Rich sculling heritage continues at Under-23 World Rowing Championships

New Zealand's rich heritage in world sculling continued overnight with Joseph Sullivan retaining his World Under 23 heavyweight sculling title and Graham Oberlin Brown joining the sport's elite by winning his first world title at the Under-23 World Rowing Championships in Brandenburg, Germany.

Oberlin Brown picked up where Storm Uru left off last year in the lightweight single scull event and once again took the title for New Zealand after a dominant regatta when he was never headed. It was the same story in the final as he shot off to a two and a half second lead at the first 500 metres. Marking himself as another bright talent of the future, the Te Awamutu charger extended this to four seconds at half way, seven at 1,500 metres and a huge eight seconds by the line - a massive margin in a quality field in international sculling. Second was the talented Iranian sculler Mohsen Shadi Naghadeh - capturing his country's first international rowing medal and hogging all of the headlines.

A couple of hours later and Joseph Sullivan did exactly the same - retaining his title in fine style. Like his lightweight team mate, he shot off in the first 500 metres and put himself where he like to scull - out front. He was almost three seconds up by half way and kept the hammer down as Lithuania's sculler gave chase. Joseph though, wasn't to be denied his second title and stormed home in 6 minutes 52.18 seconds to a well deserved and popular win.

There were fifth places for the men’s four and women’s quadruple scull in the A finals last night as well, though the men’s eight was unable to start the B final due to illness. The women’s four won their B final – finishing with an overall ranking of seventh.

Results:

Joseph Sullivan – Heavyweight single scull – 1st

Graham Oberlin Brown – Lightweight single – 1st

Men’s coxless four – fifth

Women’s quad scull – fifth

Women’s four – seventh

Man’s eight – DNS (illness)