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Last updated 8th June 1997
Britain's new four's initiation in the Rowing World Cup earned them a maximum of eight points and saw off strong challenges from two German crews and Croatia in a strong headwind in the final. Their bow showed ahead in the first few strokes and they powered ahead at over 40 strokes to the minute for the first 250 metres where they had a canvas lead. This became half a length at half way, where a push gave them a sliver of clear water ahead of the top German crew when there were 500 metres left. Now they were in command and could watch their pursuers lift their efforts. Only in the last 20 strokes did Matthew Pinsent raise the rate to ensure crossing the line in front, two seconds ahead of the Germans.
It was a good start. "We did what we wanted to do," said Steve Redgrave who steers the boat from the No 2 seat. "Always when their are five others in the race someone will do something you don't expect. For the last two weeks we have been going well, and with consistent training which we have not had owing to various illnesses, we've got to go faster."
Rough and ready summarises the performance. This is presently a crew of brute force, with Redgrave and Tim Foster on bow side showing differences in style, and James Cracknell in the bow seat not always rhythmically at one with Pinsent. Coach Jurgen Grobler identified fitness and technique as the points to work on before the next World Cup regatta in Paris, wherethe Italians and other strong crews are likely to join in. Given that Redgrave and Pinsent have paired together for six years, Foster and Cracknell have to fit in. Foster said: "You always hope to win, but this crew races to win. It feels very positive to take control in the first race. Our destiny is down to us, and we have confidence in our ability and raceability."
Britain finished in second place overall in the first round of the World Cup with excellent second places for the new young eight and the pair of Bobbie Thatcher and Ben Hunt-Davis, who may well have secured the succession to the boat class occupied by Redgrave and Pinsent for so long. The London-based lightweight four finished third, the men's quadruple scullers fourth, Guin Batten fifth in the single sculls and Matthew Beechey and Tim Bedingfield sixth in the lightweight double sculls. Greg Searle finished second in the B final, giving him a ranking of eighth but no points.
In the under-23 events in the regatta, which were not part of the World Cup, Elise Laverick won the single sculls and Oxford Brookes University the men's fours. British crews won three golds in the non-Olympic events - the coxed pair, women's four and women's lightweight quad, and the men's lightweight eight won silver.
Leaders in Rowing World Cup after first round: 1 Germany, 80 points, 2 GB 37, 3 Denmark 27, 4 France 25, 5 Russia 23.
© Copyright Christopher Dodd, 1997.
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