Sunday Rowing Finals Rowing: World Championships

It is one of the big weekends of the year in Amsterdam, a huge music and

Art Festival taking over the famous Market Square, performance artists,

theatre, comedy, music from every side, it is all happening in

Amsterdam. And a couple of miles down the road,

the best of Richter shabby rock and rolling towards a haul of medals. --

the best of British have been rocking.

James Foad and Matt Langridge getting a silver medal. They come

towards the line, they know they are world champions. Two golds, two

Silvers, one of them agonisingly close so a pretty good first day

overall and James Cracknell and Katherine Grainger were with me to

see it. That men's forwards the highlight. It was an awesome

performance. It was a great race and good to round off an undefeated

season with victory in the World Championships. Disappointed they did

not get a world record but there is another two years before they need

to do that. I was more pleased with the men's pair, Langridge and Foad,

the way they took on the Kiwis, the fastest pair there have ever been. I

am chuffed for them as a new combination. We have almost become

blase about it but Helen Glover and Heather Stanning kick-started it and

they were never troubled. They are the equivalent of the men's four on

the women's team, they were expected to win and they did it in style and

with a world record which is a nice thing to have in your back pocket.

That will help them going forward. It is a huge achievement. And the

fourth medal was the men's quad and it was this close to gold. The

fantastic thing, those guys have talked for a long time about being

medal contenders. They have consistent medals now and that race

would have made them believe they can win it. The men's eight are the

defending champions from Korea, can they do it again today? They can do

it. Will they do it? I don't think so. They are up against it to win.

They will be in the hunt at the sharp end but I think Gold is a step

too far. What are you looking forward to? The lightweight men's

four is always a great race, normally very close. The British

four has been doing very well. The Danish group is the one that has

this heritage of success. They beat their own 15-year-old world record

but the British crew are only just behind them. How many more medals

can Britain expect today? As we Z, the men's eight underworld title

winners from last year but it is a new look through this year. -- as we

said. Can they defend their crown this afternoon? It will be tough but

we are not going to lose. Before that, we will see how the

lightweight four got on against one of the crews to be this summer, New

Zealand. We are under no illusions, we know how big it is but it can be

done. And we will catch up with some of the gold medallists from

yesterday after is first afternoon for Team GB.

That is the plan this Sunday lunch time.

The second day is the same at the first with conditions what everybody

is talking about, gusty, rainy, sunny which will make things

difficult for the organises and the athlete. On our little podium here

it is nice and sunny at the moment. Katherine Grainger, it was not like

this ten minutes ago and there is a thunderstorm taking place about half

a mile away so we are in the lap of the gods. What impact will this have

on racing? The sun is good, the rain is unpleasant but doesn't affect the

race. It can actually calmed down conditions. Wind is the biggest evil

in rowing, it can make conditions unfair, dangerous, it can make

mistakes happen. We don't want to see unfair coming into it. As you

said, it is changing so anything can happen. Garry Herbert and James

Cracknell our commentators have been talking to one or two people who

have vested interests. They are the boys in blue today! James, what is

your take on how things are currently? If I was an athlete,

yesterday you would have taken lane one, today I would go for Lane six.

The rumour is that the governing body will let things stay as they

are for the first couple of races and potentially change them later. I

think they should bite the bullet and change them now but it is

difficult. The big governing bodies like Britain and America and Germany

will be putting pressure on them to change it or not depending on where

their crews R. Our men's eight and men's lightweight four are in lane

five are in a good Lane. They will perhaps want to leave it. What do

you think? They have to make the right decision. Looking at the

things in the last couple of days, the winner of the B final was the

Olympic champion, Mirka Knapkova. They don't want the wrong decision.

The medals are being handed out. This has been a great regatta from

an organisational point of view but it does not need to be marred by the

wrong results. The bottom line is, no athlete would choose lane one

over Lane six and that is why the fairness committee should change it.

If every athlete would choose one side over the other, it is not fair.

We are watching it on our monitors. As soon as the governing body make

the decision they will update it but we are minutes away from the first

race and the lane order is as it was. As we were saying, conditions

are changeable by the moment. We will let you know if they change.

Let's reflect on what happened yesterday. Over the past two decades

we have got used to be coxless for fulfilling our expectations at every

turn and yesterday was no exception -- coxless four. They are away. They

started as champions. I would be worried if I was the opposition that

they are half a length up already. They are being chased hard by the

Americans. USA are squeezing on as we come through 800 metres. At half

way it is Great Britain from United States of America. Great Britain are

composed, a brilliant third 500, they have pushed and lifted the boat

out of the water and outs to a length. There is no need for them to

do what they are doing, they are going for it. Andy Triggs Hodge

driving them towards the line, they are world champions, over and clear

and they will finish the year as they started. European champions,

world champions. Not a bad year all round.

It is actually a coxless duo because two of the guys are on spare duty

later but Andy and George, thanks for being here. The morning after

the night before, is it job well done? Definitely. I had a quick look

at the race this morning on the Internet. I realised I did not look

at any of the other crews in the race, we were that focused. Stepping

back and appreciating what you did, that smile on my face, you look at

the medal, and we did do it. Looking at how it went, pretty pleased. We

now have a full condiment so thanks for joining us. -- full complement.

Being spares, are you the lucky guys to be left out? Were you not able to

celebrate last night? No, it was fairly subdued. We are just trying

to support the team as best we can and that means going to bed early

and supporting the eight. and that means going to bed early

and supporting the Did you draw lots on this or were you told? No,

looking for what the guys have been doing, I am getting a bit old and

with that! It is about time some of the younger guys took the helm! You

are fairly old and withered down the end? Speak for yourself! No, I am

one of the oldest now. It feels like yesterday I just turned up but now I

am old! Don't let the facial hair full view, he is 24! So after a

quiet night in, did you watch the race? Yes, I had dinner with my

parents and my little boy and watched the race. What were your

thoughts watching objectively? We always don't really enjoy watching

it, you pick up on things that are maybe not

it, you pick up on things that are not rowers. I hate watching myself.

It was a good race and we pulled out a good one and I am happy. Is it

easier watching when you win? Definitely, it is terrible when you

don't win! You don't have many of those. Hopefully not! When you do

review a race, are you watching the crew as an entity or are you

particularly focusing on yourself? A bit of both. Personally, when I

watch it, I cannot get away from self analysing and looking at what I

am doing and what I could do better. Which is generally quite a

bit! But when we came off the water, it was great that we had won but

also great that there are things to work on and improve for next season

which is important. If you come off thinking that is awesome, it is

difficult to keep momentum going. We used the word awesome several times

yesterday and it was a fantastic summer all round. Let's hope you are

not involved later and enjoy your three weeks off because you have

certainly earned it. Let's go down to the other end of the course for

some live action. COMMENTATOR: Near-perfect

conditions, we are off in the final of the men's double sculls,

Australia in one, Germany into, Lithuania in three, that is the boat

to watch out for. Alongside them in lane five, Italy and Bulgaria are

closest to us. To give you an overview of this event. Earlier

today, John Collins and Jonathan Walton won there be final, a great

result for them giving them seventh overall. -- the B final. Norway have

not qualified, New Zealand, the Olympic champions, a different boat

in this regatta but they are always strong, but they did not qualify

either. It is a deep field in their lot of strong crews. The pecking

order can change. Croatia have moved it on, the Sinkovic brothers were in

the men's quad last year and they have changed to the double and they

are leading by a length. They have moved it on and others have been

forced to take a risk to try to match them and they are showing the

way at the moment. Germany have shown speed in the last couple of

years and they have to up it if they are to get with the Croatians. The

wind will start to pick up as they move into this second quarter.

Clearwater now for Croatia, the Sinkovic brothers. Martin in the

bow, 24 years of age, balancing the pitch in the stroke seat, world

champions last year in the quadruple sculls, and they are away and clear

at the moment. We can just see the wake in that

last shot. They have taken it out We can just see the wake in that

and laid their cards down. The former Yugoslavian nations, when

they are on form, they are mightily impressive, Croatia, Serbia,

Slovenia, they are all very good when they are good but when they

have a bad day, they are at the opposite end of the field! I am

surprised about how slow Lithuania are, the other semifinal winners.

