Quater-Finals
Oxford Brookes B v Durham University
Durham had taken the early lead coming away from the island and tried their hardest to maintain it and do one better by pushing away. But Brookes wasn’t going to let them happen and put in an early push to draw level by the mile and eight marker there was only half a length in it. Both were striking at 37 strokes per minute and looked very evenly matched. As they stormed past the enclosures there was a big push to the line from Durham and they managed to just extend their lead enough to come away with the win. This was a tough race that also had Durham being warned for their steering a few times, which also resulted in them having a stern talking to by the officials.
University of Washington USA v DSR Laga, NED
It was a battle of the international crews in this quarter final of the Temple and from the moment the flag was dropped it provided us with some brilliant racing. There was absolutely nothing separating the crews as they rowed away from the island and towards the first marker. Both crews looked gutsy and cohesive, although both rowing with their very specific trademark styles. By the barrier it proved to be the Huskies that had the edge and moved away from their opposition, gaining about a length lead over them. They maintained this lead as they continued through the Fawley marker, Laga was not letting Washington get any more ground and managed to slightly reduce the lead as they came into the enclosures. Laga put in a phenomenal push in the final stretch and clawed back more of the lead, but Washington responded and raised their own intensity providing the stewards enclosures with a great race to start the day off with. It was very tight coming over the line, but it was the crew from Washington that prevailed.
Oxford Brookes University A v University London A
UL did what most crews would do in their position, they went out of the blocks as hard as they possibly could just to try and get a slight advantage ahead of Brookes. This plan worked well for them, as they did just that coming away from the Island and held them off for as long as they could. However, by the barrier Brookes and begun to row through and had a canvas lead, once both crews hit their race rhythm it was clear that Brookes was beginning to dominate. By Fawley, Brookes managed to increase their lead and take it to a length, but both crews were rating at 38 spm and UL were refusing to let Brookes walk all over them. They stayed about a length away from each other as they rowed past Remenham but Brookes put in an intense push as the finish line came into sight and increased the lead to two lengths, but UL responded and clawed back at least a half a length. Brookes might have come away with the win but it was by no means an easy one.
USR Triton, NED v University British Columbia, CAN
Triton had the better start although UBC stayed with them as they rowed towards the first marker, there was only half a length in it, if that by the Fawley marker. It proved to be a race hard won, as UBC put down a strong push half way and managed to make up enough ground to give the Dutch a bit of a scare. They responded effectively however and maintained their lead of half a length, which they increased slightly coming past the enclosures. UBC gave it one final push for the line and were starting to move up, but unfortunately it was too little too late and the crew from Triton won this round.
Previews
Durham University v University of Washington, USA
Both crews had a tough go of it today, with some satisfyingly tight races but ones that no doubt will have left their legs tired. As a match up tomorrow, it looks as if it will be another great race as there was only a couple of seconds between the two times posted today in their quarter finals. Of the two crews it was Washington that were marginally quicker and therefore are my choice as the first crew to take a spot in the final on Sunday.
Oxford Brookes A v USR Triton, NED
The Triton quarter final was the slowest one of the bunch, but the weather had taken a slight turn by the time they lined up to start. They are a strong crew that were raced to the line by the Canadians, however I wonder if they have it in them to overturn the ever-impressive Oxford Brookes machine. The Brookes boat had the fastest race of the category and although they too did not have a completely dominant race, I think they have it in them to nab the win tomorrow.
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