Standardising the

Under 23 Championships

The transition from Nations Cup to World Rowing Regatta to championship event for rowing’s under 23 competition has required adaptations and adjustments. This year, the under 23s was held in Hazewinkel, Belgium and this was the second time as a championship event, standards had improved.

FISA decided to take into consideration Under 23 World Best Times using 2005 as the start, when the event gained championship status and adopted the FISA timekeeping system along with course standardisation. At Hazewinkel, favourable conditions on finals day lead to many new times being set – 15 out of the 19 events. It also saw the standard set in the women’s eight which was raced for the first time, taking the total number

of events to 20. The inaugural women’s eights race was won by the United States giving them the gold medal and the World Best Time of 6:06 on the Hazewinkel course.

An impressive two World Best Times are now held by Dzianis Mihal and Stanislau Shcharbachenia of Belarus. The duo were part of their country’s under 23 quadruple sculls in 2005, which set a World Best Time,

and moving to the double sculls this year gave them their second World Best Time. Shcharbachenia has also competed at the World Rowing Championship and Olympic level in his country’s much accomplished quadruple sculls.

Mihal and Shcharbachenia are both 21 years old so could still front up in 2007 at the under 23s in Strathclyde, Scotland.

M.S.B.■

Discover the new U23 World Best Time holders.

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls / Skiff féminin poids léger (BLW1x)

(l to r) Dzianis Mihal and Stanislau Shcharbachenia of Belarus hold the U23 World Best Time in the men’s double sculls and in the men’s quadruple sculls. / Les Bélarusses détiennent le Meilleur Temps Mondial U23 en deux de couple et en quatre de couple.

Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece celebrates gold and a new U23 World Best Time in the lightweight single sculls. / La Grecque Alexandra Tsiavou célèbre sa médaille d’or et un nouveau Meilleur Temps Mondial U23 en skiff poids léger.