Women’s Four (W4-) - Final
Four crews lined up in the A-final of the women’s four, meaning only one would miss out on the podium. Two Belarus crews raced each other down the course, with the second Belarussian boat keeping the advantage up until the half-way mark. Germany finished in fourth place at last year’s World Rowing Championships, and after reaching the half-way mark here in Poznan, the Germans made a push to overtake Belarus2. The German margin over Belarus was only slight, just half a boat length’s lead, but they maintained it until the line, claiming gold over Belarus2 in silver and Belarus1 in bronze.
Results: GER, BLR2, BLR3, ITA
Lea-Kathleen Kuehne (s), Germany, gold
“It is our first race ever. Like everyone we were pretty surprised because of the weather the exhibition race was canceled. We were put in the four since we did not qualify the eight in Lucerne. We will go to the World Championships in Rotterdam, so this was good practice. Overall, we think it went quite well.”
Yana Tsupa, Belarus 2, silver
“We used to row in an eight together, but sometimes we row in two fours. Last time the other crew won and this time it was us.”
Darya Marchanka (s), Belarus 1, bronze
“Two weeks ago we raced the other crew at our national championships in Belarus and we finish the other way around. We are both in preparation for the World Championships in Rotterdam later this summer.”
Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) - Final
New Zealand’s reigning World Champion in the lightweight women’s single sculls Zoe McBride was in the lead at the 500m mark, with the Netherlands’ Marieke Keijser in close pursuit. Keijser won gold at World Rowing Cup I this year in the lightweight single, and is the 2015 junior World Champion in the single.
By the half-way mark World Best Time holder McBride had increased her lead, with Keijser still holding on to second while Denmark and Sweden were nearly level in third. McBride was setting an incredible rhythm for the rest of the field, causing her competitors to spread out increasingly behind her as the race unfolded. The 19-year-old Dutch sculler Keijser continued pushing hard, refusing to let go of her Kiwi competitor, and with 200m to go she managed to close the gap with New Zealand, attempting to stay in contention for the gold.
At the line, McBride had held on, while Keijser crossed the line in silver. Both lightweight scullers finished convincingly ahead of the rest of the field, with Sweden’s Emma Fredh claiming bronze.
Results: NZL, NED2, SWE1, DEN, GER, NED1
Zoe Mcbride, New Zealand, gold
“Marieke surprised me a little in the end, but I felt really strong and in control to hold her off. I felt much better than in Lucerne. I am really looking forward to racing these girls in Rotterdam.”
Marieke Keijser, Netherlands, silver
“I tried… For a second I thought I could break her, but she (McBride) is so strong. It has been amazing for me to race here with these strong girls.”
Emma Fredh, Sweden, bronze
“I think it is a good result because I have only been in the single for a few weeks, I was in the double in Lucerne. During the race, I tried not to think too much and just row because I am not yet 100% comfortable with my technique in the single. I hope to go to the World Championships, but I don’t know for sure yet because we have to do a selection.”
B-Final
Positions swapped throughout the B-final in the lightweight women’s single sculls, with the field staying tight and level throughout.
The Netherlands’ Amber Van Zomeren reached the 500m mark first, with the Swiss sculler Ladina Meier in the lead at the half-way mark. Austria's Pless had grabbed the lead by 1500m and she was able to maintain her advantage until the line, followed by Italy’s Giulia Pollini and then Switzerland’s Meier.
Results: AUT, ITA, SUI1, NED3, SWE2, BRA
