Action got underway earlier than scheduled at the World Rowing Under-23 Championships in Poznan ©WorldRowing

The first semi-finals at the 2018 World Rowing Under-23 Championships in Poznan, Poland began earlier than originally scheduled today as a weather change was expected later on.

Georgia Patten and Bronwyn Cox of Australia were the pacesetters in the women's pairs semi-finals, moving up in the closing stages to pass the two other boats that also made it through - Heidi Long and Hannah Scott of Great Britain and the Belarus pair of Dzina Haluts and Kseniya Ramanouskaya, who had won their heat.

The second semi-final in this International Rowing Federation event saw the defending champions Melta and Antonia Abraham of Chile get out to a great start, but they were passed late on by the United States pairing of Regina Salmons and Alina Hagstrom, with Greece claiming the third qualifying place.

Giorgia Patten and Bronwyn Cox of Australia impressed as they reached the final of the women's pair at the World Rowing Under-23 Championships in Poznan ©World Rowing
Giorgia Patten and Bronwyn Cox of Australia impressed as they reached the final of the women's pair at the World Rowing Under-23 Championships in Poznan ©World Rowing

France's Thibaud and Guillaume Turlan had impressed in winning their men's pairs heat, and they maintained their form as they won a tight semi-final.

After taking an early lead, the French pair were overtaken by the home crew, to the excitement of watching spectators, but re-grouped to re-take the lead, with Germany and Italy coming through to push the home boat out of the qualifying places.

The second semi-final saw South Africa's Charles Brittain and James Mitchell win a close race from Romania's Dumitru-Alexandru Ciobica and Florin-Sorin Lehaci, with Greece claiming the last place in the final.

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