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Article August Week 4 2005
Lightweight Men's Four (LM4-)
Ireland with Kerry's Paul Griffin Through to World Cup Rowing Semi Final

In the three heats a top three finish was required for the direct advancement to the semi-final and heat one had all five boats in the running with South Africa in the lead. Germany, stroked by sole remaining member from the Athens crew, Axel Schuster, then did a big piece through the 900 metre mark and had found the lead with 500 metres left to row. Australia and Italy followed suit, leaving the South African’s in their wake.
Italy includes World Best time holder from the lightweight double nd World Record holder for lightweights on the indoor rowing machine, Elia Luini. Although Luini has spent most of his career sculling, in 1999 he finished fourth at the World Championships in the four before moving into the double to win silver with Pettinari at the 2000 Olympics. Luini remained with Pettinari to win three World Champion titles before injury forced Pettinari out of the Athens Olympics. Personal differences then spelt the end to their partnership.

Today Italy took the race to a photo finish with Germany and Australia. All three crews move on to the semi-final. South Africa must now return for the repechage.
Heat two was led by Lucerne Rowing World Cup winners Ireland. But there was very little in it with Japan, Russia and Spain all sticking to the Irish pace. As Japan started to drop back it became a three-way fight with Ireland still retaining the lead. Coming into the final sprint the Irish prepared for the semi-final by practicing their 39 strokes per minute pace as Spain countered at a 38. Ireland remained in the lead and advance along with Spain and Russia.

France has a new four built around Sydney gold medallist Jean-Christophe Bette and already this season they have one Rowing World Cup gold medal. Bette recently married teammate Caroline Freslon who raced earlier today in the lightweight women’s quad. The couple are calling these World Rowing Championships their honeymoon. “The next one will be after Beijing,” says Bette.
Today France made it one small step closer to Beijing by winning heat three over Great Britain and the United States. Despite a strong challenge in the third 500 by the Netherlands, the French, the Brits and the Americans move on to the semi-final.