2016 - Brandenburg Rowing: European Championships

The British are coming, the British are coming! Every year it feels

different, it always feels a little different. Just glorious this

morning. The fastest and strongest, to see them compete under one

banner, it feels phenomenal. It is really special pressure, and it is

fun to be apart of. Olympic champions and ask one more question.

I know I can do it if I bring my best. What we're seeing right now is

a dream come true. The next four months are very important. Let's

crush it. 89 days until the Rio Olympics,

which sounds like a moving title, but the big question is, who is

going to be playing the starring roles? The European champion chips

earlier today in Brandenburg were the first big tests of this Olympic

year. Good afternoon. We will share of this glorious lunchtime in the

coverage of the talisman of so many British Olympic teams, Sir Steve

Redgrave. For rowers in particular, the Olympic year takes things to

another level. It does. It is the whole process of the last four

years, gearing up to this year. The World Championships are extremely

important but they are stepping stones towards the Olympic Games.

European Championships, the finals today, that is another stepping

stone. An important event in its own right but it is a stepping stone.

And we are three months out from the games. Do people know who is in

which boat and who is going or is there a bit of boxing to be done?

Most people will know. If their boat performs well enough today and in

three weeks' time, they know that they will be in that category. The

way the British team is, because we are so strong in depth, they are

testing each other all the time, so you know you're standing. Near

enough, to a person, you know which boat you will be in. Unless you do

not perform today, and there are a few questions, the women's double

should they go and try to strengthen the women's eight, or should they

stay there are? We want a good result from them, or a bad result,

not a little result. Nothing indeterminate. Talking about

performance levels, the conditions, you do not want to offer excuses but

it is worth saying that the conditions were very difficult in

Germany today and the water, as competition went on, got choppier.

How does that impact elite athletes? If you are an experienced crew,

especially in the smaller boats, and you have been together for a long

time, you have probably raced in those conditions before. You have an

advantage from that point of view. If you are a new combination, then

you are not quite sure. You have done some training and you are very

fit and strong enough to be in that category, but when the boat is

tossing and turning, that is when it opens up. And full lot of the crowd

were caught Brandenburg today. We will show you some interesting races

over the next hour. Over these long months of training in the winter,

the big question for Great Britain's head coach was which was going to be

his banker vote delete Matt boat, essentially the boat he thought was

going to go to real? And so often he plucked for the coxless four. We

have died in style, Great Britain the Olympic champions. I have been

involved in three events, and this is a really impressive, strong men's

team. Jurgen has done a great job. It is good to be part of this team.

A lot of the competition comes from Europe in the Olympics, so if we can

put in a good marker straightaway, that will be the best start we can

do. The last thing we want to do was get ahead of ourselves. We want to

make sure we grow as a unit, and we want to have fun as well. I am a

newcomer to the boat so sometimes I feel weary of saying things, but the

three of them have done the job already at the World Championships.

On the other hand, an Olympic year is always different and they will

know that they cannot rest on their laurels. They have to carry on

getting better. Since Sydney there has always been at least one person

in the coxless four from the previous Olympics and this time I

will be that one person. So the resolvable pressure. But then that

disappears into all the other pressures that are involved, because

we need to win a gold medal, because we have done it before in the

Olympics before this, and we need to win Jurgen Grobler a gold medal. We

are the lead boat and the implicit expectation is that we win gold. I

don't care how we do in other races, we need to win gold at the Rio

Olympics. We know with Jurgen that he thinks he has something special

here. This could be the best team that GB Rowing has ever had.

Sometimes the boat really works. This one does and it flows and feels

good straightaway. I am excited to see what this group can do. I have

seen what they have done behind closed doors, even in this little

stint. We're ready for the next four months. Well, George Nash, here he

is, the fourth member of Britain's 18. One of the most eagerly awaited

races, the finals here of the 2016 European Rowing Championships is

under way. The men's heavyweight coxless four. France in one, Belarus

and two, Great Britain and three. All eyes on them. Russia in four,

Greece in five. Denmark closest to us in number six. And the Danes are

lightweight true crew, stepping up for this regatta. -- lightweight

crew. No rush for them to get back down to the lightweight category,

but meanwhile, in the middle, Russia easing by. Alex Gregory, and Moe

Sbihi. This is Jurgen format. ' Sbihi. This is Jurgenformat. '

