New Zealand rowers have won four medals, including three golds, at the world under-23 rowing championships which ended in the Czech Republic this morning.
Joseph Sullivan won his third world title in tandem with Robert Manson in the men's double sculls, with the other New Zealand wins coming through the straight four of Tyson Williams, Hamish Burson, Simon Watson and Jade Uru and coxed four of David Eade, Tobias Wehr-Candler, Ian Seymour, John Storey and cox Matt Cameron.
The women's four of Jessica Loe, Regan Barkla, Kate Reymer and Alex Burnside got New Zealand off to a good start by winning bronze in the first final of the day on the Racice course.
The men's double sculls was expected to be a showdown between semifinals winners, New Zealand and the German duo of Hans Gruhne and Clemens Wenzel.
Germany got off to a good start with France and New Zealand tracking them closely. Germany held the edge through the middle of the race, but a big pull by New Zealand just after the 1000m mark took the wind out of the sails for Gruhne and Wenzel.
Once Sullivan and Manson had the lead, they rowed confidently and charged through the finishing 500m to win by four seconds.
"We didn't start as fast as we wanted and the others were still with us," said Sullivan who won world under-23 singles titles in 2007 and 2008.
"At 1000m Robey made a call and we got a length advantage. Then we held on over the last 500m."
Things did not go all New Zealand's way in the straight four.
Canada had the lead at the start and it took a good push from New Zealand to get their nose in front.
Canada, however, did not let go with the United States and Germany also nipping at their heels.
At 1500 metres the New Zealand crew's impressive mid-race pace took them out to a one-length lead and from that point on they were untouchable, racing home in five minutes, 54 seconds and booking themselves a ticket to the senior world championships in Poznan next month.
As the New Zealand quartet crossed the line first, they were able to hear the start of the medals ceremony for Manson and Sullivan.
"We came with the intention to do get gold," Uru said.
"Every body did his job and we pulled a strong middle 1000m to take the lead.
"With this medal we will race in Poznan and hopefully be also part of the team next year for the champs in New Zealand."
The men's coxed four, in a new hull after their boat was destroyed in Friday's storm, took a narrow lead through to the halfway mark.
New Zealand put the hammer down after the halfway mark to take a decisive lead of almost a length with 500 metres to go.
They sprinted home in the last 500 metres to win ahead of Italy and Germany.
The women's straight four took got off to a storming start to lead by 0.5sec at the 500 metre mark.
The lead was cut by half at the 1000m mark by the charging Italian crew who were battling Belarus.
The New Zealanders were unable to hold off their opposition in the final 500m and hung on to secure a bronze with Belarus edging Italy out for the gold.
In other events, the women's quad of Odette Sceats, Alyce Pulford, Leah Stanley and Lucy Spoors could not recover from a slow start on their way to fourth place while Julia Trautvetter and Louise Ayling finished seventh overall in the women's double sculls after getting second in the B final.
