Kiwi junior crews have come away with two bronze medals at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Hamburg, Germany.
The regatta boat park was buzzing in preparation for finals day where New Zealand crews contested three A finals as well as two B finals. The kiwis won bronze medals in the men's coxed four and men's quad as well as gaining sixth in the women's quad, seventh in the women's double and eighth in the women's four.
The New Zealand men's coxed four began the A final right in the mix with both Great Britain and last year's world champions, Italy. Through the middle of the race the British and Italian crews began to push each other with Italy launching a huge move to row away just after the 1000 metre mark. The British managed to hold off the kiwis in the second half and the finishing order was decided - Italy won gold, Great Britain silver and New Zealand bronze.
In the A final of the junior men's quad the New Zealand crew lagged a little out of the start but soon made their way past Slovenia and into third place. They sat clearly in the third position throughout the race as Germany and Great Britain battled it out in front for the top two spots. Jack O'Leary was the only remaining member of last year's silver medal crew and this year the quad finished a clear third winning a bronze medal in a time of 6:54.96.
The New Zealand junior women's quad had also earnt their spot in the A final. Germany and China led the field with a quick first quarter, from here the kiwis struggled to hold onto the fast pace but had their own battle with the Netherlands and Romania. Finding the pace just a little too hot the kiwi quad finished sixth in the A final and sixth in the overall event ranking.