format. It is. Actually, you can see by the surgeon of the lens, the

Brits are in lane three. -- the surging of the lanes. They have a

strong rhythm. If they are going to be fast, they will not be the

fastest crew. They are going to nail it to the middle. They need to take

the race from the scruff of its neck. By the time they get down

here, in six minutes time, they will be leading by a fairway. Coming up

to 500 metres. Both of the crew a length ahead of the rest of the

field. We're looking at Alex Gregory, and coming down, Moe Sbihi,

one of the most outstanding athletes in the British team. George Nash in

three, backing up this. A big decision for Jurgen to take these

guys out of the world championship winning eight last year and put them

into a four. It was a big decision but if you are winning the World

Championships, by two feet in the men's eight, and the year before you

won the four by two lengths, it is not that big a gamble. The reality

is that one gold is worth 1000 silver. If you put your best

athletes in the boat, and you back your team to win the eighth, then

you can see in the middle of the race, when it is tough, how these

teams dominate the conditions. And these could be the strongest guys,

the strongest British four that we have seen. This is the best four

athletes in any of the British fours right from 2000. Moe Sbihi, he beat

the 2000 metre record, and also my 5000 metre record this year. He is

the best physical specimen in British rowing history, backed up by

three of the other best. At the halfway mark, we would expect a big

push from the British crew, led by Stanley Lewis, George Nash at three,

Moe Sbihi and Gregory at the barrel. -- the bow. You can see the bowside

being caught. Every time you get stuck in the water, it takes off

momentum. Nevertheless, three quarters of a length out. After they

deal with this verse 500, it is all about moving on, really nailing it

hard, so that you put yourself in the best possible position for the

last quarter. Great Britain doing that, and Stan Lulu this, he is

leading them on. Watching Belarus come back here. Should they be

nervous at this stage? Definitely not. They are dominating so well.

These guys want to race. They do not want to just romp away with it. They

want to be tested and proven selves. And actually, if I was Jurgen I

would want to be testing them in the third quarter of the race. Looking

at our right, Jurgen Grobler has got his stopwatch out. He has been

sitting down for the first 1000 and he is now watching a screen in front

of us. Nervously watching his boys as he always does at this stage. An

important overlap. He is not nervous, you will be frustrated that

they have not broken clear because they are more than three quarters of

a length forward. He will be thinking, he want be thinking he is

worried they are losing, you will just be thinking he wants them to

win by more. Into the last quarter now. 400 metres remaining. The

British group have a length of clear water. As the conditions slightly

settle and the timing is smart, they are sharp. Late number three,

slicing through the water. They are not a length of clear water up, they

are length up. This is more than you need to win by. But not as much as

Jurgen will want them to win by. A chasing field, led by Belarus in the

late number two. The Russians also in it. But the race is on behind the

British crew for silver. At this stage, with about 175, hard to see

any of the cruise coming back to attack the British crew. Belarus are

making a good effort. The Brits have a good rhythm. Inside 100 metres.

Stanley Hollis, Gregory in the bow seat. -- Stan Lulu this. Holding on

for the victory. It is working, and Great Britain are the European

champions in the men's heavyweight coxless four. It should've been

more. Jurgen Klopp would want more but a win is a win at time. -- at

this time. A great win, constant time, how were the conditions? The

worst conditions I have raced over two kilometres. This is totally

open, really bouncy. You build up to a race, and you expected to be

streamlined but it was a real scrap. George, you have raced in the

Olympics and others. Where would you say you are in terms of preparations

for the Olympics? Right at the beginning, really. We have been in

the boat for about a month and a half. It is good to get the first

race out of the way, and we probably have a lot of things to work on

after that. Looking forward, really. Do you get a better idea of what you

are going to be by the end of the month, Moe? Of course. The World Cup

will be our main competition. And we will be able to check where we are

against the rest of the field. Today was a good marker for us as a

confidence boost. A win is a win, even if the rowing was not pretty.

We struggled, but we survived. You are the only guy here who has won a

gold here. Are you an course to do the same with these guys? I have

been in the coxless four for a number of years and this is feeling

good. This is a good boat. I am excited about what lies ahead,

finding out with the rest of the field, over the next couple of World

Cups. It is an exciting time. Listening to the commentary there,

James Cracknell was disgruntled. Is it being churlish to say that was

not the most impressive performance, given that they won it? A little bit

of what we said earlier. They have not been together that long. They

have done a lot of training within the group but they have not been in

that format for long. James is looking at the calibre of

opposition. You have the Italians, the world champions, a bit of a

surprise to win last year. Obviously not racing here at all. And then the

Australians behind them. He is seeing other cruise coming in, but

the fact is that the Russians, as a team, are performing very strongly

right the way through. Sometimes they do early season, but don't

underestimate that. To win that relatively comfortable at, I would

say that they are well on track. And to hear Stan Louloudis say it was

the worst conditions he had ever rode him, was that just hyperbole in

the aftermath of the race? He said it was the worst conditions of

rowing in a 2000 metre course. It is an open course. Training for boat

races, he would have experienced worse but not much worse.

