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NZ women's four claims rowing bronze in final

  • Writer: Dave Worsley
    Dave Worsley
  • Sep 27
  • 2 min read

Updated: Sep 28

The New Zealand Women's Four crew after taking bronze at the World Rowing Championships PHOTO: ROWING NZ
The New Zealand Women's Four crew after taking bronze at the World Rowing Championships PHOTO: ROWING NZ

The New Zealand Women's Four of Alana Sherman, Isla Blake, Beckie Leigh and Juliette Lequeux have claimed bronze in one of the most thrilling races at the World Rowing Championshipsof in Shanghai, China.


The pace out of the start through the first 200m was quick and had he Kiwis concerned.


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 "Honestly, I was getting pretty worried," said Leigh. "It wasn't like we weren't rowing well, it just felt like everyone had stepped it up."  


"Low key, I was like, 'Did everyone just fox their heats? Because this feels weird,'" said Blake.


New Zealand trailed the field through the first 500m, more than three seconds down on leaders Great Britain and defending Olympic champions the Netherlands. The USA and Romanian crews had also gone out quickly.


 "I was in a bit of a state of like, 'Well, we are where we are in the race, panicking isn't going to get us any further up in the field,'" said Blake.


"I think it was just trusting that we've done K after K this winter and we have the fitness to take us through the middle K."


New Zealand went through the 1000m mark in fifth place, just over two seconds behind new leaders, the USA.


" Romania was there and I can remember it right now, calling 'I'm on three seat of Romania,'" said Leigh. "Looked around to see where the Dutch were, saw where GB was and just kept everyone in the loop on where we were sitting and then I was like, 'Let's mow them down.'"


By the 1500m the Dutch and British had faded and it was Romania and New Zealand now in the podium spots behind the American boat.


USA hung on to cross in 6 minutes 27.71seconds, Romania took silver in 6.28.44 and New Zealand bronze 6.31.11.


Earlier, Logan Ullrich finished fourth in his semifinal of the Men's Single Sculls. Neutral athlete Yauheni Zalaty continued his impressive season to win in 6.54.29, holding off a flying finish from Uruguay's Bruno Berriolo (6.56.99). Lithuanian Giedrius Bieliauskas was third (6.57.27). Logan crossed in 6.58.49.

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