Croatia are so far ahead. Through the 1000 metre mark in this final,

the men's heavyweight double sculls. Right from the first stroke, the

Sinkovic brothers from Croatia have taken it on and they are in the

enviable position of looking back at a field that is fighting for silver

and bronze. They are still on it, they slide crossed tailwind so we

would expect quick times. -- a slight cross tailwind. They are up

on 30s and strokes, perhaps pushing on for a world best time -- 37

strokes. You can see the Italians closest to us in lane five, it is

quite bouncy, they have more wind and I would rather be in their lane

than Australia. I would not be the prized if the fairness committee put

their heads out of the sand and realised it is not fair -- I would

not be surprised. Coming up to the last quarter. We are looking at the

fight for the bronze medal. Through 1500 metres and by some considerable

distance, a length and a half of Clearwater, Croatia over Italy and

we now have Australia, Germany and Lithuania at link it out for the

bronze medal. So much going on as the Croatian crew, the Sinkovic

brothers continued to stretch out their margin. Great Britain finished

first in the B final earlier. A lot to be done, perhaps Alan Campbell,

who has not come to this World Championships, might step up into

that? He might do. The clear thing is that the men's quad will be full

of the best scholars. -- scullers. Croatia are very strong, they have

strength and relaxation which is a dangerous combination. The

Australians up in lane one... Italy are running out of gas at the wrong

time. They are going to be caught. 150 metres. They are charging up to

the line, inside 100, ten strokes. Croatia, the Sinkovic brothers

stretching out one more time. No sprint, the Italians are barely

hanging on, a massive push here but on the far side, Australia coming,

Italians will hold on... We will wait for the full confirmation.

Three strokes out they were up, Australia came through, bringing

Germany and Lithuania with them. Just outside the world best time for

Croatia but the take gold, Italy takes silver. By a hundredth of a

second! And Australia in lane one get the bronze medal. It does not

get closer than that for silver and bronze. From the first stroke,

dominating this event, Croatia. They are up, actually, that is very

close! If I was the Australian manager, I would want to see the

photo finish right now because from the naked eye it looked like

Australia got that. It did. Lithuania were getting stronger as

well as Germany faded. This is the line. Both crews blades out of the

water. That is a tough one. Not sure what they can do, everybody is

looking at their screens. That is the British women's aid that

will be growing shortly. -- women's eight. Very exciting race. I think

Australia were second and you think Italy were second. It depends which

I I had open! They still have not announced who it was. We will find

out. We ought to mention, we did not have a British crew in that but in

the B final earlier we did have success from the British pair who

were in action. John Collins from Twickenham and Jonathan Walton from

Leicester getting consolation for not making it into the main event

but that it expected of them in the weeks and months and years to come.

What did you make of that race? A great advert for the sport.

Absolutely. As an athlete you want to be on the right side a bit but

that is what any final should be, fierce and fast and strong and

competitive and changing. Great to watch. I think we have still got the

closing stages and they have still not announced who was second and

third. That was the wrong footage but not to worry. I am sure the

Australians and Italians will be getting very excited, especially the

Italians! But let's go back to yesterday. We spoke to the men's

coxless four a few moments ago and we will hear from a couple of ladies

who have their gold medals because yesterday, the first race produced

the first gold medal. It has been two years since they started and

finished a major global events together, then it was the Olympics

and today it is the World Championships and for Great Britain,

the fairy tale continues, Helen Glover and Heather Stanning in lane

four macro. The British crew dominating the opening early stages.

This is the strength, this is where they can move on. Plenty of

confidence, all going to plan. Great Britain in control, coming up to the

line, an incredible journey, a wonderful partnership and a story

that is far from finished as Helen Glover and Heather Stanning become

world champions. And here are Helen and Heather. We have I'm sure many

Australians and Italians watching and the Italians got the silver

medal by that in that last and the Italians got the silver

yesterday you were miles clear. How do you feel today? It is kind of

surreal, it is the first day of the year when you wake up and you are

not thinking about the big event. The last few weeks you have

sleepless nights and it is the first thing on your mind. The last thing

Heather said before we went to bed last night, let's hope it wasn't a

dream! It was a great day. Did you sleep all right or were you reliving

the race? I slept terribly! I think the emotions of the last few weeks,

I thought I would sleep well but no, it is running through your mind

again. But you wake up and you don't have to worry about it! It is always

interesting about sleep patterns, a serious conversation, you are

thinking you have got to serious conversation, you are

more you say that to yourself, the more you cost and turn. Do you sleep

well? -- toss and turn. It is the sleep coming into the competition

which is important, it is the same with eating, people find it

difficult, I always try to make sure that the week before I have had a

good backlog of eating and sleeping so it does not matter so much in the

few days before, you are still prepared. It is like the morning

after a wedding, do you feel different waking up the first time

the morning after? No, I don't feel any different apart from very tired!

But yes, a world champion, trillion. Helen is world, Olympic and European

champion and hold all three heckled. -- world champion.

I realised I was still wearing my medal walking through the park

yesterday! It is interesting, part of you thinks, if you have got it,

flaunt it! We try to keep a bit available profile. When people are

still racing, I think it is hard to get up, people are hung over at

breakfast or relaxing and they have the biggest race of the year so we

try to keep a low profile for the sake of our team-mates. You do get

is a great or are you spares for the eight? We went out with our families

and had one glass of champagne but that was enough! Positive for the

eight? Yes, they have some good miles in their legs and they have

had some good performances so fingers crossed. And what is the

feeling in the women's squad in general? Up and down, we are in the

middle of the Olympiad and people are conscious of that but we are on

the upward slope I hope. Up and down but generally positive. I am sure

you will be cautious in what you say, but there is no British

representation in the finals of the women's singles sculls, double

sculls and quad, for the first time this century. What does that do for

the feeling in the team, is there much debate about it? We are quite

realistic and it is important at this time not to sugarcoat it. It is

not good for us. We want to have people representing in finals and on

podiums. At the same time, it is early in the Olympiad so there is

loads of potential to represent strongly. I hope we go away to next

season and think as a whole squad what we can all do to make it

happen. Other countries are storming those events and are incredibly

strong, as women's rowing is across the board. We have to do something

and we have a great programme written by our coaches and trusting

in that is the main thing, that will ring us through stronger and

stronger. A final question, we were talking to bond and Murray

yesterday, they were saying that with every race they win, the

pressure is greater and greater, self propelled pressure. With the

record you have had, how conscious are you of that, that pressure will

mount on you to set the bar higher? A little bit, you think back to four

years ago and the pressure we had, we wanted to get a medal but now, we

have got the medals and the titles and we have to hold onto them. It is

a nice pressure but it is almost what you put on yourself which is

worse. You have to think, what can I do to keep myself better than

everybody else? Can we make ourselves better more often? And you

would rather be the person people are shooting at rather than catching

up? Definitely, you can do it more on your own terms and you can choose

how to pace the race and take those steps forward so it is a privileged

position but we do not take it for granted. The more races you go

unbeaten, the more it is in your mind, when will that race come? It

will not be this year, that is for sure! Have a great holiday. You can

go back to sleeping and then training afterwards again. We will

make the most of it! Let's get back to the course.

COMMENTATOR: This is the women's double sculls, the USA in lane one,

Lithuania in lane two, : In lane three, Australia in lane four, China

in lane five and New Zealand in lane six. -- Poland in lane three.

Interesting that New Zealand in lane six are slightly down. They were the

winners in Lucerne six weeks ago but they were trailing through 1500

metres and then unleashed a major push in the last 500 to take the

gold medal. It does not look like they have learned from that in this

regatta. Australia in lane four, picking it up in this mid part of

the second quarter of this final. There is a reason New Zealand are in

Lane 6. They came third in their semifinal. I still think it is

better to be on the side of the course than the Lithuanians in Lane

2 other were champions will stop it is no suppose they have led out but

they have been reeled in an now taken over by ailing buyer

Australia, who won the semifinal, broke the

the Lithuanians are not going to allow either of the crews to go.