The culmination and the Regatta and our programme will be the men's

eight. An extraordinary finale. Before that, the Men's Pair from

earlier today. Serbia just leading, the British pushing an hard against

them in second place. The Netherlands who led into the start

of the second 500 coming off a bit of pace in this third five. The

third 500 position, position for your final push. Still a long way

out, but it is about consolidating everything, giving yourself the

opportunity to move from a strong position, rather than fighting back

into it. A lot of the race in the first 500 is where it is decided.

That is where the fitness comes in. Having a good second half of the

race is where the hard miles count. The best thing about the British

team is because there is such strength in depth, there is such

competition in training that they would have had a hard winter racing

each other every day. Not only racing each other, the people in

your team, but the people who are going to be after the same seat.

They had an intense period from August through to now, where they

are racing each other every day in training, to try and get a seat.

They will be able to tough it out in the second half. The Serbians

continue to lead, as we come to the three quarters mark. 1500 metres

down, now 500 metres to go. Great Britain in the silver medal position

behind Serbia. Slipped back slightly from the halfway mark. Now it is

about ten, ten, ten, counting them in. Keeping the length. The Brits

can do this, absolutely. They have a good overlap but it is about keeping

it clean and moving every stroke, moving quickly off the catch. Serbia

still holding, pushing on, holding everything Great Britain are pushing

at them. The British crew up to 37 strokes a minute, matching Serbia

with 37 as well. The Serbians have raised it well, they went off hard,

a dodgy second 500 and I thought they overcook tip. Now they have

responded again. The last 250 is not just flat out. There is a long way

to go yet. The Brits, the finish will come down to how much they have

left in the tank. That is where the hard training comes in. It looks

like they have done enough over the winter. This is it, this is it.

Sinclair and Stewart Innes, starting to move. The Czech Republic are

coming back as well. We have five boats fighting out for the gold

medal. It is about who can be clean, and the stake in these conditions

will be the difference between first or third. One last push, the British

crew in lane three. The Hungarian 's have gone up on their range. The

British have got to respond here. Stroke for stroke to the line, it's

going to be close. It is going to be Hungary. They were just caught on

the line. The British will be disappointed with that, ten strokes

out it was Great Britain but on the line the medals go to Hungary, and

rightly so. Stewart Innes punches the water. That is what I said, if

they make a mistake it will cost them. They hit the water at about

ten strokes out from the line which gave the Hungarian is the extra

couple of feet they needed. It is about fitness, commitment and also

not making a mistake in these conditions. It is not perfect, but

they have to make the best of it. Just pipped on the line, is that the

glass half full or half empty? Empty, definitely. We came here to

win. I think we were probably the fastest crew but on the day the

conditions got the better of us a bit. The crosswind, mentally it

ruined us all the way down. The boat in the Chevron from the wind side,

and the Serbians took it to the finish line. Gutted. So often we

hear from rowers who are at disappointed at not winning races

and we will reflect on their performance in a moment or so, after

we have seen the Women's Pair, the most dominant group in this British

team at the moment, Helen Glover and Heather Stanning. Nobody can beat

them. Two in a row in the European Championships now. Helen Glover and

Heather Stanning! They are champions and it couldn't go to more worthy

winners! Great Britain go into the Olympic

year holding all major international titles. Here they are defending,

Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, undefeated throughout. They are in

lane number three. Germany in two, Russia in four, Denmark in five and

France in six. They won last year by two lengths clear of the field,

demolished the field in emphatic fashion. On that day they had water

conditions a lot better than today. This will be a real test for them, a

test of how good they really are performing in these conditions.

Already they are just starting, the barrels of the British crew, Helen

Glover and Heather Stanning easing out into the breeze. I love the way

you say easing out. The panning shot, all six crews in the picture,

why they are leading is they are attacking the conditions, dominating

the conditions are not letting the conditions dominate them. You can

see how that approach makes a massive difference to your boat

speed. This water is going around everywhere. If you let that annoy

you, frustrated, and it's not going to be comfortable, if you think I am

going to power my way through this, it's seven minutes, it can dominate

everyone else but it will not dominate our boat, you find yourself

in a very different position. Denmark won the other competition.

