Medals galore for Kiwi rowers
New Zealand rowers scooped six golds and one silver medal on a stellar final day of racing at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland, yesterday.
With nine crews competing in eight A finals on the concluding day, the result wrapped up a successful international campaign with the team looking formidable ahead of September’s world championships.
Single sculler Robbie Manson was on the hunt for gold and delivered. The world record holder was in a class of his own, leaving a strong field including double Olympic medallist and four-time world champion Ondrej Synek floundering.
He collected gold in a time of 6:49.08, two boat lengths clear of Olympic finalist Angel Fournierrodriguez, of Cuba, in silver and Stanislau Shcharbachenia, of Belarus, in bronze.
‘‘It was hard work, I didn’t feel very good off the start, but I just tried to focus on the process and do what I know works for me,’’ Manson said. ’’I trusted my plan, and just kept my foot down, so it worked well.’’
It was a closer race for gold medallists John Storey and Chris Harris in the men’s double sculls A final.
The duo won their second World Cup gold medal in style, leading from the gun and looking collected as they left their competitors chasing.
Poland’s Miroslaw Zietarski and Mateusz Biskup looked dangerous as they unleashed a late sprint. Storey and Harris hung on for the win with just over half a second to spare.
Brooke Donoghue and Olivia Loe won gold in the women’s double sculls with a dominant display that honoured the late Martin Hyde, a chief umpire and father of their former under-23 team-mate Claudia Hyde.
Zoe Mcbride and Jackie Kiddle scored their first World Cup gold in the lightweight women’s double sculls. Two-time world champion Mcbride and under-23 world champion Kiddle lined up alongside European champions Weronika Deresz and Martyna Mikolajczak of Poland, European bronze medallists Katherine Copeland and Emily Craig of Great Britain and under-23 medallists and local favourites Pauline Delacroix and Frederique Rol.
Mcbride and Kiddle hung back at the start before attacking at the 750m mark. In an outstanding display of sculling, the duo moved into an untouchable lead.
‘‘We had a really good race. I don’t think it ever feels comfortable, but I want to come out of these races feeling like I’ve given 100 percent no matter where we are in the field,’’ Kiddle said.
Jamie Hunter and Tom Murray blitzed the rest of the field to win gold in the men’s pair.
The A final featured a packed lineup, including Olympic and world champions Martin and Veltn Sinkovic of Croatia, who are racing their debut season in the pair following a glittering double sculls career, Henley champions Valentin and Theo Onfroy of France, and junior world champions Mihaita-vasile Tiganescu and Cosmin Pacari of Romania.
The crews were no match for Hunter and Murray, however, who burst out of the start and were indefatigable as they held their lead from start to finish.
The duo crossed the line in a blistering time of 6:34.50, with the Sinkovic brothers just over a second behind in silver, and the Onfroy brothers sneaking in for bronze.
Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler won their second World Cup gold in the women’s pair.
Prendergast and Gowler made a determined effort, gaining a formidable lead over the US crew of Megan Kalmoe and Tracy Eisser.
The world best time holders added gold to their haul, which includes gold at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan and the the women’s pair title at the Henley Royal Regatta.
Despite being firm favourites for the win, Prendergast said victory wasn’t without its challenges.
‘‘It doesn’t matter where you are in the field, there’s always pressure. I think the key was sticking to our race plan and trusting our training.’’
The gloves were off in the women’s eight A final.
New Zealand locked into a battle with European champions Romania in an exciting final.
It was a two-boat race with the frontrunners bow ball to bow ball and matching each other’s moves. The New Zealand eight, coxed by Sam Bosworth, were eventually outfoxed by the Romanians, who unleashed a powerful surge for the line. The European champions scored gold in 6:02.81 with the New Zealanders just two seconds behind.
Giacomo Thomas, Nathan Flannery, Cameron Crampton and Lewis Hollows missed out on a medal in the men’s quadruple sculls by a whisker.