19 June 2017

Yesterday, the second World Rowing Cup ended in Poznan, Poland, with some interesting results, FISA/ Worldrowing.com writes in a press release (here slightly edited by HTBS):

It was a day of shining new talent as 23 nations took medals in the finals of World Rowing Cup II in Poznan, Poland.

The regatta, with participation from China to the United States, to Australia and New Zealand revealed a new group of athletes who have come in to take the top spots in shining style left vacant by post-Olympic retirements. It also showed the development of athletes, who have taken on different boat class challenges. One new gap was superbly filled by New Zealand’s new man in the single sculls, Robert Manson, who not only finished first but also set a new World Best Time, a time that had previously been owned by his fellow-countryman and Olympic Champion, Mahé Drysdale. Also taking medals in the men’s single sculls were Cuba’s Angel Fournier Rodriguez, who finished second, and Switzerland’s new single sculling sensation, Nico Stahlberg, who came third.

Back in the women’s pair, after racing in the Olympic women’s eight, was New Zealand’s Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler. This was the first international race of the season for the duo and they also set a new World Best Time when they placed first ahead of the United States’ pair of Megan Kalmoe and Tracy Eisser, followed by Australia’s Sarah Howe and Molly Goodman. The Australians also medalled earlier in the day when they were in the winning women’s four. They were the only athletes to take more than one medal at this regatta.

In the men’s eight blue ribband event, the German eight set a new World Best Time, breaking a record that had stood since 2012. Germany raced to gold ahead of New Zealand and the Olympic Champions Great Britain in Sunday’s final race.

A World Cup Best time was set in the women’s single sculls by Magdalena Lobnig of Austria. She beat Great Britain’s new single sculls star and European Champion Victoria Thornley to the line with China’s Olympic bronze medallist Jingli Duan finishing third.

At the top of the World Cup Points Table was New Zealand with 50 points followed by Great Britain with 40 points and Germany with 36. In terms of the Medal Table, New Zealand also finished on top by winning six gold medals and a silver. As well as the men’s single and women’s pair, New Zealand took gold in the women’s lightweight single sculls, both the men’s and women’s double sculls and the women’s eights. Host nation Poland finished second with two gold, two silver and four bronze medals. Australia was third with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

The overall World Rowing Cup winners are determined after the third and final event in Lucerne, Switzerland, on 7 – 9 July. This year the first regatta of the series was in Belgrade, Serbia, on 5 – 7 May.

Results, race reports, photos and videos are available on www.worldrowing.com.