Our girls are just giving it some stick and saying, right, you can

take me on but I'm going to get through this and get a medal round

my neck. One thing we have to watch out for, the German pair have had

perhaps the better of the first 500 in terms of conditions. While the

British crew continue, watch how the blades come out and there is a lot

of slapping from the British crew, but Germany coping a lot better.

Almost coming up level, putting on the pressure, the first time in a

while now that Helen Glover and Heather Stanning have been put under

this kind of pressure at this point in the race. If you look at the

shoulders of Heather Stanning on the left of the picture, incredibly

relaxed, down, not up near her ears, no tension. The Germans still look a

bit more tense. A tense muscle uses energy in a relaxed one doesn't. I

think over the distance you will see them inch out. They have taken the

aggression in the first 500 metres and now they can relax and will just

shift away. As you were talking, it looks like Germany were coming right

off it. A great first 500 metres, right on the tail and the shoulders

of the British crew. But the class and form of glove and stunning

opening up, coming into their rhythm. Clear water. -- Helen Glover

and Heather Stanning. They are going to control this race here. 100

metres out from the line, Great Britain heads up looking powerful

and strong. This is the way you want to open your season's account. You

are leading every other nation, no doubt as to who the dominant force

this year is going to be. I think them up won the other heat and went

straight to the final, they are not even on the podium. They are not

only fast but consistently fast. 89 days until the Olympic Games in Rio

and this is not a bad statement to be making from Great Britain's Helen

Glover and Heather Stanning. Job well done. Of the races remaining

that is a big tip, a big statement. Who is out there to beat them in the

early stages? Great Britain the European champions yet again. The

crucial thing was that they cross the line European champions, didn't

punch the air or celebrate. This is one small box ticked on the way to

the ultimate goal. They have their heads in the right place and they

are growing well. Was that as tough as it looked, it was a dominant

performance but conditions looked tough? Physically you can't really

lay it all out there because really it is a very technical row. Looking

after the boat is important. In one sense we could go out and again and

in another sense we would want to because it is not fun. Who is it

most difficult for? Probably for the newest crews. Probably Helen because

it is against! I had the easy job because the wind blowing across

across that lane. We are experienced but these are conditions we haven't

raced on before. It was a chance for a different set of conditions.

Defending champions now, but what does this mean in terms of your

preparations for Rio? Really good preparation, because we know our

main condition is outside Europe. In one sense we thought, what can we

gain from this? To experience new conditions that could be like Rio is

a really huge thing that we have come out and gained. We don't feel

like we have left the country, lost or we can's training to race not our

main competition. We feel like that is something that has upscaled us,

something we didn't have before. I think it will be useful in the long

runs. Interesting point Helen made. If we took about the race itself,

normally when we show highlights we join it with 500 to go, but we

showed the start of the race because it was the first time for a while

that another crew have thrown the gauntlet down to them in the first

500 metres and said, this is what we've got. But after that it was

plain sailing. Everyone was talking about the Americans last year,

putting the two girls out of the American eight into the pair, saying

this is our best Americans. This is what they did. They pushed them very

hard in the first half. Once they got through 1000 metres, they just

edged away and the same story. If you are racing somebody who is as

dominant as that, what you do question I do hold back and try to

be strong at the end question might know, because you will lose. The

only way you can do it is by surprise in them and trying to be up

there in the first half, especially when you have rough, difficult

conditions. Get up there and throw them off their stride. That may give

you a chance of beating them. The verdict at the end really showed

that they are still a very class act. They'd talked about the

upskilling, conditions they hadn't raced in before, good to have done

it? Rio is quite a big lake, almost the shape of a brute. Where you

start is very close to the bank, as you go out, you go out into the

middle of the lake. -- the shape of a boot. We could have conditions

like that in Rio, it is good to have been through it and feel what it is

like. Good stuff, let's move onto a look at the lightweight team in

general, who over the general scheme of things perhaps not as competitive

as the Great Britain management would like. One particular

disappointment took place yesterday where Kat Copeland, who was a gold

medallist in 2012, and Charlotte Taylor failed to make it through to

their final, which left them both absolutely devastated. Charlotte on

the left, they finished second this morning. Lots of non-Olympic races

earlier today, when conditions were not that bad. Clegg and scrimmage

won the Men's Pair in style. You could see the water was almost calm,

compared to what happened later on. After that, lane six was not the

draw you wanted. Well done to Jamie Kirkwood, who battled well against

the elements and only just missed out on a medal. About to appear on

your screen now at the bottom, but finishing in fourth place was Imogen

Walsh tailed off last in the women's singles. Let's stay with races who

are going to be competed for in the medals at Rio. The men's lightweight

four, always competitive and Great Britain always among the medals.

