M4-, men's coxless four rerow for bronze
They're off. At 250m gone the two crews are level, and rating in the high thirties. At 550m Scotland are maybe half a length up, rating 38, with England also at 38. As the crew approach halfway Scotland extend their lead to 3/4L, trying to establish clear water and command the race. Moving away from halfway Scotland's lead extends briefly to just over a length, but then England put in their push and immediately bring it down to a round length. Neither crew able to get clear and assert themselves, both fighting hard. 600m left, here come England with a slender overlap on the Scottish stern. 500m to go sees Scotland at 37, England at 36. England are really pushing now, looking really strong whereas Scotland look a bit ragged and look like they are hanging on. 200m left and England are definitely going faster but is there enough lake left? Desperately close as they come to the line, it's going to come down to who takes a stroke at the right time...ouch that was very close, a superbly well timed race by England taking it right on the line, must have been no more than a canvas. England win bronze on the re-row.
W1x, women's single scull
Picking this one up at halfway. It looks though as though the decisive move has already been made. Rumball of Canada is sculling at 33, with a clear-water lead over Butler-Stoney of England who is in turn well clear of Ali Barnes of Scotland, who raced in the W2- earlier. With 750m to go, Rumball at 33 in lane 4 leads Butler-Stoney in lane 2 at 32 by 3 lengths, with Barnes out of contention rating 30. Rumball is warily keeping an eye on the English sculler, and actually looks a bit done-in, head down, whereas Butler-Stoney looks strong, but is unable to challenge. As they cross the line it's Rumball with about a 2 length lead from Butler-Stoney who in turn has a comfortable 5 length lead on Barnes.
Gold Canada, silver England, Bronze Scotland.
M1x, men's single scull
This race is on the course as the medal ceremony for LM2x is taking place, As a result, commentary is non-existent, which is a shame for the poor commentator wibbling away halfway down the course. Looking down the course, it seems to be Mitchell Punch, Australia U23 silver medallist, ahead of Richard Ockendon of England. Further back is Richard Wilder from Wales, Nat Champs and Home Countries champion, while Richard Shirley from NIR is sculling very slowly way back in fourth, clearly a problem. Coming to the last 250, it's pretty close but Punch has it by a length or so, Ockendon trying to push back, and Punch nearly rattled by the England M4- rowing up in the wrong lane next to him, in the opposite direction, as he nears the line.
Gold Australia, now top of the medals table so far, silver England, bronze yet again Wales.
LM2x, lightweight men's double sculls
Why doesn't it surprise me to see the Aussies out in front again? This time, they're up on Scotland, with Northern Ireland and Wales looking good for one of them to take the bronze and England out the back. Australia's lead is unassailable, and Scotland's medal also looks pretty secure. Coming to 300 to go, Wales and Northern Ireland are still pushing hard, both rating in the late thirties as they scramble. This will be tight, WAL just in front, NIR responding, but it's just out of their reach. Northern Ireland still out of the medals, Wales pick up their fourth bronze of the regatta so far.
Gold Australia, silver Scotland, bronze Wales.
LW2x, lightweight women's double sculls
The crews are at 750 metres now, and while we aren't getting any commentary or timing display, the binoculars tell me this is one of the tighter races of the championships, England and Zimbabwe fighting in first, with Scotland next and Wales, Northern Ireland right back. 600 to go, I think England have a length, Zimbabwe's Thames Tradesmen regulars well clear of Scotland and the rest well back. So you know, they changed the lane assignation to move everyone into 2 -> 6 rather than 1 -> 5, to account for the raging head-cross coming from the grandstand side. The wind has abated a little bit, but is still pretty stiff. Coming to the finish, England are well clear of Zimbabwe, looking long and solid, and getting their country its first gold medal of the regatta. Zimbabwe second to pick up their first medal, Scotland a heap of lengths third, and Wales well up on Northern Ireland.
Gold England, silver Zimbabwe, bronze Scotland.
We've just been told the re-row for bronze in the men's coxless fours will take place at 17:55 tonight, with England and Scotland in lanes 1 and 2 (the lanes to be decided by the starter, for some unknown reason.).
LM2-, lightweight men's coxless pairs
After the excitement of the previous race, there's a load of action for the umpire here, with an echelon field spreading back from the Canadians, way out in front. Behind them it's England just ahead of Wales, fruther ahead of Northern Ireland and Scotland at the halfway mark. Coming to 250 to go, Canada have several lengths lead, and England rating 33 are now well up on Wales at 34. NIR are over their buoys but not impeding anyone. No change as they arrive at the finish, and this time no crashes or red flags.