Lithuania in amongst it. Not too bad there. Going to need a very big

second thousand, which we are fast approaching. The final of the

women's heavyweight double sculls, Australia by just over Clearwater

over Poland in Lane 3, Lithuania in two, Lithuania the world champions.

We saw the wobble of the Australian boat, a little bit of wind again

coming over, but again as these crews progressed down the course,

the what is getting a lot more choppy, so a little bit more to

content with fear. Australia remaining high -- the contender with

here. They have just done a push to take them through the thousand

metres and then they will settle again. The Australians are in the

position where, if they push hard here from 1000 two to 1300 1400, the

other crews, the Lithuanians, the polls and the New Zealanders, who

are not out of it either, will start racing for silver, thinking the

Australians have go. As long as the Australian start pushing in the

third quarter, don't give the other crews a sniff, then they can sit

back and enjoy the crowd in the last 500. But I still think the Kiwis

will come back. Olympia Aldersey in the bow seat. Doing a pretty good

job, backing up the 28-year-old, Sally Kehoe, in the stroke. This is

Poland. Closest to us, hunting them down in the third quarter, New

Zealand, Fiona Bourke and Zoe Stevenson, Zoe Stevenson, 23 years

of age, and we know they have a very strong second thousand metres and a

particularly strong last 500. Clearwater at the halfway mark for

Australia. Poland have just drawn back. They have an overlap here so

we are now in the danger zone for Olympia Aldersey and Sally Kehoe,

who have led this from the start. They are under pressure on the

right. Poland will come at them, on the left in Lane 6, New Zealand will

surely come back strong. Yes, I think Olympia Aldersey in the bow

seat is looking very tense. She is not finishing, and the New

Zealanders are coming back strong in Lane 6, and the Poles as well.

Australia may be the world record holders, they will may have won the

semifinal but they will not have it all their way in the last 300

metres. The Poles have got a sniff and the Kiwis are rampaging in Lane

6. I like the Kiwis, long and loose, still composed. They are holding the

length. Australia now have shortened up, and that is dangerous here

because both New Zealand and also Poland have gone through them, and

here come New Zealand here! Fiona Bourke and Zoe Stevenson in lane

number six, opening up to half a length here, but there are still

about 15, 16 strokes up to the line. Now coming up to the hundred, it is

New Zealand, but still Poland pushing on hard here. It is not over

by any means. Australia have just got their heads down, hanging on for

the bronze medal. Poland is still pushing hard, but the well champions

here in Amsterdam 2014, New Zealand, sneaking in there, Lane 6, what a

victory for them. Poland getting the silver, and heads go right down from

Australia's Olympia Aldersey and Sally Kehoe, who led to the 1500

metre mark, but when the pressure came on, they folded. I think they

will reseed the lanes now come you can't be winning from Lane 6 like

that. We will wait to see what happens with the international

governing body, as New Zealand rightly celebrate. Powered back in

that last 500 metres. And that is the best vantage point

you can possibly have, because you have the alcohol and the food here,

but that is not too bad compared to this. I didn't know if one of the

cameramen can look at the flags over there. They are actually going all

over the place, and that is the problem, they are not straight out

in any direction. One moment they are going one way, then the other,

and then around in circles. Would you back up what James were saying

about having to reseed the races? The whole point of the seeded lanes

of the fastest would go in the middle lanes. You would expect that

would be where the medals will come from. When somebody from an outside

lane wins a world title, it is unusual but not unheard of. If there

is a consistent wind, they will redraw the lanes, because it makes

sense. If it is changing constantly, which direction do you

change it to? If every crew start winning in Lane 6, you have to

change it, otherwise it is tricky. I am sure over the last couple of

years, your mind has changed constantly, whether you are going to

resume your rowing career. Your burgeoning media career is heading

for the stars, obviously, but standing here talking about it can

never replicate the buzz of being out on the water, and I'm sure you

felt that yesterday, and today, standing here. So are you edging

towards making a decision now, and are you edging towards getting back

in the boat? I am definitely edging towards making a decision, and being

pushed firmly in the back as well. The athletes get a three-week break,

and the season starts in the third week of September. The team managers

have always said that two years is unusual, but axe at all, as

time-out. However, you need at least a two-year lead in for the link

against -- but acceptable. So by the third week of September, I am either

in the boat or not -- lead in for the Olympic Games. Are they saying

they need you to be back in the team? It is very flattering but very

unrealistic. One person going into that field and change it to be an

overnight success. The last time we did not make an a final in the

sculling event was 2009, so we have had over a decade of success in

sculling in the British team. It is disappointing for the athletes, and

all the support staff. Nobody has set back and P. People are working

very hard, it is just medals are tough out there. I suppose in a

Paxman way, I could ask you the same question 13 times and you will not

answer it, but had you made the decision in your own mind, it is

just a question of when you are going to tell us? Yes, I thought I

made the decision a number of times over the past few years, and I have

changed again. Something happens, you try something, someone says

something, the conversation June have, the places you go. My mind has

changed quite a lot over two years. -- the conversations you have.

Recently I have become more at least with -- at ease with a decision. We

will know in three weeks time. Let's move on to the race coming up now

which may offer Britain's our best chance of a gold medal today because

this is the men's lightweight four. I think last year, there was

probably less pressure on us to be in that middle zone to win. It felt

more like a project that we had to work at pretty hard. To end up

coming away with a medal was really actually a great feeling, like we

were pretty pleased with bronze for stock this year it is a lot

different because obviously there are three of us from the 2012 boat.

And we expect more of ourselves because we have that experience in

the event. That creates its own pressure. We have definitely felt

that a bit more this year. COMMENTATOR: New Zealand gold,

Denmark the world champions, silver, and Great Britain coming in bronze

medal position and they will be disappointed. It has been a tough

season so far, but a learning experience. We are the four best

guys in there. Even quicker than 2012. There has been one dominant

crew, can you break their dominance? Allen the Kiwis are not invincible.

But in the next two years we would have done enough to beat them.

Looking at the speed of the other crews, how far ahead they have been,

we are going to need to do our ten out of ten performance. Do I think

that is good enough to win? I really hope so. What will you be happy with

on a performance level going away with from the championship?

Honestly, nothing but a win. That's good to hear. That is all we do the

training for. It will be great to beat the Danes, but not good enough

because we have not beaten the Kiwis. You don't do all of this

training to come second and third, you do it to win. We are under no

illusions how difficult it is going to be. But it can be done. The sun

beats down and it is a warm sun, a very bizarre weather day. On the

other side, Gary and James. Talk to us about the men's lightweight

form, why it is such a competitive race. Why are they invariably

decided by the tiniest of margins? First of all, they all away in the

same weight, so there is a level playing field on that side and that

makes it difficult. They do the same amount of training, but the main

thing really is the side of things. A level playing field, they weigh in

two hours beforehand. You are right with the weight thing, but unlike

the heavyweight men where there is a pair, a four, and eight, those only

the men's four. So the best athletes are in it. It will be a good race

for the British, because they have the Kiwis, who have been the

outstanding team and the Danes, who broke the world record in the

semifinal, a couple of lanes on the inside. To be honest, if I was

choosing lanes now, I would choose Lane 5 or six. They are in the right

position, unfortunately the Kiwis have got Lane 6. You

position, unfortunately the Kiwis James went no, but having two

brothers in a boat out of four, so James went no, but having two

basically half the boat from one family, how do you think that

basically half the boat from one affects the dynamic within that

quartet? My first Olympics I was in a boat with two sisters. It is

brilliant. The Chambers Brothers are the same. Two members of a family,

very passionate, driven and competitive, as every athlete is in

this level. Then that same level of funding, yet they are the only

people who can really have a go at each other and there will never be

any grudge. They can say things to each other that no one else can. It

can get quite feisty though. This is Britain's best chance of a medal

today. Will it be a gold? COMMENTATOR: Waiting for the green

light, the final of the men's light four underway. Netherlands in one,

Australia two, Denmark in Lane 3, the well champions. France in Lane

4. Mark Aldred, Peter Chambers, Richard Chambers, and Chris Bartley

in the stroke seat in Lane 5. New Zealand in Lane 6. Great conditions

here for the British to monopolise on the first 500. They have got to

get out quick because they know that the tailwind, the Cross tail, will

benefit them as they get further down the course. Already now, it is

Great Britain just easing out but taking with them Denmark. Yes,

Denmark are the form crew of the season but they are also the form

crew of the last decade. When I used to race them in the Sydney Olympics,

they are like a relentless wasp. They are going to go like the

clappers from the start and not give an inch and the line. So you know

you have to earn your victory against them. The Kiwis have not

been in good form in this regatta, but they are in the final and next

to the British. Britain are level pegging with Denmark and have given

themselves every chance of getting on the right side of the podium.