1000 metres, halfway mark in the men's lightweight coxless four.

Great Britain leading from the champions. Switzerland in second

race, Germany currently in bronze. Now as you move into the third 500

metres we will look to see the crews jostle around about. I think the

Swiss. To press the British. This is where the last 18 months- two years,

they have shown to be strong. Especially when the conditions get

bad, if you are stronger in this part of the race it is a double

whammy. You are good anyway and it is rough, so any improvement with

your boat is going to be doubled. In fact, you can see, they have come

through. The world champion Switzerland have come through. Great

Britain, one leading to the halfway mark on the far side. Germany up to

first. The Netherlands in second. Spain at five and Czech Republic in

sixth, currently not challenging the scorecard here.

And in, and a lead and you get in these conditions, it is hard to come

back. That is what we're going to see. It is going to test the

character of the Brits, and also how robust in their rhythm is. At the

moment, they are found wanting, because the Swiss have not only gone

through them, but have taken a significant lead, a length already

and about 400 metres. A very impressive third 500 metres. Three

quarters of a length. They have taken over a length in terms of

movement, the Swiss, from the British. Time very well. Great

Britain almost two seconds down. It is about responding and being aware

that Germany will be pushing on as the Netherlands starts to come back

in lane number two. The four crews on your screen, stretched out.

Switzerland looking very strong here. Chambers in the stroke seat of

the British four, racked up by Chris Bartley, Mark Aldred and Jono Clegg.

Continuing to move away, the most important thing for the British crew

is that they are moving away from Germany in Lane number one. 250

metres remain. But the disappointing thing from the perspective of the

Brits, yes, they are ahead of Germany, but there is a land now

between them and the Swiss. But you also have the New Zealanders, the

Americans, the Australians and the Canadians to come into this field.

You do not want to have that gap between first and second, if you are

European, because there are global competitors to come in. Less than

ten strokes, and the British crew are coming back once again. Just a

little on the world champions, but Switzerland squeeze it to the line.

Making it two in a row for the European title. The race on the far

side for the bronze goes to Germany. Just waiting for confirmation of

that. Out front, looking superb as they did last year, Switzerland, the

world champions and now two-time European champions. Perhaps that was

the best that the British crew could have hoped for but overall, what was

your take on the quality of the lightweight team? Obviously, the

lightweight win, a bit of a surprise not being in the final. They should

be up there, and there is a big question mark over that. The

lightweight four are going to be pretty satisfied with that. They

were ninth last year and they went off the pace, so they are back in

the frame. And the lightweight men's double has had an injury, they have

been out for a while but this should be back in three weeks' time. OK.

We're going to show you the best of the rest now, but let me mark your

card for the next half-hour. The women's race in particular is

fantastic. Before that, let's see what has happened with some of the

other crews on the water. First up, let's focus on the women's quad. It

was a race they will probably want to forget because they finished

fifth and caught a crab just before the halfway mark. Effectively, that

could to their goose. The men's quad, they finished fifth in a race

won by Estonia after the overhauled the Russian crew. In the lightweight

men's double, what a fantastic result for Gary and Paul O'Donovan.

The Norwegians looked certain to win until they came through to take the

gold medal. In the men's double, Johnnie Walker and John Collins

found the competition too hard to handle, finishing sixth behind the

Croatians. Katherine Grainger was part of our commentary team at BBC

television for two years after London 2012. She was agonising,

would she go to the Rio Olympics with the microphone or a paddle? Now

the clock is ticking to see whether or not that was the right call. What

we are seeing right now is that dreams do come true. This year is

better than 2012 in every sense. 2012 made such a massive impression

on all of us, those of us who experienced it, watched it or took

part, the memories are very vivid. In a way, it is right that it is

different. I did not want to come back and try to recreate it all over

again. It was never going to be the same. It is definitely harder. But I

think that it is healthy and refreshing and good that it feels so

different. Anna and I in 2012, we had a three-year run of winning

every single race we did from the first to the last. Vicky and I have

not won any. It is dramatically different. We have meddled and made

of the podium, in a competitive event. When Vicky and I raced last

summer, we had to learn quickly. From the first race, it was that

level of competitive experience. Tactical, astute racing, where split

seconds decided the results. 1500 metres from the end of the race, we

were in a medal position but we ran out of steam. So unfortunate. Down

in sixth position. Any new combination, you go through highs

and lows together. You're trying to find your feet and compete against

the best of the world at the same time. It is great to get in a boat

with someone who is fresh and ambitious and has experience but has

not experienced everything, wanting to learn and drive all the time.