Gold Canada, silver England, bronze Wales
M4-, men's coxless fours
Medal ceremonies in the way here, but with 500 to go it's pretty tight, Australia the only crew way in front, two lengths up on Canada, with SCO and NZL neck and neck for the bronze medal. ENG are a short way back, but the sprint of these two crews makes it unlikely they can get back into the race. SCO pushing, NZL responding, ENG also upping it but still too far back. Horror - ENG and NZL crash with 50 metres to go, letting Scotland through into third, and I couldn't quite see what happened there - I think it was the Kiwis fault. This may be a re-row - not sure, but the umpire, after discussion with NZL and ENG, is showing his red flag.
OK, here it is. The first two medals stand, and the Kiwis are disqualified for interference. England and Scotland, however, will re-row to decide the bronze medal, at a time to be announced (but it will probably be today since Scotland are doubling up in tomorrow's M4+). Apparently the English crew was also warned for steering during that race. Obviously there have been several jokes in the press office about geese/kiwis, re-rows, and the like (for those who don't know, the England four is the Oxford Brookes/Imperial Visitor's crew who won Henley Royal on a re-row after killing a goose during their first attempt at a final with Cambridge University.
Gold Australia, silver Canada, bronze to be decided.
W2x, women's double sculls
Picking it up at 750 gone, Canada have romped out to a 4-length lead over England, and are now cruising at 31, while England try to push back. Next are Wales, and then Northern Ireland. Gaps between the crews are huge, and there isn't likely to be much change among the upper medals. Coming through 1000 metres gone, it's still third place generating the interest, Wales holding a steady edge over Northern Ireland, pushing to 36 to fend them off at 500 to go. The length and a half advantage they have should be enough, but it's the closest thing there is to a competition in this race. NIR are pretty close to the buoys on one side of their lane, and pass the 250 to go just after Canada cross the finish line, putting their country back on top of the medals table at least temporarily.
Gold Canada, silver England, bronze Wales.
M2x, men's double sculls
This one began as the W2- was on the course, due to various delays, so we pick it up at the halfway mark, with Australia leading from England by a length and a half, Northern Ireland and Wales battling it out for the bronze. This battle brings them back near England, as Australia surge out to a massively impressive lead. They're now at 31, with more than three lengths advantage, and England are pushing to hold off the Welsh. England up to 36 with 200 to go, Australia still cruising (they're doubling up, so want to be careful), and Wales didn't manage to get past England, though their push took them well ahead of Northern Ireland. The Aussies take it up for the end, crossing the line a good 50 metre-plus ahead of England. Wales's first medal of the day, good stuff.
Gold Australia, silver England, bronze Wales.
W2-, women's coxless pairs
Canada went out hard, but Scotland, lying second just before halfway, pushed very hard and started to erode the gap. As we pick the race up, in the fierce headwind Scotland rate 33, Canada rate 34, but Scotland are pushing through. 1400 gone, and Scotland are now in the lead, but suffering steering trouble. England 2+ lengths back in third. Scotland are still steering towards Canada, being warned every stroke, clearly having difficulty. 450 to go and they straighten up, averting a crisis, and now England have closed the gap to Canada and are less than two lengths down. Scotland's Pam Dixon and Ali Barnes look extremely comfortable, Canada look a little overgeared, slipping increasingly far back, although England can't catch them quite.
Although this was a three-horse race, as several are this weekend, they are presenting all the medals, on the basis that there were more than three entries originally, and not wanting to penalise crews.
Gold Scotland, silver Canada, bronze England.
M2-, men's coxless pairs
Australia went into a quick lead, and by 600 metres they had a length lead over Canada, who were edging a couple of seats away from South Africa with England in fourth and Northern Ireland fifth. As we pick up the race at 1000 metres, England had come through to match South Africa while Canada did a good solid push through Australia. Coming to 1250 Canada, now more than a length up, pushed hard again, jumping back to 37, and moving further away from the Australians. England pushed past South Africa, taking over bronze medal position, 450 to go, Canada back down to 32, conserving energy, England closing on Australia to try and take second place, both at 35. 250 to go, Canada right out in front, England 1/4 length down from Australia, RSA and NIR right back. Australia lift their power, should be able to hold England off, yes they'll just do it.
But what's this? Australia's strokeman Warren Keeble is raising his hand to the umpire, clearly a dispute. No idea what is up, perhaps an earlier clash of blades, though nothing was obvious in the final 1km. Turned out to be a weed appeal, which was turned down.
Gold Canada, silver Australia, bronze England (subject to appeal).
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