U19s step up in non-stop sprints
Five of NZ's seven crews at the Beach Sprint Worlds advance to knockouts.
The banner over the start zone in Qingdao, China reads Glory on Golden Beach.
After a 24-hour delay due to adverse weather, the World Beach Sprints were underway, with all seven New Zealand crews dipping their toes in the water and the kind of sand that feels like half-set concrete.
Sophie Harrison and Henry Johnston were the first on the start line, finishing eighth-fastest (3mins 1.84sec) in the first time trial of the U19 Mixed Double to qualify directly to Wednesday's round of 16.
" We had some good waves going out," says Sophie. "The whole thing was just really clean, so really happy with it."
Henry: "We did everything we needed to do. We got round the buoys the right way, and then coming into the beach we had a good wave, and the exit was really clean."
Sophie Harrison and Henry Johnston were the first on the start line, finishing eighth-fastest (3mins 1.84sec) in the first time trial of the U19 Mixed Double to qualify directly to Wednesday's round of 16.
Over on the other course, Matt Dunham was first up for the Men's Solo. He got smashed on the way out by a decent set of waves, finishing 25th in the preliminary in a time of 2:57.96.
Germany's Moritz Wolff was the fastest of the 45 starters in 2:37.09.
The top eight went straight to the knockout round leaving 37 athletes fighting it out in a second TT for the final eight knockout spots.
So out Matt went again, channelling the grit you need to get off the shoreline at Ohope Beach where he's trained so many times.
An issue with the timing left him without official confirmation right to the end but he also knew he'd been smashed to a standstill by a decent set on the second run as well.
"Unfortunately, I hit five waves on the first one and about seven on the second time trial, so I was cooked," says Matt. "I knew it was game over, but I just went down swinging, just to give it the best race I could."
Matt Dunham, had a brutal day on the water in the Men's Coastal Solo. After being hit by a big set of waves in his first Men's Solo time trial, Matt went back out for a second shot at securing a knockout-round spot. More waves followed, he kept fighting to the finish but he ended up out of the top eight.
Guy Smith and Leo Bacchus finished fifth in the first TT of the U19 Men's Double in 2:47.85. That meant a second dig to try and qualify for the quarterfinals.
This time they came away with a 2:59.11 to finish fourth and secure their knockout race scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.
Guy Smith and Leo Bacchus finished fifth in the first TT of the U19 Men's Double in 2:47.85.
Tallulah Kubaisi-Gallagher and Elizabeth Keddell were eighth in the first TT of the U19 Women's Double. They finished in 3:18.81 leaving them needing a top-three finish in the second TT to make the knockouts.
They turned it up even more, clocking 3:17.80 to finish top, almost 8s ahead of the nearest finisher, from Spain. Tallulah and Elizabeth will race in tomorrow afternoon's quarters.
Tallulah Kubaisi-Gallagher and Elizabeth Keddell were eighth in the first TT of the U19 Women's Double. They finished in 3:18.81 leaving them needing a top-three finish in the second TT to make the knockouts.
No second chances needed for Arthur Crimmins, who went straight to the knockout round in the U19 Men's Solo. His 3:00.39 ranked him seventh-fastest in the first TT setting him up against the Tunisian athlete in the round of 16.
Arthur cranked that out in 3:08.23, with the Tunisian not making the start line. So it's off to the quarters late tomorrow afternoon.
Arthur Crimmins went straight to the knockout round in the U19 Men's Solo. His 3:00.39 ranked him seventh-fastest in the first TT setting him up against the Tunisian athlete in the round of 16.
Emily Pengelly was 20th in the first TT of the U19 Women's Solo, hitting the buzzer in 4:09.28.
She needed a few seconds on the deck to recover but by the time the second-chance TT came around she was ready to go again.
Emily was fourth to line up, putting up a 3:23.92 to go top of the standings. That lasted until the eighth competitor from AIN clocked 3:13.96 and then the last of the 15, from Spain, grabbed second spot with 3:21.90. Emily's number three ranking setting her up with a top 16 head-to-head with Canada.
Unfortunately, her third race of the day ended in disappointment before it really began, a breaker capsizing her as she left the beach. U19 team manager and boat handler Rebecca Beattie watched it all unfold, she and coach Joe Sullivan getting Emily back in the boat but knowing the race had probably slipped away.
Emily Pengelly showed resilience in the U19 Women’s Solo, bouncing back from her first time trial to post the third-fastest time in the second-chance TT and secure a top-16 head-to-head against Canada. Unfortunately, a wave capsized Emily as she left the beach for her next race, bringing a disappointing end to her day in Qingdao.
Erin James and Seb Fulton finished fourth in the first time trial of the Mixed Double. That put them straight into the knockout round on Wednesday afternoon, unless the weather forces a reshuffle. They clocked 2:43.09, just over three seconds off top dogs Australia (2:39.75).
Erin James and Seb Fulton finished fourth in the first time trial of the Mixed Double. That put them straight into the knockout round
Like Matt says: " I think all of us toss it up to the gods before we even get to the start line. We know what the sport's like, and you've just got to send it, and fingers crossed it's on your side."
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a New Zealand Olympian (#446), former world champion coxswain (1982 and 1983 New Zealand eight), freelance writer, producer, and Maadi Cup-winning rowing coach.