That was good for me because I had to feel the same hunger and drive.

Honestly, I can say that I have no regrets about coming back. I have

had days where I wondered why I am doing it, but I do not want to do it

because I am sentimental, I am doing it because I still believe I can do

it well. That is why I am doing it and why I am still competitive about

it. Again, another quick start. A slow one from the Netherlands in

Lane five. They are easing off, this is the final of the women's double

sculls. The Czech Republic in two. Great Britain, with Katherine

Grainger and Victoria Thornley. Greece, the world single medallists,

did not qualify for the final. -- silver medallists. But the world

champions New Zealand. Great Britain disappointed with a sixth-place

finish at the world championships year, they come into this final as

the current European bronze medallists. Across all of this,

undoubtedly a crew with the pedigree of Katherine Grainger, they really

should be up there. But already, across the boys, Germany moving out

strong. 250 metres, only 12 and a half percent of the way through the

race. As I said, Catherine has the experience and mental toughness to

cope with the conditions and not let a dodgy first minute gets on top of

the overall race. And that is where the experience counts. But Victoria

is experienced enough as well. Don't worry at the moment, if you are in

this situation at halfway, then you start to worry. Again, things can

turn on a dime. A couple of strokes for Julia Lier in the bow seat has

missed from the German double. Great Britain really have to just maintain

confidence, and a solid rhythm. Keeping the length and keeping the

faith. 500 metres and it is Germany at the top of the picture, with

Belarus in Lane number one. I think the faith is starting to go now. If

they lose to Lithuania, in Lane six, which has not been the most favoured

Lane throughout the morning, then they will struggle to see many

positives from this weekend, apart from saying that these conditions

are making it a bit of a lottery. But the other crews are coping

better without lottery at the moment. The Russian crew, look on

the right-hand side, it side, it shows it all, how the crews are

responding. The Belarussian crew getting stronger and stronger. The

Czech Republic continuing to push away. I think Catherine and Victoria

have responded to the Lithuanians, so no matter how bad it is, they are

digging in. On the far side, the crew from Belarus, about 100 metres

from the line here. A little over ten strokes in normal time. The

Germans responding to the home crowd, with Lier and Adams, but it

is too late to get back on terms with the Belarussians. The Czech

Republic, a well-deserved bronze medal. Belarus in one, Germany in

two and the Czech Republic in three. Let's just watch Catherine and

Victoria's reaction when they cross the line. Very close they are,

almost being caught by the Lithuanians. We did the whole of

that race because by the halfway point it was clear that they would

not be on the podium. How do you interpret that performance? Not good

enough, basically. Their first race last year was winning a bronze medal

at the European Championships, which was a good results, and it seems to

have gone backwards since that time. Catherine, in that interview before

the race, she said she was looking forward to doing well. The Katherine

Grainger of old would never have entertained anything other than

winning. Is that a discernible assessment of where she is? I think

that might sum it up. A different mentality to when you are

consistently trying to get through to the highest level. Which she did

eventually, winning many World Championships and an Olympic gold

medal. Then taking some time out, two and a half years out in this

sport of muscular injuries, it is tough. But the whole process is

about thinking can I get back to where I was before, and if she can,

that is not good enough to win gold later this year. She has to be

better than she was, and that is better as a crew. So what has to be

summed up is, do you look at this and say, are they going to win a

medal at the Olympics? If they can win a medal at the Olympics, it is

worth keeping them together. If they cannot, will they make the women's

eight go faster? Probably so. And that is the big dilemma in some

ways. That takes us neatly to the women's eight, because does this

crew need Granger and finally? Watch this race and you might not be quite

so sure. A quarter of the race gone, the crews that get into the next 500

will consolidate their position. And the British crew is in seventh. The

more worrying thing is that they are 3.6 seconds away from the Russians,

who more than likely will fade, but the Dutch are a good crew. What is

your break even, what is par? Where would you say is par? Listen, I

think they should be winning it. I absolutely think they should be

winning it. They don't want to come away from this with an excuse, but

this, but the conditions. They are the best team out there on paper,

they absolutely are. The best even those in it with the mindset is to

take this on, they have plenty of time to do this. They are in third

place. They have to track the Dutch and if they can keep tracking that

crew, the Dutch won three weeks ago, and they were sixth at the world

Championships last year. If I was the British crew, 2 degrees I would

forget the Russians and I would be racing a two horse race, the

Netherlands against Great Britain. I would be focusing on that and

driving to the line. Part for me would be second place. From the

Dutch? From the British perspective, second would be acceptable and first

would be a good start. It is a nice rhythm. They need to build on that.

