World Rowing Cup III - Nine crews through to A Finals
Nine New Zealand crews will contest A Finals at World Rowing Cup III after Saturday’s repechage and semi-finals.
The women’s eight, four, pair, single and lightweight double have all secured lanes in the A Final, as has the men’s eight, pair, single and lightweight double.
Racing returned to a six-lane format on day two in Rotterdam, Netherlands after severe weather caused a one-lane time trial format for heats on Friday.
Women’s Pair (W2-) - A/B Semi-Final (NZL1) and C Final (NZL2)
Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler took first place in their heat on Friday and progressed to Saturday’s A/B semi-final in the women’s pair. Needing a top three finish, World Champions Prendergast and Gowler crossed the line second behind Australia, who they will face again in tomorrow’s A final.
Ruby Tew and Kirstyn Goodger (NZL2) contested the C Final and placed fourth in a time of 07:45.66.
Women’s Four (W4-) - Repechage
Davina Waddy, Kelsi Walters, Eve Macfarlane and Phoebe Spoors took second place in their repechage of the women’s four and move to the A final on Sunday.
Women’s Single Scull - A/B Semi-Final
In the lead from 500m, World Rowing Cup II winner Emma Twigg took a comfortable first place in the A/B semi-final of the women’s single scull and moves to the A Final on Sunday with the fastest qualifying time.
Lightweight Women’s Double Scull (LW2x) - A/B Semi-Final
In one of the biggest leads of the day, Jackie Kiddle and Zoe McBride placed first in the lightweight women’s double scull A/B semi-final in a time of 07:20.43, 0:08.5 seconds ahead of China in second.
Kiddle and McBride move to the A Final.
Men’s Pair (M2-) - A/B Semi-Final (NZL1 + NZL2)
NZL1 Michael Brake and Tom Murray moved to Saturday’s A/B semi-final after winning their men’s pair heat. Needing a top three finish to progress to the A Final, Brake and Murray were in a comfortable lead from 500m and crossed the finish line first with the fastest semi-final time, ahead of Czech Republic in second and Great Britain in third.
Brake and Murray move to the A Final.
NZL2 Ian Seymour and Anthony Allen also contested an A/B semi-final and move to the B Final after placing fifth.
Lightweight Men’s Double Scull (LM2x) - A/B Semi-Final
Matthew Dunham and Harrison Somerville needed a top three finish in the lightweight men’s double to progress to the A Final. In the last 500m Dunham and Somerville had a final sprint with Norway and Belgium, with Norway taking first, New Zealand in second and Belgium in third.
Dunham and Somerville move to the A Final.
Men’s Single Scull (M1x) - A/B Semi-Final and D Final (NZL1 + NZL2)
Needing a top three finish in the men’s single scull A/B semi-final to secure a lane in the A Final, Robbie Manson (NZL1) took second place in a time of 07:17.20. Manson moves to the A Final.
In the men’s single scull D Final, New Zealand’s Isaac Grainger (NZL2) was in the lead from 500m with Monaco in a steady second and France pushing for third. From 1000m all three crews remained in position with Grainger crossing the line first, Monaco second and France in third.
Men’s Eight (M8+) - Repechage
Taking first in the men’s eight repechage was New Zealand’s James Lassche, Hamish Bond, Shaun Kirkham, Mahe Drysdale, Brook Robertson, Philip Wilson, Matt Macdonald, Stephen Jones and coxswain Sam Bosworth.
The crew move to the A Final.
Men’s Quad (MX4) - Repechage
Nathan Flannery, Jordan Parry, Cameron Crampton and Lewis Hollows move to the B Final of the men’s quad after placing third in their repechage.
Men’s Double Scull (M2x) - A/B Semi-Final
Chris Harris and John Storey placed fifth in their A/B semi-final and move to the B Final of the men’s double scull.
Lightweight Men’s Single Scull (LM1x) - A/B Semi-Final and B Final
Ben van Dalen narrowly missed out on a top three placing in the A/B semi-final of the lightweight men’s single scull and moved to the B Final after placing fourth.
In the B Final, van Dalen made a quick move out of the start and held first position from 500m, crossing the line first and taking the win.