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Kiwi Quad steps into test of giants
Young crew face formidable opposition in U23 World final.
The New Zealand Women's Quad has finished sixth on the penultimate day of the U23 World Rowing Championships in Duisburg, Germany.
Earlier in the day, coach Mark Stallard had predicted the challenge would be huge for a young crew up against some "big humans" in the lanes next to them.
Two days ago, Madison Neale, Emma Bagrie, Tegan O'Dwyer and Harriet Thompson had finished last in a four-boat field in their heat, but did enough on time to make the A Final.
"They were probably a little bit spooked," says Mark of that heat. "First international race for two of them, potentially just a wee bit of 'Jesus, these people go fast' type of thing.
They were at the Wedau course first thing on finals day for what was going to be a massive challenge.
"We were first off the dock and they did their warm up and came off the water pretty excited," says Mark. "The girls know that this is actually really special and it'll take a hell of an effort. They know they can't worry about what the others are doing. And the others are big humans, real big humans. And good humans."
Madison Neale, Emma Bagrie, Tegan O'Dwyer and Harriet Thompson racing in the A Final of the women's quad at the U23 World Rowing Championships.
After seeing his crew off to their accommodation for fuel and a rest, the coach had his own routine, with four hours to fill until race time.
"I'll stay down here until they come back, clean the boat a million times, walk around and drink coffee and be like a dog with two tails not sure where to go or where to look."
The USA went in as fastest qualifier but who knew how much the Great Britain crew had held back in their 12-second victory in the other heat.
GB were quick out of the start in the medal race, going through the first 500m in 1min 35.52 seconds, with the USA just half a second back in third.
But by 750m, they'd walked the frontrunners and the gold medal never looked in doubt from that point on.
USA went through the 1000m, 1.36s up on GB, the margin was over 3s at the 1500m and they crossed in 6:28.83, 4.25s up on GB and 7.53s ahead of Italy. It was just the second medal the USA has won in the Women's Quad, after winning the title in 2007.
New Zealand crossed in 6:45.84.
Emma was one of 14 female Stanford athletes at the regatta, one of her fellow freshmen, Sumner Kerr, stroked the winning US boat.
"This has been such a great experience," says Emma. "The standard here is just so high, and it's really cool to be around that. We're proud of how far we've come."
Tegan has two more years of U23s, and can't wait to get back.
"It was awesome. It's a whole different level of speed out here, but proud to make it where we did, and to be competing in the final was awesome."
Mark hopes this is just the beginning for all his crew.
"In the big picture we want them to come back, there might be disappointment now, but in that disappointment, they've got to see a way forward."
His excitement certainly isn't diminished.
"For me, it's racing the best in the world, against the best coaches. It's the place to be if you want to coach. I never not want to be here, I just like the whole thing about it. I like standing in the fire."
The next crew to feel the heat will be the Men's Eight of Oli Leach, Dylan McConnell, Matthew Glen, Sam Woodgate, Nic Bryan, Josh Syme, Ted Mayne, Luke Hickling and cox Hunter Rowland, who will race for gold at 9.03pm tonight (NZT).
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and Maadi Cup-winning coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and '83. He is NZ Olympian #446.
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- Home
- /
- International Regattas
- /
- Kiwi Quad steps...
Kiwi Quad steps into test of giants
Young crew face formidable opposition in U23 World final.
The New Zealand Women's Quad has finished sixth on the penultimate day of the U23 World Rowing Championships in Duisburg, Germany.
Earlier in the day, coach Mark Stallard had predicted the challenge would be huge for a young crew up against some "big humans" in the lanes next to them.
Two days ago, Madison Neale, Emma Bagrie, Tegan O'Dwyer and Harriet Thompson had finished last in a four-boat field in their heat, but did enough on time to make the A Final.
"They were probably a little bit spooked," says Mark of that heat. "First international race for two of them, potentially just a wee bit of 'Jesus, these people go fast' type of thing.
They were at the Wedau course first thing on finals day for what was going to be a massive challenge.
"We were first off the dock and they did their warm up and came off the water pretty excited," says Mark. "The girls know that this is actually really special and it'll take a hell of an effort. They know they can't worry about what the others are doing. And the others are big humans, real big humans. And good humans."
Madison Neale, Emma Bagrie, Tegan O'Dwyer and Harriet Thompson racing in the A Final of the women's quad at the U23 World Rowing Championships.
After seeing his crew off to their accommodation for fuel and a rest, the coach had his own routine, with four hours to fill until race time.
"I'll stay down here until they come back, clean the boat a million times, walk around and drink coffee and be like a dog with two tails not sure where to go or where to look."
The USA went in as fastest qualifier but who knew how much the Great Britain crew had held back in their 12-second victory in the other heat.
GB were quick out of the start in the medal race, going through the first 500m in 1min 35.52 seconds, with the USA just half a second back in third.
But by 750m, they'd walked the frontrunners and the gold medal never looked in doubt from that point on.
USA went through the 1000m, 1.36s up on GB, the margin was over 3s at the 1500m and they crossed in 6:28.83, 4.25s up on GB and 7.53s ahead of Italy. It was just the second medal the USA has won in the Women's Quad, after winning the title in 2007.
New Zealand crossed in 6:45.84.
Emma was one of 14 female Stanford athletes at the regatta, one of her fellow freshmen, Sumner Kerr, stroked the winning US boat.
"This has been such a great experience," says Emma. "The standard here is just so high, and it's really cool to be around that. We're proud of how far we've come."
Tegan has two more years of U23s, and can't wait to get back.
"It was awesome. It's a whole different level of speed out here, but proud to make it where we did, and to be competing in the final was awesome."
Mark hopes this is just the beginning for all his crew.
"In the big picture we want them to come back, there might be disappointment now, but in that disappointment, they've got to see a way forward."
His excitement certainly isn't diminished.
"For me, it's racing the best in the world, against the best coaches. It's the place to be if you want to coach. I never not want to be here, I just like the whole thing about it. I like standing in the fire."
The next crew to feel the heat will be the Men's Eight of Oli Leach, Dylan McConnell, Matthew Glen, Sam Woodgate, Nic Bryan, Josh Syme, Ted Mayne, Luke Hickling and cox Hunter Rowland, who will race for gold at 9.03pm tonight (NZT).
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and Maadi Cup-winning coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and '83. He is NZ Olympian #446.