Don't let the Romanians through, race crews ahead of you, and don't

get dragged into the one behind. A little wind tunnel here. It is all

coming back together. Five crews abreast. An interesting last 1000

metres. Into the second half, the final of the women's eight at the

European Rowing Championships. A big race for these crews, particularly

the British, so disappointed in their finish last year, fourth at

the world Championships. They were ahead of a crew sitting beside them.

The Russians were fifth last year, Great Britain were forth. Here they

are, being led by the Russians. The Dutch are coming back hard against

them. They have to bring the British crew with them. In this third 500 is

about taking them by surprise, use the wind tunnel, push on, drive it

and drive it again. The Russians doing all right, but the Dutch still

looks strong. They will be strong. The Dutch, traditionally, have...

The Russians are typically fast and the Dutch come home fast. There

could be a blanket with 200 and feet -- 250 to go. Lane three going

through. The Dutch are going through. The British are still

there. Now keep pushing on here, because we have five minutes on

this, still plenty of race in this. The final, the last 500 metres of

the women's eight in the 2016 European Rowing Championships. The

British have 50 or 60 strokes give or take to put everything at this.

They put themselves in a good position. They could have been

marginally better. If they were perhaps ten feet, a little more

ahead of themselves they could push hard. But the British now have got

to try and outdo the Russians, they are half a length down. The Dutch

have broken the Romanians. I think the Dutch are too far ahead. I think

what I said before, second place, it's not perfect but it is a nice

platform for them. We had a couple of bounces on the bone side of the

Dutch group, that will slow them down for one stroke. Great Britain

have to consolidate on that. Zoe in the cox seat driving forward. She

has to say I need everything and a little bit more on top of that.

Coming out of it, 250 to go. This is doable, they have 30 seconds.

Absolutely, absolutely, now. Zoe and Bennett backing her. All of those

girls in the middle, the experience, the power is required from you. They

are coming apart, coming up level, and the British now are going to

come through. Have they got enough in the tank to get that last little

bit of a push into the line? They are through, they have taken the

Dutch. James Cracknell, Great Britain are the European champions

of 2016, thank you very much. That is how you do it in these kind of

conditions, and on the line. They can no go -- now go away, the

British eight, with their heads held high. It was absolutely brutal, the

whole way down the course. The wind is horrific out there. There were

trees blowing all over the place, the wind was in our faces,

everywhere, but the best thing to do was to keep our composure, keep our

heads and deliver the best race we could have done all things

considered. We rode in a composed way. We wanted to get together mark

this as the beginning the season. -- we rowed. This is just the

beginning. Really pleased to be able to do it today as a tribute. The

former coach of the lightweights team. A great honour to do it for

him. We have so much more to build, this is a relatively new crew. We

are looking forward to every race and hopefully go straight to the

top. A great result and race. Gary didn't even know what year it was at

the end! We weren't surprised by that in the studio. Two of the last

races of the day, the men's eight. Over the last four years or so,

especially with the men taking part in the eight and being moved out of

the four, this has been a great battle between the British and

German crew and we were expecting a grand finale in Germany today. We

are away now with the blue-ribbon to event. It is all about the first red

strokes, then 100, then 500. They are right on the edge. Now lads, you

have to show it. This is where you really lay it down. Each one of them

will be hurting here. There it is to the line. That ladies and gentlemen

is how you race! A quick start and Great Britain in

Lane number four, alongside the Olympic champions, Germany. We watch

the world champions moving. Look at the conditions, this is Power rowing

at its best against conditions at its absolute worst. Top of the

picture. Belarus in one, Germany two, the Olympic champions in three,

Great Britain in four, Poland in five and Netherlands in six.

