* Ukraine decided if they were going to do some damage they had better do it at the start. Shooting out at a 43 stroke rate Ukraine gained a slight margin, but there was little in it going through the first 500 with all six crews still very much on the pace. Margins began to stretch out going through the half way point as reigning World Champions Poland took to the head of the field. Poland’s two seat Marek Kolbowicz, 35, and stroke Adam Korol, 32, have been racing together for 10 years and took a bronze in 1998 in the double. Together with Konrad Wasielewski and Michal Jelinski they set a new World Best Time earlier this season at the second Rowing World Cup.
Today, as the wind increased and the swell mounted, the Poles seemed unstoppable. Ukraine held on, Estonia charged, Italy gave it their best shot. Poland defend their World Champion title, an ecstatic Ukraine take silver and Estonia win bronze.
Estonia’s bow Allar Raja : “Our race was not perfect but the result is a good surprise. We are all happy.”
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