The Groningers Melvin Twellaar in the single scull and Ymkje Clevering in the pair without Veronique Meester made it through to the next round of the European Championships without any problems.
Clevering even doubled, as the pre-game was also won in the eighth, which included Marloes Oldenburg. Both Gyas rowers will compete in the final on Sunday.
Big difference
Briton Graeme Thomas was the main opponent for Twellaar, whom he still knew from the first World Cup this year. He had left the Brit behind him in the final by a big difference.
Again Thomas was no match for the Aegir rower, who won his race in a controlled manner by many boat lengths ahead of the rest of the field. Twellaar is seen as one of the main challengers of the German Oliver Zeidler, who narrowly won in an earlier meeting this year.
The German is very interested in winning the European title on the rowing course where his grandfather became Olympic champion in 1972. For the time being, both rowers must first get through the semi-finals unscathed on Saturday.
Second place also sufficient
The British women’s two-seater ran away from Ymkje Clevering and Veronique Meester halfway through the race. Clevering and Meester, who later also had to start in eight, saved their energy in the knowledge that second place also entitled them to a place in the final.
The eight with Clevering and Oldenburg won the race ahead of the Irish and Danes.
The four-without with Marloes Oldenburg had not succeeded in that earlier in the day; the Dutch boat still gets a chance for a place in the final today via the repechage. This also applies to the women’s double fours with Ilse Kolkman from Groningen on board.