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U19s step up in non-stop sprints
Five of NZ's seven crews at the Beach Sprint Worlds advance to knockouts.
The banner over the start zone in Qingdao, China reads Glory on Golden Beach.
After a 24-hour delay due to adverse weather, the World Beach Sprints were underway, with all seven New Zealand crews dipping their toes in the water and the kind of sand that feels like half-set concrete.
Sophie Harrison and Henry Johnston were the first on the start line, finishing eighth-fastest (3mins 1.84sec) in the first time trial of the U19 Mixed Double to qualify directly to Wednesday's round of 16.
" We had some good waves going out," says Sophie. "The whole thing was just really clean, so really happy with it."
Henry: "We did everything we needed to do. We got round the buoys the right way, and then coming into the beach we had a good wave, and the exit was really clean."
Sophie Harrison and Henry Johnston were the first on the start line, finishing eighth-fastest (3mins 1.84sec) in the first time trial of the U19 Mixed Double to qualify directly to Wednesday's round of 16.
Over on the other course, Matt Dunham was first up for the Men's Solo. He got smashed on the way out by a decent set of waves, finishing 25th in the preliminary in a time of 2:57.96.
Germany's Moritz Wolff was the fastest of the 45 starters in 2:37.09.
The top eight went straight to the knockout round leaving 37 athletes fighting it out in a second TT for the final eight knockout spots.
So out Matt went again, channelling the grit you need to get off the shoreline at Ohope Beach where he's trained so many times.
An issue with the timing left him without official confirmation right to the end but he also knew he'd been smashed to a standstill by a decent set on the second run as well.
"Unfortunately, I hit five waves on the first one and about seven on the second time trial, so I was cooked," says Matt. "I knew it was game over, but I just went down swinging, just to give it the best race I could."
Matt Dunham, had a brutal day on the water in the Men's Coastal Solo. After being hit by a big set of waves in his first Men's Solo time trial, Matt went back out for a second shot at securing a knockout-round spot. More waves followed, he kept fighting to the finish but he ended up out of the top eight.
Guy Smith and Leo Bacchus finished fifth in the first TT of the U19 Men's Double in 2:47.85. That meant a second dig to try and qualify for the quarterfinals.
This time they came away with a 2:59.11 to finish fourth and secure their knockout race scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.
Guy Smith and Leo Bacchus finished fifth in the first TT of the U19 Men's Double in 2:47.85.
Tallulah Kubaisi-Gallagher and Elizabeth Keddell were eighth in the first TT of the U19 Women's Double. They finished in 3:18.81 leaving them needing a top-three finish in the second TT to make the knockouts.
They turned it up even more, clocking 3:17.80 to finish top, almost 8s ahead of the nearest finisher, from Spain. Tallulah and Elizabeth will race in tomorrow afternoon's quarters.
Tallulah Kubaisi-Gallagher and Elizabeth Keddell were eighth in the first TT of the U19 Women's Double. They finished in 3:18.81 leaving them needing a top-three finish in the second TT to make the knockouts.
No second chances needed for Arthur Crimmins, who went straight to the knockout round in the U19 Men's Solo. His 3:00.39 ranked him seventh-fastest in the first TT setting him up against the Tunisian athlete in the round of 16.
Arthur cranked that out in 3:08.23, with the Tunisian not making the start line. So it's off to the quarters late tomorrow afternoon.
Arthur Crimmins went straight to the knockout round in the U19 Men's Solo. His 3:00.39 ranked him seventh-fastest in the first TT setting him up against the Tunisian athlete in the round of 16.
Emily Pengelly was 20th in the first TT of the U19 Women's Solo, hitting the buzzer in 4:09.28.
She needed a few seconds on the deck to recover but by the time the second-chance TT came around she was ready to go again.
Emily was fourth to line up, putting up a 3:23.92 to go top of the standings. That lasted until the eighth competitor from AIN clocked 3:13.96 and then the last of the 15, from Spain, grabbed second spot with 3:21.90. Emily's number three ranking setting her up with a top 16 head-to-head with Canada.
Unfortunately, her third race of the day ended in disappointment before it really began, a breaker capsizing her as she left the beach. U19 team manager and boat handler Rebecca Beattie watched it all unfold, she and coach Joe Sullivan getting Emily back in the boat but knowing the race had probably slipped away.
Emily Pengelly showed resilience in the U19 Women’s Solo, bouncing back from her first time trial to post the third-fastest time in the second-chance TT and secure a top-16 head-to-head against Canada. Unfortunately, a wave capsized Emily as she left the beach for her next race, bringing a disappointing end to her day in Qingdao.
Erin James and Seb Fulton finished fourth in the first time trial of the Mixed Double. That put them straight into the knockout round on Wednesday afternoon, unless the weather forces a reshuffle. They clocked 2:43.09, just over three seconds off top dogs Australia (2:39.75).
Erin James and Seb Fulton finished fourth in the first time trial of the Mixed Double. That put them straight into the knockout round
Like Matt says: " I think all of us toss it up to the gods before we even get to the start line. We know what the sport's like, and you've just got to send it, and fingers crossed it's on your side."
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a New Zealand Olympian (#446), former world champion coxswain (1982 and 1983 New Zealand eight), freelance writer, producer, and Maadi Cup-winning rowing coach.