Survival of the fittest. Survival of the fittest and the strongest. I

think despite the men's four Britain, the rest of that British

eight is still phenomenally powerful. In these conditions I

expect us to take out the Germans. Netherlands in Lane number six

closest to us, already through 300 metres. Notwithstanding that breeze

and headwind, all these crews taking it on after 500. The Netherlands

leading. On the far side, Belarus in Lane number one. In amongst this,

the world champions Great Britain and alongside them, the Green boat

of the Olympic champions, Germany. The rivalry and competition resumes

again here for the 2016 European Rowing Championships final. We are

at 500. Look at that, into the breeze, still up 500. Netherlands,

Belarus, Great Britain in bronze medal position. Germany just off it

but not much in it. That looks wrong to me, the Germans are probably up

in fifth position. The Dutch have done well to get out this last in

Lane six. I think they will come back. The Brits, good to see the

bleeding the Germans at this stage. This is where the Germans are

traditionally strong, in the second 500. We will see of Britain can hold

them off and then the fitness and strength over the second half, I

think, will start to pay dividends. At the moment the Dutch taking out

well, I can't see them holding onto this lead, though. The British crew,

Andy Hodd Chuck, sitting in there, coming back from year out with

glandular fever. In terms of all these guys coming up, although

Yergin has taken a powerhouse out of it, still a solid boat along here.

-- Jurgen. Arguably the strongest boat in this field but they have

still lost their best four athletes and there is no other way to dress

it up. These eight athletes may be the best eight athletes in the

field, but they are not the best eight in Britain. Leading at the top

now, and Russia coming through in Lane number two first up we get

towards the halfway mark already. Halfway, the final of the men's

eight, the 2016 European rowing championship. The Germans are

traditionally good in the second 500, and this is where the Brits, in

the third quarter, they need to show the toughness. The Men's Pair had a

good third quarter, this is where we rely on the work the British put in

over the winter. Language, a brilliant stern pair with Hodge.

Individually all brilliant athletes, together, though, they can do

special things. In this first 500 they are good racers, they will move

it on here. They will need to do that. Here now the British have

started to move through the 1250 metre mark. Not coming together. The

Dutch have come back. The Russians are very definitely... They didn't

go off to hard but they have come through in the third quarter, which

is incredibly interesting to see. Especially as they have taken the

best four Russians out. Great Britain closest to us, the world

champions. At the top of your picture in the first Lane, Belarus.

Still plenty to play for here. Hard to see where this is going to go. If

the Russians hold on from here with 50 strokes to go, it will being --

being credible. The British slightly slipped back here into third place.

2.6 seconds off the Russians. Everything now going into this, as

we count out 40 strokes from the line. The Russians, quite a big lead

at this time. I think the Brits could get back the Germans, but the

Russians too far ahead. The Russians in Lane number two. What out for the

British crew. The Belarus and is our moving up. The Germans are only 37,

one of these are going to win. If you are racing for your lives, up

the rate goes with 200 from the line. Reeling in the Russians hand

over fist. The Germans might get it... They knocked us off the

podium! The Germans just jumped out, they are howling down against the

Russians. Surely the Russians are not going to hold on here. The

Germans have found the pace. The Olympic champions are coming through

here at Brandenburg. The champions have opened up Clearwater against

the British. Gold to Germany and the statement they are sending to the

world champions. The Russians will celebrate with a silver medal. There

really is only one statement here, as they look back on the British and

say, the race is on! Your gold medal at Rio is far from certain. Men's

eight racing, and other great finish. The next round of big

important rowing action for you is live from Switzerland on the 29th of

May. A lot of discussion about the men's eight and the composition of

the men's and women's eight. What is your take on that? Definitely that

the men's eight in the last 500 were very disappointing. They weren't

really at the top of the race, but they weren't out of it at all. And

then they just lost in the last bit. The concern is is not just the

Germans in front of them, there are number of other boats. Hopefully

there is an issue wide-out wasn't as good as we were hoping it to be. So

a bit of work to do. But not a lot of time to do a lot of work. The

women's eight, changes in personnel? An interesting one. A lot of

excitement in coming back to win that race, you could see that on the

girls faces. That is fantastic, but the reality is that the Dutch

haven't qualified yet and they beat the crew that came fifth at the

World Championships. They have to be faster. If they want to win a medal,

they have to be faster than that. It will be interesting. We are

finishing now but after that stick with us because the Badminton horse

trials are coming up next. On the red button this afternoon you can

see the British basketball play-offs. And there is football

from four o'clock this afternoon and match of the day two tonight. For

all the British rowing team after the events in Germany this morning,

Rio just got a whole lot closer.