20 July: A second successive bronze medal for Charlie Burkitt in the GB men's pair was part of the British medal haul of one gold, a silver and three bronze in Brandenburg.
After winning their heat and their semifinal hopes were high that Burkitt and his partner Ben Smith could convert that formula into the final itself. But it was Argentina who burned off the blocks with Greece hot on their heels, while the British men were still back in fourth place after 500m. As Greece took the lead at halfway so the third-placed Serbs began to fade, but Burkitt and Smith had now been overhauled by the German and were briefly in fifth place, some eight seconds off the lead. The deficit proved too great but the GB pair began to dig deep, moving past Germany at 1500m and holding on to third place behind the gold medal Greeks and Argentina who had to settle for silver.
In the men's eights final it was the USA who took gold ahead of Canada and Poland, while the British eight, with Josh Davidson at bow, finished in fifth.
19 July: After the British team in Brandenburg qualified an unprecedented ten boats for tomorrow's A finals it was good news for both Charlie Burkitt and Josh Davidson, who are now both in contention for medals.
In the pairs semifinal Burkitt and his partner Ben Smith once again rowed an absolute stormer to qualify in first place. Though briefly led by the Serbs, Ivan Ostojic and Aleksandar Radovic, the British pair soon took control, and led the field at halfway. Munski and Anemueller, the German pair, eased past Serbia but could never challenge the lead and all three leading boats will now race again in tomorrow's A final.
The GB men's eight, with Josh Davidson at bow, were left with some serious work after a slow start and were in fourth place after 500m as Canada took control. As the second-placed Russians faded so the GB men pushed on hard, slipping through behind Canada and qualifying together with third placed Germany.
17 July: Both Leander athletes in Brandenburg had a promising start to their competition when the men's eight and pair qualified comfortably for their respective semifinals.
Charlie Burkitt, a bronze medallist in the under-23 pair last year in Strathclyde, led the field in his heat partnered by Ben Smith, a former world junior medallist and member of the winning Oxford crew in this year's Boat Race. The British men won their heat some six seconds ahea dof Slovenia and now proceed direct to the semifinal. Crossing the finish line in last place was the German pair who capsized off the start but have another chance in tomorrow's repechages.
The GB men's eight, with Josh Davidson in the bow seat, led from the start in their heat, with Russia trying to hold on but slipping to fourth at half-way. Then the Netherlands fired up the ranks to second with Spain third, but the Dutch energy wasn't enough to last to the line. Spain eased past with just a few hundred metres left to finish second behind Great Britain, who were 2.6 secs clear.
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