Rowers Compete in Second World Cup Regatta

WAIS rowers have enjoyed another successful World Cup campaign in Lucerne, Switzerland just two months out from the Beijing Games.

Nat Bale formed part of the Australian women’s eight boat that claimed silver in a time of 6:07.91mins.

Bale and her teammates started the race slowly but fought back strongly in the final 500m to finish just behind gold medal winners, USA.

The women’s eight won gold in the first World Cup event last month in Munich, Germany.

David Dennis and Jeremy Stevenson both competed in the men’s eight race with the boat finishing fourth in a time of 5:37.82mins, behind Olympic favourites Canada.

The pace was hot at the front and Canada moved away to a clear lead in the third 500 metres. Great Britain joined in the fight for the minor medals behind Canada and in the drive to the line it was Canada first, China second Great Britain third and Australia fourth.

In the women’s quad scull, Amber Bradley and her teammates finished sixth in a time of 6:32.80mins.

The British sat in the lead looking back at the field with China, Germany and Ukraine tyring to catch them as they went into the last 500 metres.

At that point China took the lead with a great burst of speed and went away to win from the fast-finishing USA with Great Britain hanging on for third and Australia in sixth place.

Ben Cureton and Todd Skipworth missed out on an A final but re-grouped to win the B final along with their men’s light weight four teammates Rod Chisholm and Anthony Edwards.

The last 500 metres was electrifying with four crews in the hunt for the medals but Australia just got up to win holding off the USA, the Netherlands and Poland with just point 52 of a second separating the first four crews at the line.