MATT Wells and Stephen Rowbotham were able to ease their way through an intense race to reach today’s semi-finals of rowing’s World Championships in Munich.
Hexham’s Wells and his partner, Durham University graduate Rowbotham, won their heat to keep alive Great Britain’s chances of reaching the Beijing Olympics in the double sculls event. The top 11 countries will row in China, albeit that Wells and Rowbotham would still have to qualify for the GB boat. “It was a big race for many of the crews because if you didn’t get through to the semi-finals you’re not going to the Olympic Games,” explained 28-year-old Wells. “That’s why several of the crews went out so quickly to try and qualify.
“We’re racing well within ourselves here and the big race is now the semi-finals.” The British pair ignored a fast start from Jean Smerghetto and Simone Venier of Italy, who faded later, and only broke from the pack at the halfway point. They finished in 6:52.23, edging out Scott Brennan and David Crawshay of Australia.
Also racing in today’s semis will be Alan Campbell in the single sculls after booking his place by finishing second to world champion Mahe Drysdale. Other British qualifiers were Beth Rodford and Natasha Page (women’s pair), Andrea Dennis (lightweight single scull), Helene Raynsford (adaptive single scull), Alasdair Leighton-Crawford (men’s single scull), and Karen Cromie and James Roberts (mixed double scull).
