Rowing Australia Media Release Crow produces a golden finish for Australia in Korea Dual London 2012 Olympic medallist Kim Crow has topped off a successful regatta for the Australian Rowing Team at the World Rowing Championships in Chungju, South Korea, producing a gold medal winning performance in the Women’s Single Scull. Having won both World Cup events in which she has competed this year, Crow entered the Championships undefeated in her chosen boat class in 2013. She opened up an early and impressive lead, dominating the race to finish over a boat length ahead of her nearest competitor. “The race plan today was for the first 500 metres, just to be in my own boat, so when I looked up at 750 metres for the first time I was surprised to see that I was ahead. From that moment on, I just kept going stroke after stroke to the finish line”, said Crow following the race. Four other Australian crews took to the water on the final day of competition under slightly cloudy skies, high humidity and a slight head breeze. The Women’s Eight performed admirably in their A Final, having overcome illness and crew changes throughout the regatta to finish in fifth place. The Men’s Double Scull, Lightweight Men’s Four and Men’s Eight all contested B Finals with pleasing results, finishing second, fourth and first respectively. Australia comes away from the regatta placing second on the medal tally behind Italy, with a total of six medals – three gold, two silver and one bronze. An overview of the performances of each Australian crew in action on the eighth and final day follows: Men’s Double Scull Tom Swann and Sasha Belonogoff made their way to the B Final after coming together as a combination just three weeks ago following an injury to Kieran Kobelke that caused the scratching of a Men’s Quad Scull. Cuba and Great Britain were the favoured crews however it was Denmark and Great Britain leading early from Serbia, with Australia in sixth. In the second 500 metres Great Britain went to the lead over Denmark and Serbia and the place getters looked set even by the halfway mark although the order was still in question. Serbia took the lead in the third 500 metres over Great Britain and Australia had improved to fourth place. Swann and Belonogoff really put the pressure on in the last 500 metres and were able to get into second place in the drive to the finish. At the line it was Serbia first from Australia and Great Britain. Lightweight Men’s Four The Australian crew of Ali Foot, Blair Tunevitsch, Nick Silcox and Darryn Purcell took on a quality field in the B final of what some say is the most competitive event at the World Championships where being 4 seconds from the Gold Medal has you in 12th place. Italy, the favourites for the race took an early lead ahead of a bunch of five headed by Poland and the Czech Republic, with the young Australian crew holding down sixth in the six boat field. At halfway it was the Italians still leading from Czech Republic with Australia in a tight bunch of four but at the rear of the group. In the last 500 metres Italy was too strong from what was now an even tighter bunch with Poland second from Spain. Australia had improved into fourth place and are now officially 10th in the World. Men’s Eight The young Australian Men’s Eight of Ned Kinnear, Cameron Brewer, Angus Moore, Alex Hill, George Ellis, Scott Laidler, Brendan Murray, Tom Gatti and David Webster (cox) faced Italy, Russia and Korea in the fight for seventh place in the World. Australia got away well to lead narrowly from Italy and Russia through the first 500 metres with a half lengths lead at that point. Coxswain Dave Webster kept the pressure and the boys moved out to a length lead by halfway over Italy, Russia and Korea. Tom Gatti was stroking his crew well and at 1500 metres there was a metre of clear water between the Australian stern and the Italian bow. At the line coach John Driessen would have been pleased with the margin of 5.21 seconds as Australia are now ranked seventh in the World in the Blue Riband event. Women’s Eight This new Australian crew containing Hannah Vermeersch, Renee Chatterton, Peta White, Katrina Bateman, Tess Gerrand, Alexandra Hagan, Charlotte Sutherland, Lucy Stephan and Elizabeth Patrick (cox) took on the might of women’s eight rowing the USA in the race for medals in their A Final. Winners of the first World Cup race the Australians got out of the blocks well to be just behind the USA after 500 metres and narrowly in front of Romania. At halfway it was still the USA leading with Romania second, a touch in front of Canada with Australia now in fourth place. USA still led at 1500 metres over Romania and Canada and headed for home for another Gold Medal in the women’s eight. At the line it was USA first from Romania and Canada with Australia in fifth place. Women’s Single Scull Olympic Bronze Medallist in this event Kim Crow took on Olympic Gold Medallist Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic in the A Final. Crow got out of the blocks best to lead from a bunched pack after 150 metres settling herself for the 1850 metres to follow. At 500 metres Crow had opened up an early and impressive lead to be more than a length clear of New Zealand and the Czech Republic. By halfway the margin was two lengths over New Zealand, with the Olympic Champion in third place. Through 1500 metres Crow was two and a half lengths clear with the Czech Republic now challenging New Zealand for Silver. Crow was too strong to win by just over a length from New Zealand and the Czech Republic.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 10:14:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015