By Nick Jones with the Australian Rowing Team in Europe
The Australian Rowing Team, boasting the largest fleet in Poznan, showcased outstanding performances on the first day of the final World Rowing Cup in Poznan, Poland. With 11 out of 16 crews already securing spots in the A-Finals on Sunday, June 16, the Australian rowers are set for a series of thrilling final races.
Erik Horrie kicked off day one racing competing in the PR1 Men’s Single Scull. Horrie delivered a strong performance, finishing first in his preliminary race beating last years World Championship silver and bronze medallists from Italy and Great Britain. The same crews will race in the A Final.
Following Erik, the current World Champions in the PR3 Mixed Double Scull, Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager, dominated their heat to finish first in the fastest heat time in the event ensuring their spot in the A-Final.
In the Women's Pair, the AUS 1 crew of Jessica Morrison OAM and Annabelle McIntyre OAM, last years World Championship silver medallists, led Denmark and France from start to finish in their heat to advance directly to the A-Final.
Their compatriots, Samantha Morton and Eliza Gaffney, finished third in their heat and will compete in the repechage tomorrow for a chance to join them in the A-Final.
Harriet Hudson and Amanda Bateman in the Women's Double Scull were untroubled and impressive in winning their heat ahead of New Zealand and Germany, which earned them a place in the A-Final.
The new-look Women's Four of Olympia Aldersey, Jean Mitchell, Lily Alton Triggs and Molly Goodman, and the Men's Four of Tim Masters, Jack Robertson, Fergus Hamilton and Alex Hill OAM each claimed first place in their respective heats, guaranteeing their spots in the A-Finals.
In the other heats in the Men's and Women's Four crews from New Zealand won and progressed to the A-Finals setting up a Trans-Tasman battle for the medals on Sunday.
In the Women's Single Scull, Tara Rigney showed her class in rowing away from the field to win her heat and progress to tomorrow's A/B Semi-Finals.
With an improved performance from the Luzern World Cup, Ria Thompson, Laura Gourley, Rowena Meredith, and Caitlin Cronin in the Women's Quadruple Scull crossed the line third behind Germany and Switzerland in their preliminary race and will look to close that gap in the A-Final on Sunday.
The AUS 1 Women’s Eight of Paige Barr, Bronwyn Cox, Georgina Rowe, Katrina Werry, Jacqueline Swick, Giorgia Patten, Sarah Hawe, Lucy Stephen OAM and Hayley Verbunt (coxswain) led from start to finish ahead of The Netherlands and Romania in their preliminary race. The Eight will race in the A-Final on Sunday.
In the final race of the day, Benjamin Canham, Joshua Hicks, Spencer Turrin OAM, Angus Widdicombe, Jack Hargreaves OAM, Alexander Purnell OAM, Angus Dawson, Jack O’Brien and Kendall Brodie (coxswain) in the Men’s Eight dominated their field to finish first after leading from the start and building their lead over Germany throughout the race. The Eight will look to do it again in Sunday’s A-Final.
The AUS 2 Women's Eight and the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four did not compete in their preliminary races but are set to race in the A-Finals.
Other Australian crews are making their way through the regatta with the Men's Pair of Patrick Holt and Rohan Lavery finishing third in their heat and will race in the repechage tomorrow to vie for a place in the A-Final.
The Men's Double Scull of David Bartholot and Marcus Della Marta, after securing third place in their heat, will compete in the A/B Semi-Final tomorrow.
Kathryn Rowan in the Women's Single Scull finished fourth in both her heat and repechage and will now race in the C-Final.
Jackson Kench in the Men's Single Scull mirrored this result with a fourth place in his heat and third in the repechage, also advancing to the C-Final.
WHAT’S UP FOR AUSTRALIA – World Cup III Day 2: Saturday
8.50AM (4.50PM AEST) – Women’s Pair Repechage: (AUS 2) Eliza Gaffney, Samantha Morton – First four to the A-Final. The rest to the B-Final.
8.55AM (4.55PM AEST) – Men’s Pair Repechage 1: (AUS 2) Rohan Lavery, Patrick Holt – First two to the A-Final. The rest to the B-Final.
9.35AM (5.35PM AEST) – Men’s Double Scull Semi-Final A/B 1: David Bartholot, Marcus Della Marta – First three to the A-Final. The rest to the B-Final.
9.45AM (5.45PM AEST) – Women’s Single Scull Semi-Final A/B 1: (AUS 1) Tara Rigney – First three to the A-Final. The rest to the B-Final.
10.20AM (6.20PM AEST) – Women’s Single Scull C-Final: (AUS 2) Kathryn Rowan
10:25AM (6:25PM AEST) – Men’s Single Scull C-Final: Jackson Kench
How to follow World Rowing Cup III:
The international medal races start on Saturday, June 15 at 12:15, and the World Rowing Cup medal races start on Sunday, June 16, at 8:35.
Here is how to follow the event on mobile, tablet, or desktop:
Rowing Australia will be providing live updates, daily wraps and previews throughout the regatta. To stay in the loop, follow us on our platforms:
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Images: @artofrowing.nz