Approaching the first timing mark, a quarter of the race down. A crew

average of 70 kilograms sure there is not a lot in it. All six boats

well and truly out into the race. Nice, tight spread across there, and

we are looking for the bows of lane number five, Great Britain, as we

move into the second quarter. We are now moving into the transitional

start, the full sprint. The legs will be starting to burn a bit here.

Just a look to the right from Mark Aldred, just checking positions.

Around the 600-metre mark would be the first big push, if any crew is

going to start to move here, but this crew, Denmark, the well

champions, they get up, they hit 39, and they will hit 39 the whole way

through the courts until the last 300 out, and then sprint it up. That

is how impressive they are, their boat speed. Great Britain in the

middle of the picture, closest to us, and the All Blacks of New

Zealand. A good race. Denmark, Britain and New Zealand are all in a

line, so this is a great race to watch. It might be slightly painful

to be in but a great race to watch. The British crew, they'll nice and

relaxed. You can see the relaxation in their shoulders. They are not put

to the floor yet, they have a bit of gas to put down in the second half.

The good news is with the wind following them the second half will

not be as long as it normally is. Nothing in it crossing the line,

1000 down, 1000 to go, the final of the men's lightweight coxless four

now. The bows of Hunter, Bond, Taylor and Curtis Rapley from New

Zealand edging out in Lane 6. In Lane 3, Denmark, the well champions,

stroked by the 29-year-old more to new audience and, one-time Olympic

champion -- Morton yours and -- Morton Joergensen. Hard to call at

this stage whether gold medal is going to. All three boats looking

very impressive. Look how long they are. Getting right out onto it.

Picking the boats up here very efficient. The British boys are in

thing over and New Zealand quite a lot. I think they feel the challenge

is coming from New Zealand. Denmark if they were going really well with

the further ahead at this point. But they look nice and relaxed. I think

the Kiwis know they have a nice lane, they are in the final. They

are a long way from Denmark. They have a chance to catch other people

napping. The Brits are dropping back slightly on the Kiwis and the Danes.

So they need to stop that and start earning it the other way. But they

can turn, they have got two men in the stern, Chris Bartley and Richard

Chambers, former world champions in this event in 2010. They will know

what it takes, and it is going to need a very, very big finish here,

because we are through the 1500 metres in the final of the men's

lightweight coxless four. As expected, Denmark, Great Britain and

New Zealand fighting it out now for the gold medal. The Danes are racing

well. I genuinely would not choose their lane, especially in a race

with such tight margins. The Kiwis are making the most of a poor

regatta, and it is going to be tough to take the Danes now, though.

Morten Joergensen takes them back. Always impressive. 42 strokes per

minute and they are 200 metres out from the line, they are picking up

the boat and just moving it forward every stroke. New Zealand now coming

under pressure from Great Britain, who themselves are coming under

pressure in Lane 4 from France. What a sprint for the line! The Kiwis

have laid it on a run for the middle of the case. The Danes are like

relentless wasps, they have just kept buzzing along at 40. Come on

Britain, get on that podium, you can take New Zealand. Denmark taking it

out, write to the line, New Zealand are going to get the silver medal,

and Great Britain hanging on the bronze. Code for Denmark, silver for

New Zealand, and it will be bronze for Great Britain. Their heads go

down, but what a result. They held off such a powerful sprint from the

French in Lane 4. But Denmark, we salute them, James, because they

know how to race this event here. They don't get flustered, they hit

it in the middle thousands and rise up in the last quarter. The Danes

are tough guys, they train hard. A lot of their training is based on

how far they can go in an hour, so they do 35, 36 strokes a minute for

an hour. A six minute race to them is nothing, that is why they are

foot to the floor from stroke one. As much as I want to see the Brits

win, I respect the way they train, prepare and race. Great Britain

finished third at Lucerne and the last World Cup regatta, a bronze

here is on par for where they were throughout 2014, but it gives them

plenty to go away with. They will be disappointed on reflection, because

they were right in amongst it into the last quarter, going into the

last 500 metres. It gives them everything to take away, but such a

tight race in this event, as we were talking about before. It is, and

with the following win, regardless of whether one lane is favoured or

not, it is more the fact that it is a following wind that just closes it

all up. They always the same before the start, they all do the same

training and it is very close. It basically comes down to which crew

is prepared to put their hand in the fire for that bit longer and the

Danes did that from the start. A very tight race, and France will be

bitterly disappointed in their fourth place.

There are no certainties in any sport, but there is a certainty in

rowing that at the end of the men's lightweight four, everyone will be

banned jacks. Gary Medel point that they will be disappointed but one

stroke further on and they would have gone home empty-handed, so I

suppose on reflection they will be quite glad to be on that podium. If

I know them well, I would say they probably aren't. I think second to

the Danes, they said in the video they... Anything less than gold

would be a disappointment. Second to the Danes is a bitter pill, but you

respect. They are an absolutely world-class crew, they broke the

world record this week. The Danes really have an amazing reputation in

this event. So to come second to them is something to be very proud

of. To come behind the Kiwis who they have beaten early on this week

is tough. They won't be happy with third place, and if France had

finished them off and they had come forth, they would still be

disappointed either way, to be honest. What did that race tell us

again about the lane draws here? Because New Zealand looked like they

were going to win it, win two consecutive races from Lane 6. If

they were about to win it again from Lane 6, then they would have been

forced to make a decision, the organisers. But would be far too

late? Two medals already given. But again at the start of the week, the

Kiwis are one of the favourites. They are one of the world-class

crews in this event, so it is not a massive surprise to see them on the

podium. Seeing them win here would have been a surprise. Right at the

closing stages of that race, the British crew were ahead of the

French, but they could see out of the corners of their eye how close,

and that with every single stroke they were getting closer and closer

and closer. What is the key thing, when you are the boat in front, to

not do in that situation? Panic. The most natural thing... Because what

they have just experienced is, they were fighting for the gold. They

said they were going out there to try and beat the Danes, that was the

whole point of their race. They knew they would not beat the Danes buy at

some point in that race. They then had to fight with the Kiwis for the

silver medal. Suddenly their bronze is under threat from a crew closing

faster than you are, and the first thing you will do is panic, because

suddenly that race has gone and this race has come on you. The panic, the

tension, the stress, means you wrote badly. Simple, we have done it, I

have been. Does that mean you start growing too quickly? You can run out

of time, it likes printing, when you see the best sprinters, everyone is

long, loose and relaxed. In your sprint finish in rowing, it is the

same, it just needs to be free-flowing. And you are doing it

time with other people at your maximum limits. So a little bit of

tension comes in. You shorten up a little bit. The blades aren't as

effective, you are not as efficient and that is how speeds can change.

And mentally you are defending. If you are the attacking crew feeling

the momentum is with you, that is when you see people come right

through, because the positive build, when you are closing down a crew,

mentally you are invincible, here you come, the big charge, the

emotional adrenaline, it makes a big difference. When you are on the

receiving end of trying to hold onto that race, it is a tough one. So

they did a great job to hold onto the bronze, they are just not happy.

They are down at the pontoon, but the men's eight is the finale to

this regatta. Coming your way in about an hour's time. First up, the

women's eight, and they have had a pretty good year first up.

COMMENTATOR: And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why the Americans are

world champions. I think there are places up for grabs. The Canadians

have done a pretty impressive job. They led the Americans out last

time. And I think the American line-up coming to Amsterdam will be

stronger, but I think the Canadians, you know, they are not unbeatable.

