Thursday September 10th 1998

A cross wind, but a good day for the Brits

James Cracknell, Steve Redgrave, Tim Foster and Matthew Pinsent are now poised to retain their world title. The lightweight Scot Peter Haining is in a final and on paper among the medals in the event in which he last competed in 1995 when he won his third successive title. Guin Batten had arguably the best result of her career. Greg Searle is safely in a final that at times has looked unobtainable. Miriam Batten and Gillian Lindsay won their semifinal in the double sculls. Steve Williams and Fred Scarlett excelled to qualify in the coxless pairs. The double scullers Simon Goodbrand and Colin Greeaway were the only crew to miss a final, but fifth place in their semifinal was creditable in the difficult conditions.

FISA re-drew Thursday's semifinals to give the fastest crews in previous rounds the best lanes in the pervasive cross wind. Many competitors would have preferred a delay until the evening and several British athletes including Searle, Haining and Matthew Pinsent said that the course was unfair.

Pinsent himself had no bother, stroking James Cracknell, Steve Redgrave, Tim Foster and himself to a masterful victory. He raised the rate at the end for a few strokes to pull away from the pursuing Australians and Romanians, but let it right off again just as suddenly. France won the other semifinal, and Italy and Norway will also be in the final.

Haining missed a stroke to wave at the umpire as if to say "So much for your draw system" after the Swiss sculler Michael Baenninger stopped two hundred metres from home. Haining had a rough lane and only two qualifying places available. While the Italian Stefano Basalini led all the way, the Scot sat artfully in third place until Baenninger made his move for him, so to speak.

Searle also had an unfavourable lane in the open singles, but sculled a safe race, always behind the leader, Vaclav Chalupa the Czech, and the former world champion from Slovenia, Iztok Cop, but cheered by the American Jamie Koven's misfortune of hitting a buoy and consequentally springing an oar from its gate. The other threat was the German Andre Willms, like Koven a world champion in his time, and a maniacal racer, but it was not his day.

The Batten sisters Miriam and Guin had a great day. Guin came through the 1994 world champion Trine Hansen of Denmark to win, giving her a good lane on Saturday if wind conditions remain the same. Miriam and her doubles partner Lindsay were confident and composed out in front.

The men's pair Williams and Scarlett have had a dynamic regatta so far, including a great win in their repechage, and they again excelled to reach third place in their semifinal. In the spring they were only dreaming of being at a world championship. "An example for all the younger team members," was manager David Tanner's comment.

Also in Saturday's finals are the men's lightweight eight and the women's pair of Dot Blackie and Cath Bishop, both with excellent medal prospects, though at the moment of writing I wouldn't bet on gold.

Link to summarised results.
Link to tomorrow's racing draws.
Worlds 1998 website.
FISA website.

© Copyright Christopher Dodd, 1998.