Varese, Italy
2023 World Rowing Cup II
Words: Tom Ransley
PHOTOGRAPHY BENEDICT TUFNELL
Swaggering Switzerland entered the 2023 World Rowing Cup II in Varese, Italy, as overall series leaders. Most nations swerved Zagreb in favour of the Europeans, allowing the Swiss to hoover up points at World Rowing Cup I. After a fine weekend’s racing in Italy, despite extra competition from the likes of Great Britain, Italy, China, Australia and the US, the Swiss remained ahead (albeit by just 20 points).
Twenty nations collected medals at World Rowing Cup II. Great Britain topped the table with a total of six gold, three silver and two bronze. Hosts Italy were second, bagging nine medals, and Australia made their season debut and finished with eight medals. A hot tailwind meant it wasn’t just medals at stake: a clutch of world best times and world cup best times tumbled.
Great Britain's Emily Craig and Imogen Grant produced a standout performance in the LW2x. Since placing fourth at Tokyo 2020 they have forced themselves to the top of this boat class. The reigning world and European champions smashed the world best time in Saturday’s semi-final, clocking 6:40.47. (Grant also holds the LW1x which she set at Lucerne in 2022.) The final didn’t disappoint either: a cracker of a race saw the French then the Americans lead before the British powered through for gold, five strokes before the finish. USA were 0.8 seconds shy of their first gold medal of the regatta.
“I was able to just turn off my brain, turn off my mouth and feel what Molly was doing,” said Michelle Sechser (USA), moving to the bow seat for the first time in this experienced combination. “A little more drive through the hips and I knew she was ready to go.” “[For us] it’s witchcraft,” claimed Grant. “We do our best rowing when we’re not thinking about it, no thoughts, just vibes.” “I suspect from Bled everybody in the world went away thinking ‘do the British have a finish, because they’ve not had to use it,’” added Craig. “We also went away thinking that. So, we knew we bloody well had to make sure we had a finish.”