Three Australian crews have tasted victory in their respective heats at the 2012 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland.
 
The women’s eight, lightweight men’s double scull and Kim Crow (VIC) in the women’s single scull all crossed the line first in their respective heats in light tail wind conditions.
 
Crow asserted her dominance on the race from the opening strokes as she reached the 500m mark just a fraction ahead of French rower Sophie Balmary.
 
The dual world championship silver medallist in the women’s double scull continued to build on her lead through the middle 1000m before recording a time of 7:29.48, finishing almost three seconds clear of USA’s Genevra Stone.
 
Crow and Stone both progressed to the semi-finals, which will be held on Tuesday evening Australian time.
 
Joining Crow at the semi-final stage are the lightweight men’s double scull combination of Tom Gibson (TAS) and Roderick Chisholm (NSW), whose surge in the middle portion of their race took them to a comfortable victory.
 
Gibson and Chisholm were almost two lengths clear of the field by the halfway buoy of the 2000m race and it is an advantage the 2008 Beijing Olympians continued to work on.
 
They stopped the clock in 6:26.56 to book their place in the semi-finals ahead of Poland and Ireland.
 
All five crews entered in the women’s eight event were guaranteed a position in the final but the Australian crew did not hold back as they recorded a start-to-finish victory.
 
Stroked by Phoebe Stanley (VIC), the crew also featuring Hannah Vermeersch (WA), Alexandra Hagan (WA), Sally Kehoe (QLD), Tess Gerrand (NSW), Sarah Cook (NSW), Renee Chatterton (SA), Robyn Selby Smith (VIC) and coxen Lizzy Patrick (VIC) established a lead in the opening part of the race.
 
They were a second clear of Belarus through 500m and had rowed two seconds clear of the rest of the field through the halfway mark.
 
There was no letting back from Australia in the second 1000m as they crossed the line almost three seconds clear of Germany to earn the middle lane for the final on Tuesday evening.

Jared Bidwell (QLD) will row in the repechages of the men’s single scull after finishing fourth in his heat.
 
The Queenslander was in second place through 1000m but will use the repechage to gain additional racing ahead of the semi-finals later in the week.
 
Media Contact: David Polglase 0401 453 041

Artcile by Rowing Australia, Published 21/05/2012, www.rowingaustralia.com