PHOTO ANN WOOLLIAMS

WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS NEW ZEALAND 2010                                                                                                               

FINALS 6^th in the World at 19 years old! Julia and Lucy Strack made a valiant effort to get on the podium at the final of the Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls. They were a tight 3^rd at 1750m but lost their position as the European crews mowed through, for the line. When the spray cleared Julia and Lucy were 6^th. With their winning a Silver at the U23 World Championships in July and their ferocious challenge at these 2010 NZ World Championships, there is one thing for sure…Rowing NZ are going to have these young rowers firmly in their sights for future international events. Fantastic job Julia. I feel I can speak for all supporters of Rotorua Rowing  when I say the 2010 NZ World Championships  were certainly exhilarating and exciting because of your racing. All the very best wishes for the future Julia and Lucy!                                                                                                                                   

 http://www.rowingnz.com/Article.aspx?id=4665&Mode=1    

The heroics of women's lightweight double Lucy Strack and Julia Edward in sensationally making the A final were a little tempered by the fact that they too had the inferior lane 6.  They stayed more or less on the pace for the whole race, but couldn't quite hang on to the leaders. Sixth was the result, and like the four, these young stars were satisfied to have made their mark in an Olympic class boat.                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Result  World Rowing Championships 2010, Karapiro - Race 120: LW2x  Final A 

Rank        Boat 500 m              1000 m                    1500 m                    Finish      Lane

1              CAN 2:01.53  (2)    4:09.91  (2)             6:13.08  (1)             8:06.20    4

2              GER 2:01.09  (1)    4:09.61  (1)             6:13.45  (2)             8:07.33    1

3              GRE 2:03.02  (4)    4:11.79  (3)             6:14.08  (3)             8:09.14    5

4              AUS 2:03.79  (6)    4:13.30  (4)             6:17.31  (5)             8:11.17    2

5              GBR 2:03.16  (5)     4:13.85  (6)            6:17.03  (4)             8:13.90    3

6              NZL 2:02.98  (3)     4:13.40  (5)             6:18.00  (6)             8:15.69    6

And best wishes to Laura Fischer who, due to injury, was unable to compete. Talking to Glen at the Champs yesterday - his short and confident comment  “She’ll be back” said it all!

BACKGROUND TO THE LIGHTWEIGHT DOUBLE SCULLS                                                                                                    

 http://www.worldrowing.com/display/modules/news/dspNews.php?newid=324979                                                                                    

http://www.worldrowing.com/display/modules/news/dspNews.php?newid=324987                                                                                                                                                                        

Semifinal One: The reigning World Champions, Christina Giazitzidou and Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece may have spent most of this season rowing apart, but it did not impact their performance today. Jumping out at the start, Giazitzidou and Tsiavou got half a boat length over the field within the first 30 strokes. Following closely behind was Hester Goodsell and Sophie Hosking of Great Britain. The Brits have gathered a number of medals this season and are proving to be consistent performers. The United States followed in third. Coming through the third 500, Hosking and Goodsell had come alongside the Greeks and the two crews matched each other stroke for stroke. Then as the finishing grandstand came into view the New Zealanders came alive. Lucy Strack and Julia Edward took their stroke rate into the high 30s and charged for the finish line. The crowd loved it. Great Britain and Greece held themselves together. The United States didn’t. Great Britain, Greece and New Zealand are in the final.  

Christina Giazitzidou and Alexandra Tsiavou are the reigning World Champions in the Lightweight women’s double.  They started the 2010 season by winning bronze at the Rowing World Cup in Bled and were beaten in Lucerne by the Australians whom they will find back in the final at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand.  They are two times European Champions together since they paired up in 2009.  For Tsiavou, 2010 was her fourth European title in a row, the two first ones being with her former partner Chrysi Biskitzi who since retired. Giazitzidou and Tsiavou have an impressive number of medals at World Rowing events between them; and added up they amount to more than 20 medals of which 15 gold.

Semifinal Two: Germany and Australia have both medalled internationally this season and Canada had the fastest qualifying time from the heats. Lindsay Jennerich and Tracy Cameron of Canada took the starting edge with Australia (Hannah Every-Hall and Alice McNamara) just a nose ahead of Germany (Daniela Reimer and Anja Noske). And this is how the order remained – from start to finish. These were the three crews that expected to perform and these are the three crews through to the final.

http://www.row2k.com/news/news.cfm?ID=57841 The lightweight women's double of Tracy Cameron of Shubenacadie, NS, and Lindsay Jennerich of Victoria, BC, won the heat in 6:54.14 (2000m), advancing to the semi-final. Greece was second in 6:56.55. "Today Lindsay and I went out on a fact-finding mission," said Cameron, who rowed to the bronze medal in this event at the 2008 Olympic Games (with Melanie Kok). "We knew it was going to be challenging (due to wind), but it was really nice up at the start. So as long as you got out there and did well in the first 1000, I think it set you up nicely for when the bad water hit. That's exactly what our plan was.... The last 500 was especially rough, but we knew it was going to be the same for everyone, so we just got through it and didn't panic. We are thrilled to have this race under our belts."

http://www.ausport.gov.au/news/ais_news/australia_wins_gold_in_womens_lightweight_double_scull_at_rowing_world_cup_3  Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athletes Hannah Every-Hall and Alice McNamara won gold in the women’s lightweight double scull final, after a magnificent performance on 11 July at Rowing World Cup 3 in Lucerne, Switzerland.