Rowing: Sullivan wins third title

New Zealand rowers have won four medals, including three golds, at the world under-23 rowing championships which ended in the Czech Republic yesterday.

Joseph Sullivan won his third world title, with Robert Manson in the men's double sculls, with the other New Zealand wins coming through the straight four of Tyson Williams, Hamish Burson, Simon Watson and Jade Uru and coxed four of David Eade, Tobias Wehr-Candler, Ian Seymour, John Storey and cox Matt Cameron.

The women's four of Jessica Loe, Regan Barkla, Kate Reymer and Alex Burnside got New Zealand off to a good start by winning bronze in the first final of the day on the Racice course.

The men's double sculls was expected to be a showdown between semifinal winners New Zealand and the German duo of Hans Gruhne and Clemens Wenzel.

Germany got off to a good start, tracked closely by France and New Zealand, but the Kiwis grabbed the lead just after the 1000m mark. Sullivan and Manson then charged through the last 500m to win by 4s.

In the straight four Canada led at the start and it took a good push from New Zealand to get their nose in front.

At 1500m the Kiwis pulled out to a one-length lead and from that point on they were untouchable, racing home in 5m 54s and booking themselves a ticket to the senior world championships in Poznan next month.

The New Zealand men's coxed four put the hammer down after the halfway mark to take a decisive lead of almost a length with 500m to go and left Italy and Germany in their wake.

The women's straight four stormed to a 0.5s lead at the 500m mark but had to settle for bronze, with Belarus edging Italy out for the gold.

- NZPA