The Romanians certainly have always had strong eights, but we seem to be

in their ballpark. So those low medals will be up for anyone. We

have got a new coach, a new line-up, we have people coming in and out and

it has just been about really finding those little 1% things,

rather than looking the big changes, it is building up the smaller

changes. How difficult has it been adjusting from maintaining the

seedless per to then joining the eight? Yes, I'm not going to lie, it

was quite difficult. Any pressure, if you have a goal, not just

athletes, and you don't achieve it, it is difficult. It is important to

recognise that. Rowing with other girls who want the same thing must

be helping? Absolutely, they are great. They have so much life and

energy in them. And so much ambition. The eight has been on the

podium every civil time it has raced this year. The energy and the

momentum we are carrying on to the world 's -- every single time, it is

in the air. The silver medal going to remain you buy two or three feet.

Great Britain will be disappointed with the bronze medal. It is always

a bit better sweet but sometimes it is not too bad to be beaten by 0.2

of a second. Having that in the back of your head when you are owing

around doing miles and miles and miles. I have been in the eighth for

a long time now, since the thousand five, so I know the feel, I know the

event, and I know how a vote should feel going into the World

Championships, and this is fast. We have some fast speed. We want to be

pushing up there with the big dogs. We want to be big dogs. We don't

want people to think they can bring us down because they can't. The way

we are raining at the moment, -- rowing at the moment, if we are not

on the podium, I will be incredible disappointed, and everyone else will

be as well. So the women's eight, what chance do

they have? They have made a podium in all of the competitions this

year. The expectation would be the podium here. On results, USA put

themselves way out in front. Canada is close, the closest, and they have

put themselves away from the pack, as well. And we hoped and expected

Great Britain to come into that third medal, bronze place. However,

in the repechage, Great Britain did not have a great row and came behind

Romania. At the moment, Romania are favoured for the bronze. China put

in a very good repechage as well, so there will be a race to get onto the

podium. That race is coming up in a couple of moments time, but the

lightweight four are just arriving, in dribs and drabs. It is one of

these things, Catherine and I have been talking about the race, saying

you could almost have had nothing, but you so badly wanted the gold, so

where does that leave you? I just said to the guys, it is better to

have tried and failed than not to have tried at all. We knew that we

would grab it by the balls and go for it, and we did that. We came

unstuck in the last 250 but I would rather have that. We spoke to James

Cracknell couple of weeks ago, and he was saying second is the same as

sixth, and that is what we kept saying, second is the same as six.

All we wanted to do was to win, and we went for the win and came out

with the bronze. It is disappointing but we can hold our heads high. At

the halfway point, it was nip and tuck between three of you, what were

you thinking at that point? I was vaguely aware of where we were. I

think the idea was to go out hard and try and hang on, and we got the

getting it hard right. We did not manage to quite hang on in the

second half. As Richard said, we went out to win gold. We gave that a

good shot. It is a slight disappointment but I think we can be

proud of that performance. Absolutely. The last 100 metres or

so, you must have seen the French coming like a steam train. The

danger then is used at shortening or losing the rhythm, what was the body

language, if you like, on the boat? I wasn't really thinking about it,

to be honest, the whole way down we were just thinking to win, and then

became a part in the last 500, but we are good enough to hang on to

what we had there. -- we came apart. We could have come out in third and

made it a bit safer, but we went for the win and that is what you get.

So, looking forward, the Danes are a formidable quartet, let's face it,

but looking forward, how do you view what you can do

but looking forward, how do you view into an Olympic year? Yes, the Danes

definitely are into an Olympic year? Yes, the Danes

have wrote together for a lot longer than we have.

have wrote together for a lot longer year out last year, had a completely

different crew, so it really has been a process of trying to rebuild

almost from scratch, trying to make this four as good as it can be and

that is the best we could have done out there. Yes, it fell apart at the

end, but another couple of years for us to work on that part. A fantastic

race to watch and agonising for us at the end, and we're delighted you

will be getting a on the podium. The women's eight is underway, let's get

down to the start. final of the women's eight, Great

Britain in lane 41, Romania in lane two, Canada in lane three, USA in

lane four, China in lane five and two, Canada in lane three, USA in

Russia in lane six. In the last few years it has all been about the USA.

They have dominated at World Cup level, World Championship level and

at the Olympic Games but the one thing they have not done in 2013 is

break their own world best time. The British are in lane one, Romania are

in lane two, Canada in three. The USA just inching out by about a

canvas over Canada. You would expect Canada and the US to be the quickest

crews, they qualified by rectally from their respective heats. Of the

two repechage races, great with this -- Great Britain were the slowest

coming in. -- they qualified directly.

No surprises so far. In terms of how America dominate, this is not the

ideal race condition. They have a long finish and in a tailwind, you

want to be up and on the toes onto the next stroke. Some of the other

crews might have bit more belief of beating America but it is also tough

for them. They have not raced much this season so they are coming in

relatively green whereas the others are in form as Canada have shown.

This is the one race that counts. I think it will be between the North

Americans but China have a fair few to choose from as well! USA and

Canada have gone out but there is still a pack for the chasing medal.

Rate in Britain -- Great Britain still in that. China in third place

have moved back down. Looking at that speed coming towards halfway.

This is the final of the women's eight, coming up towards 1000

metres, Great Britain well off the pace of the USA as they come through

the mark three quarters of a length up on Canada who themselves are up

half a length on China. A big call from Katelin Snyder, the cox in the

US boat to open it up but they are being pushed hard by Canada. Lesley

Thompson-Willie, 53 years of age, she won a medal in Barcelona in 19

addictive and here she is, driving the Canadians hard on the heels of

America -- in 1992 and here she is. Canada make end up paying slightly

for going with America. China are down but they are moving well. They

are at the same speed as Canada and they are in with a shout especially

as the wind opens up and favours this side. A length in the eight is

effectively an ocean. The last few hundred metres, the Chinese have to

get everything out to get that silver medal. The Chinese keep their

length. We have only seen this boat once this year at Aiguebelette and

they finished in fourth place on that occasion. Great Britain have

beaten them, they finished in third place on that occasion. It is

tailing off for Great Britain coming into this but other crews are moving

on. Coming up towards the last timing point, three quarters of the

race gone, 500 metres remaining. No surprises here that the American

boat has gone off, leading through 500 metres, increasing their lead at

halfway and that third 500 has been very strong for them. They have not

removed themselves from Canada but this is a big message, almost a

length is an impossibility to come back from and the Americans look

stronger and stronger as they wrote towards the finish. Great Britain

went through in sixth position and there will be huge disappointment

for them up in lane one. China in lane five are closest to us, still

on the heels of the Canadian boat in lane three. There is a possibility

that China will go past Canada. I think the Chinese have left it a bit

late but the Americans have been very compact and well drilled, doing

a lot of training on their own and not racing much but they are a

classy outfit. Heads up high and the competence is high as they come

towards the line. -- confidence. World champions again the USA,

Silver medal for Canada but look out China came back on them, they take

bronze. Remain your take fourth place -- Romania. Great Britain in a

very disappointing sixth position. That was extremely disappointing. We

knew it would be tough for the bronze medal. Last place in this

final was never going to be good enough. Not a complete disaster but

as far as results go, it is a huge underperformance. We were talking

about this earlier, if the men's crew is strong across the board,

there gaps in the setup. If we are honest, Helen and Heather are

fantastic, you could not ask for more, gold medal, world record,

everything they could have done. The eight came in sixth place, the

women's quad came third in the B final, Vicky came second in her B

final. It is not the results you would expect from the team. Let's

move on to talk about the bigger issues surrounding rowing. If you

have watched our coverage over a long period, you will have seen that

fundamentally, most of the medals go to a small country of nations so one

of the big issues is how to broaden the international base. Where there

is a will, there is a way. One of the great problems that rowing has

in increasing its global reach is the sheer cost of the sport. What we

would regard as a simple rowing scene can cost thousands of pounds

to a country in Central Africa and let's face it, they have better

things to do with their money so what you need is an affordable

rowing machine. Take a look at this. The man whose brainchild this is is

Jim Flood from the governing body. This is absolute genius! It is just

basic engineering. Assembled by the goal will, simple timber that you

can find in Africa countries -- a simple bicycle wheel. And how much

would it cost? About $50 if you were paying top prices.

