Rowers shine on first day of world champs

Australia has got off to a good start at the World Rowing Championships at Lake Aiguebelette in France where crews are aiming to book their places for the Rio Olympics.

Czech Republic’s defending champion Ondrej Synek edged out Dani Fridman of Israel to win his opening race, while other winners included Britain’s Olympic bronze medallist Alan Campbell, European champion Damir Martin of Croatia and last year’s world silver medallist Angel Fournier Rodriguez of Cuba.

“The extra fizz at this year’s Championships comes from the battle for Olympic qualification”.

The lightweight men’s and women’s singles kicked off the regatta for New Zealand by both winning their heats.

With the top four in their heat advancing to the men’s pair quarterfinals, the next step was never going to be any bother to superstars Bond and Murray.

Both the men’s and women’s coxless pairs cruised through day one with Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast flying out of the blocks to win their heat and progress to the semi finals while Eric Murray and Hamish Bond showed their winning form in their heat to progress to the quarter finals.

Mahe Drysdale produced a quick time of 6:49.05 in the men’s single and progressed through to the quarter finals untroubled despite the Mexican sculler chasing him hard throughout the race.

Defending women’s lightweight double scull champions Julia Edward and Sophie MacKenzie were narrowly edged out by Danish rivals Juliane Rasmussen and Anne Lolk Thomsen.

Female single sculler Fiona Bourke, competing in place of absent 2014 victor Emma Twigg, won her single sculls opener.

They were among five New Zealand heat winners while four others also booked automatic semi-final berths.

Peter Taylor and Hayden Cohen are seeking to be in the first 11 rowers in the men’s lightweight double sculls class at the end of the regatta and cleared the first hurdle when third in their heat.

The NZ men’s four of Alex Bardoul, George Howard, Bobby Kells and Anthony Allen headed to the repechages after finishing fourth, with only winners Italy qualifying directly for the semifinals.

Adam Ling won his heat by three seconds to progress to the quarter finals while Zoe McBride also came first in her heat to seal a spot in the semi-finals.