, as it is just part of racing, and will come out raring to go in the morning.

 “The women’s four set a good precedent for our crews by winning their heat and the three other crews only have a tiny bit to work on and they will be right in contention.”

 Day 2 of the regatta will commence at 8am Belarus time (3pm AEST) with the remaining heats that were held over from Thursday.