would it cost? About $50 if you were rowing machine. In the nation with

huge geographical problems, you can have them all over the place rather

than in one area? Indeed, and if rowing is going to spread, it had to

move to outlying areas. What would be your vision, long-term, for this

contraption? Long-term it is to introduce indoor rowing to rowing as

a sport, using simple, basic technology like this. They will need

the more sophisticated machines to develop further but this is a first

step they can keep control of, produce and maintain. You get your

local carpenter along, your mechanic and you can get it working. In your

mind, ten, 20 years down the road, is there a world champion from

Uganda or something? Quite possibly. We were unfortunate that the

Ugandans were not able to come here but they were meant to. It is

developing there, they are on the point of being competitive. They are

certainly hoping to qualify for the Olympics. And in your role with the

governing body, this is exactly what you need to do, be pushing the

boundaries and increasing appeal. Indeed. The reason is, unless rowing

develops more widely, it could well lose firstly the number of places it

has in the Olympics and also, it could lose rowing altogether from

the Olympics if it is not a widespread sport. So the stakes are

high? Very high indeed. And the man who is effectively doubling those

stakes is here, the boss of the governing body. A fascinating piece

there about broadening the appeal of the sport. Is that part of your

mission statement as the new man in charge? Definitely. Development is

one of our priorities, it is a key dimension for us. We are in

competition with other sports and we do need to grow. We know that being

an Olympic sport, it is essential for the sport of rowing.

Universality is one of the criteria that the IOC looks at. It is

important we do not remain in the historical part of the world but

that we can improve and go where rowing is not a historical sport. We

believe it is part of our responsibility to develop and to

encourage. I am sure you have had many meetings, perhaps over lots of

bottles of red wine, and people come up with lots of random ideas and

some are stupid and some are good. We were doing it last night. Things

like why there are not 500 metre races in World Championships, being

dramatic and exciting and vibrant? I think innovation and creativity

should be part of this exercise to see how we can improve our sport and

actually provide a good product to be attractive. That said, we have

some values in terms of sport and we have to make it balance. I think

there is room for innovation, we are actually developing as you have just

said, in terms of Sprint regattas to promote the sport and be inside the

city instead of outside. And to move to that kind of event for the

Olympics is another question, we are probably not mature at the time but

we need to think 20 years time. All these ideas are on the table. We had

so many ideas, floodlit racing and all that, we don't have time to talk

about them all! You mentioned the Olympics, Rio is a golden

opportunity for rowing to spread its boundaries and there is a fantastic

course in a wonderful location. Art you happy with how things are going

there? -- are you happy. It will be a fantastic opportunity, in the

middle of the city, in the most iconic lake of Brazil and maybe in

South America so it is fantastic. We don't have the same issue may be

other sports do have because we have the water so we can stage a rowing

regatta. Now we can move to I would say less important issue but there

is still a lot of work to do but we are confident we can deliver a

fantastic Olympic regatta but there is still some work to do. Lovely to

meet you, best of luck in your new post. They are racing already in the

final of the men's single sculls. COMMENTATOR: Azerbaijan are in lane

one, New Zealand in name to win the Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale,

Marcel Hacker of Germany in lane three come up Ondrej Synek of Czech

Republic in lane four, Lithuania in lane five.

Mahe Drysdale the Olympic champion, winner at Lucerne six weeks ago, he

actually struggled to win his semifinal, losing it, coming second

to Marcel Hacker hence New Zealand are in lane two. But what happened

over the last couple of days is irrelevant because we are seeing the

race developing in conditions with AIDS cross tailwind -- with a cross

tailwind. 32 nations entered this event, the largest entry that the

World Championships has ever seen at this level. In terms of the small

boats, it is pretty good, in terms of the leaders right now, Ondrej

Synek in the Czech Republic boat in lane four just taking on the mantle

Synek in the Czech Republic boat in Cuba in lane six. And the worrying

thing for the other five men in the race is that Ondrej Synek is really

fast in the second half so if he is leading coming up to halfway, he

will disappear. I imagine every commentator is saying that I would

rather be in lane six Than Lane one, I cannot understand why the

governing body does not grab the bull by the horns and change it. For

somebody to be robbed of a medal by the governing body bottling the

tough choice is disrespectful to the sport. Strong words from James

Cracknell but that is what former and current athletes are thinking.

The Czech Republic from Cuba and Mahe Drysdale the Olympic champion

from New Zealand, he is having to work so much harder just to keep in

amongst it. Closest to us, the distinctive style of Angel Fournier

Rodriguez of Cuba. He came second last year at the World Championships

and just appeared from outside to miss time it without a Sprint as

everybody came back. Marcel Hacker almost took the silver medal from

him. Distinctive long and flowing style of the Cuban but now Ondrej

Synek, the world champion, not much in it between them. He is a battler

up there in lane two, Mahe Drysdale, he will have to fight this out. He

will, he is the world record holder and the Olympic champion. If anybody

can remove the fact that he is not in the best lane from his head, he

can, he has never lost to the Cuban before. The chances are he might not

lose to him today but that is more the class of Drysdale rather than

his lane. Overlaps now between Synek the world

his lane. Overlaps now between Synek Olympic champion. We love watching

Mahe Drysdale, it is Olympic champion. We love watching

come back over Ondrej Synek from the Czech Republic, it is half a length

and that is closing on every single stroke. This is where Synek needs to

be tough in the head. He had clear water on Drysdale and now has three

feet with 500 metres to go. The last 500 metres of the season, the last

minute, who can put themselves in the hurt locker more? Drysdale has

been in it for a while and he is loving it. This is the event, the

self proclaimed gladiators of world rowing, every week, every month,

every year, they race each other, they know their individual styles

and psychological strengths and weaknesses and the one thing the

world knows is that Drysdale never ever gives up and here he is,

fighting and battling and he is through. Stroke for stroke but

marginally ahead, Drysdale. The New Zealand supporters on the far side

marginally ahead, Drysdale. The New have seen that picture and they are

on have seen that picture and they are

shouting. We have 250 metres to the line. Ondrej Synek from the Czech

Republic responding again, looking at them look at each other, seeing

who has got one last push. Angel Fournier Rodriguez is in the bronze

medal position but this is the fight for the gold medal. If Drysdale gets

it it will be the performance of the day from where he was after 1000

metres but Synek has been in this position before. Synek responding,

the rate goes up, they are sprinting to the line! Today in Amsterdam, the

2014 World Championships it will be Ondrej Synek from the Czech Republic

and rightly so, he punches the air, that was a magnificent performance

from him. It was a brave performance from Mahe Drysdale the Olympic

champion. Angel Fournier Rodriguez from Cuba comes through, a solid

bronze medal for him. But this event never fails to get the crowd on

their feet. That was impressive by two of the worlds best scullers.

Synek is the gold medallist and Drysdale settles silver today.

We can see the Cuban delighted with his bronze, IDSA Mark White Drysdale

will be disappointed with silver but what a great race -- I dare say Mahe

Drysdale will be disappointed. Drysdale will be disappointed, but

he has had a year out and come back. Ondrej Synek is a fantastic

champion. It would be a big ask to come back and win. To lead the race

and have that battle is impressive from Drysdale. That was great sport,

pure and simple. No British entry with Alan Campbell not taking part.

How important is it, it is not the blue ribbon event, that is the men's

eight, but there is still something special about the single skull, the

fastest individual. How important for Britain to have somebody of

quality in that event? You say it is not the blue ribbon and event but

for some people it is the ultimate event. You don't have team-mates to

rely on or lift you up or challenge you, you are on your own and it is a

lonely sport. They are talked about gladiators for that reason. -- as

gladiators. We have had years when we did not have anybody in either

event, Alan Campbell has obviously taken it on recently. It would be

great to see him back racing. It is an event so close to his heart. It

is just a great event to watch. From the smallest boat in a few moments

to the biggest. Certainly a fast crew. We have more

to come. We have got to stick it out there and hang on. Raw speed and raw

power, we packing a lot of heat. There is a lot to be excited about.

We are not going there to lose. The men's aid is coming up at 1:33pm

your time. Until these Sprint races are implemented, every race is 2000

metres long but the great thing is, the races are never over until the

last centimetre. In towards the home straight, it

looks like Ukraine have just moved out a little bit but this race is

far from over. Six or seven feet down, that is definitely doable.

It's definitely is. Ukraine still look very relaxed, the British crew

have not slipped back any more than they were at half weight. They need

to move on. Sport is in context and Ukraine as a nation is in all sort

of trouble and I imagine this would be some release for the guys as

well, to have something else to focus on if only for six minutes. It

would been more to them and their supporters at home. -- it would mean

more. Now the machine that is Great Britain starts to wind it up because

they know they have 200 metres remaining here. They are stroke for

stroke, surely Ukraine have done enough. One last push from Great

Britain on the far side, the crowd are on their feet! Down to two or

three feet. They are going to run it out but they have got to push!

Ukraine just holding on. The machine and power of Great Britain was not

enough on the day. There I say it, bronze medallist last year, we will

celebrate writing history again today in Amsterdam because Great

Britain in the men's quadruple skull art world silver medallists.

And here is the team who watched that rerun smiling but ruefully. I

had not watched until now! I did not realise we were that far down and

then came back and came back and just ran out of water it looks like.

But a fantastic race. One more stroke? You can say that. But I

think we gave it our all and we have to be happy. Sometimes you end up in

front, sometimes you are not quite there. It happens. We have great

confidence from this race and moving forward I think we are on a good

path. As you crossed the line, did you think you had won? Yes, I

definitely did, I was looking across to see if it was us or them.

Watching it again, it was getting to the point where it was on the surge

and who was at what point in their stroke. I did not know and then we

found out. I echo what Charles said, when we were interviewed before

coming, we would be disappointed with anything other than gold but we

wanted to make sure we raced well and I think we would all say we had

a good race yesterday but it was just not quite enough. Is there

anything you felt you could have done differently to change the

result? Not at all really, that was the best race we could have

delivered on the day. To be honest, we have been a bit intimidated by

fast conditions like that and that was very fast but we dealt with it

superbly. You can't ask for more than that. How difficult is it in

those conditions? You have got to be so quick, you have to be on it, if

you make a mistake early in the stroke there is no time to make up

for it, you just have stroke there is no time to make up

right next time but quickly you can get into a bad cycle. It was a good

race. If conditions can be intimidating, does that mean that

Ukraine are less intimidating? All of us without saying it, we would

not want it to be like this if we could choose but it is so we get on

with it and we are happy afterwards. Maybe we would have wanted a big

headwind to make it last longer but we did a good job. It sticks out for

all of us, the race at Dorney on home water last year, we totally

messed up the final in similar conditions when we were knitting

needles all the way down rather than rowing properly full stop it was a

much better performance yesterday. If you miss an open goal in football

and it is the key moment, you go back in the dressing room and you

are screaming and shouting. When you got back to the boathouse yesterday

after being so close, in the immediate aftermath, what were you

thinking? To be honest, I haven't had that moment to sit down and

think about it all yet. It hasn't really kicked in. I am sure there

will be times when we will be disappointed but it is hard to be

disappointed with such a good race and they saw the medal. In the grand

scheme of things, you don't always win medals and make finals, you have

to make the most of the moments when you are doing well. It was not quite

gold but we have it in us and we have another couple of years in us

so just onwards and upwards. I am struggling to be disappointed, just

seeing the positive is more than any negatives. The next race has been

delayed because of the conditions for an indefinite period so we can

keep on talking. You have three weeks off now, what are you going to

do? I will stay in Amsterdam with my parents and girlfriend, go back to

the UK and then I am going to Cyprus and I am looking forward to it,

three weeks of not concentrating on rowing will be fun. I assume you all

going on holiday? Yes, I am going to Malaysia, hopefully a bit of diving

and surfing, check out the rainforest, see some orangutans and

have a bit of adventure. And next? Istanbul for a week and then my wife

is going back to work at Oxford University so only a short holiday

but we are getting away. I am going to Thailand. Make sure you all come

back! Fingers crossed! And perhaps the ultimate holiday destination

would be Brazil in a couple of years but we will cross that bridge when

we get it. Congratulations on yesterday, a fantastic spectacle and

well done and thanks for talking to us. We can head back to the action

because they are off and running. We are on the start for the final of

the women's single sculls. Notwithstanding the delay, looking

at our screens from the Federation, there has been no change in the lane

order. throughout the World Cup season --

Emma Twigg. What a battle she has had with Kimi Crow. They are under

starter 's orders. So it is important really to get out

quickly here in the opening stages in the near-perfect conditions. The

start as well and truly protected by the trees on either side. Away,

Russia in one, Austria in two, New Zealand, Emma Twigg, world

silver-medallist, sits in Lane 3. China in four. Australia and

Ireland. Closest to us, we can see the early stages, Sin eater,

bronze-medallist at the European champ and should earlier this year,

the first time Ireland got a senior international medal at a

Championships. She is getting the early lead. Perhaps, perhaps,

perhaps, this is just wind assisted. Let's focus on the competition as

well. In lane number two. Magdalena Lobnig. Jingli Duan was in the world

double sculls but never went to the World Championships. She look very

relaxed we saw her from behind. And rowing nice and long. Whereas you

can see the Austrian may be leading at the moment but she is putting the

work in. She has orally come back to the field, I would not expect her to

last the full distance, whereas Kimi Crow, her experience of racing, she

has come through Ireland and the whole field. She is looking like she

is in the right space to defend her title. Very little in it at the

first quarter mark. Australia from New Zealand, Austria, China and

Ireland. The 41-year-old, Julia Levina in Lane 1. We talk about the

second 500 metres where you are coming into your race pace, really

into your race rhythm. And we cannot in stress -- cannot stress the

importance of length and rhythm. Whatever

importance of length and rhythm. around you, if you have the

confidence to keep it long, you will keep panic at bay. The very last

thing that any of these sculls would want to do as the wind picks up is

the start panicking, as the cruise start moving around, jostling for

position in the start -- the middle thousand -- as cruise starts to. --

crews. You can be quite a long way down and yes, they will come back,

as Drysdale showed. You need that relaxation to make sure that every

muscle is being utilised all the way through the race, and when it is

working, it is working, when it is not working, relax its totally,

which is why you need to be efficient. And that is what Twigg

and Crow are showing for New Zealand and Australia, respectively. As we

come towards the back end of the second quarter, out to the halfway

mark. It is looking as though Emma Twigg, 27 years of age from New

Zealand, silver-medallist from last year, just having the better of that

quarter. Kimi Crow of Australia led to the 500-metre mark and is looking

at the thousand metre mark that Emma Twigg from New Zealand is taking it

on. By half a length, New Zealand, Australia, Clearwater over China was

Mac Jingli Duan, in Lane 4. Ireland and Austria in amongst it there, but

out of the medals, and at the moment, and this is a crucial,

crucial part here for Kim Crow from Australia, because she has watched

Emma Twigg from New Zealand coming up in the 900 to 1,000-metre mark.

Emma was really pushing on hard, but it is looking as though Emma Twigg

has the more efficient, better boat speed, because there is no pushing.

Now, finally, Kim Crow just arts to move on a little bit more. Compare

and contrast, Emma Twigg now really loose, flowing rhythm, very fluid in

a bidding she loose, flowing rhythm, very fluid in

She looks very fluid, but also loose, flowing rhythm, very fluid in

you look, she is powering those legs loose, flowing rhythm, very fluid in

down as well. She has taken on this middle thousand. Whether she

down as well. She has taken on this committed to much and has not got

enough for a sprint home, I don't know, but she may well have broken

Kim Crow by the time they get to the last quarter. Right now, she is

doing everything right. The third quarter of the race is a tough one.

If you can make a claim here for the gold medal then you have every

chance of holding on in the last five. As soon as there's daylight

between the stern of the New Zealand crew and the bow of the Australian,

it will be curtains for Kim Crow and that is what Emma Twigg is just

working to do, but not having to push all the time. There it is, she

has got the Clearwater now, and that, psychologically, is very

important. But what Kim Crow has, and she will know, as we approach

the last quarter, she will have the favoured lane in her advantage, but

surely Emma Twigg is too classy a sculler to allow all of this hard

work to be undone? 500 metres remain, the final of the women

single sculls here at the 2014 world rowing Championships. Australia's

Kim Crow led out of the 500-metre mark, but from there it has been all

about Emma Twigg. This middle thousand has been such a confident

display of single sculling at the very highest level there. Looking

left there from Emma Twigg, just checking on what Kim Crow is doing,

and it really has been all about Emma Twigg through 2014, the World

Cup, and it is looking like she is going to put a crown on the season

here. What an impressive sculling. It is going to be too much here,

half a length of clear water. It is, and the real thing that is making it

easier for Emma Twigg in this last quarter is that the Chinese girl is

too far Heinz Kim Crow, so there is no battle for silver. Kim Crow has

silver in the bag, and there is nothing, apart from her mental

desire, pushing her on the go. There is no fear of losing silver, just

losing gold, and Emma Twigg has put through a tough, tough middle

thousand, and has reaped the rewards for that. As the water starts to

come up here as the scullers come inside the 500 metres, she will know

exactly the distance left in this race. She can look back and see that

that clear water is enough. Again, these are pretty good scullers here

but Kim Crow will not roll over here, she is starting to push on,

using the wind, here she comes, 100 out. Yes, but as much as you can

lift your sprint in the single, she has not put enough into the middle

thousand. She will now have a good charge to second place but that's

it. Coming towards the line, it is go for New Zealand's Emma Twigg.

What a World Championships New Zealand are having, Kim Crow getting

the silver medal, and China's Jingli Duan in lane for coming through for

the bronze medal. That was a pretty classy performance there from Emma

Twigg from New Zealand. Another victory for New Zealand. I

am not sure what musical part we are from, but anyway, it has started

raining. We have been waiting for it for a couple of hours or so, and

finally big, big daddy clouds up there, so I suspect that has set in

for a while. Anyway, that race, it would have been lovely for Ireland

to have got a medal. I know, I know, and if that is a favoured lane over

there, she was the right lane to do it. Really oppressive result, the

best Irish result in a thing or skull in a long time, maybe ever, so

it is great to see, but it went to form. Emma Twigg has looked the

dominant single sculler all season. Kim Crow was the champion last year,

and her as an athlete, she has more height than Emma Twigg, and I think

people thought she might have been dominant in singles for a long time,

but she has just not been moving the boat as smoothly and efficiently as

Emma has done all season so I think the right person has won today. Why

are New Zealand having a vintage period in their rowing history? Have

they got a system that is, if not the envy of the world, because ours

is pretty handy, but they obviously have so much smaller resources at

their disposal. How are they able to be so successful? To be fair, they

are going through a golden period, but they have been successful in the

past as well. Their small boat programme is fantastic. They are the

envy of the world on that level. That is the two single scullers,

Drysdale and Twigg, the men's pair clearly dominant for a long time

now. The doubles, they have both done well in heavyweights men's and

women's, so they have a fantastic crew. They have a system of success

that works. Once you have success after success, people know what

makes you work, the coaches know, the athletes know, the training

programme is in place any can keep having success. Let's mention a fume

or British athletes, Vicky Thornley was not in the final... This

umbrella is not big enough, we must send out a bigger ones. There she is

winning the B send out a bigger ones. There she is

agonisingly close to losing that bronze to venture the end, so I

suppose end they have got a very well-deserved memento to take home

for what was their part in a fantastic race. We have one more

race to go in this year's World Championships Regatta. The finale,

as ever, is the men's eight and Britain are defending champions.

COMMENTATOR: The final of the men's eight, the great British crew I

heads up, they are rising to the occasion! The Germans are going

hard, they are not going to do it, Great Britain have got it! We have

made history in the men's eight at the World Championships! The final

of the men's eight here at Lucerne, the last and final 2014 World Cup

Regatta, Great Britain getting the bronze medal. The disappointment is

they are slipping further behind the Germans each time they race. We have

a lot of strength but we are not using it. We are not where we want

to be, we were not in Lucerne, but we know that the British crews are

capable. We still have to go up through the gears but we are very

close to doing it. I am still not sure we are capable of. We are more

capable than what the boat has done this season. Not everyone in that

boat at the start of the year sat down and said I wanted to be in the

eighth. Pete Reed wanted to be in the eight, and had his illness

issues as. How is it working with somebody who deep down you know

wants to be somewhere else? With Pete, first of all, he and the rest

of the team have to be realistic, and he is more realistic than

anyone, in that he accepts his performance this year has not

warranted selection in the four. Off the back of that, he has brought in

in a fantastic way, the somebody who is used to winning trials, used to

being in the top boat. He has been able just to buy into this new

project. He has brought a sort of excitement to it actually. Rea there

is a lot of talent in the boat and experience, but the thing that

separates me is I have got what everyone else in the boat once, an

Olympic gold medal. I am hungry for another one but I see the hunger and

youth in those guys. My role is to bring a bit of its period into the

bed. Looking to the season, the ends of our races were not fast enough.

Through the middle we have a good pace. A solid engine in the boat. We

need to get out of the blocks and part of that is putting the blade of

that is putting the blade in the it. Raw speed and raw powder. -- raw

power. We are packing a lot of heat but we need to bring it all together

now. It is coming. But everyone's aim is to win gold medal. It will be

tough. But we're not going there to lose. It might be a rather grisly

finale, weather-wise, but the men's eight is always a spectacular

finale. Clear macro let's have a quick chat with the commentators.

James, you had plenty experience. In conditions like this, and given the

way that the crews are ranked and rated, if you were coxing this

British eight, what would be your approach? You have to keep your

focus. The timing seems to be going all right. They are in good lane.

Don't panic, let's just get out to 500. In men's eight racing, it is

all about the first 500 metres. That is what they are really going to

focus on here. They will have raced in rain before, and wind and God

knows what. That is not going to be a major issue. They will prepare for

all of that. They will be so psyched and it is a matter of keeping them

calm. A fine balance of keeping it, and then just unleashing the star

programme, the first 100 metres out of 500. James, took us through from

one to eight, from stroke the bow, not the individuals, but in terms of

groups of people, at what stage of the race do different members of

that crew come into their own? It is all eight all the way down, that is

the first thing. And the difference is the stern pair have the lead out

sharp and get them out and in the race, then the middle of the crew,

the engine room, six, five, four, three, they are going to be powering

through that middle thousand. And then the Bow pair, it is their job

to keep the chart. The bottom line is they have to be in the race right

from the start. They know they have a quick last 300, 400 metres, and

that will be testament. They've only that but the wind is in their

favour. COMMENTATOR: Germany, the world

champions from three years back, they are the Olympic champions here

today. Poland in four, Great Britain in Lane 5. It is all about the first

ten strokes, then out to 100, then out to 500. Germany, just by a foot.

The great thing about the Germans is whatever part of the race in the

history, they can sit three feet up and be completely loose and

relaxed, not under pressure. Already, USA closest to us in Lane

6. The medals here could go anywhere to Germany in Lane 3, Poland in

four, Great Britain five, the United States of America in Lane 6. But

look, James, at the power, in the green vote of Germany. They really

know how to get out strong. The Germans have had an absolutely

shocking Regatta, the pair, in the four -- in the green boat of

Germany. It will be an absolutely disastrous Regatta for the Germans

if they don't win, so they are under real pressure from themselves and

the rest of the team. I don't think the Poles will be in this. Germany,

Poland and Great Britain now. This event has a tradition of whoever

gets to the 500-metre mark holds on and wins 2000 metres down the line.

This is all about Sprint racing now. The Germans are just holding on, two

or three feet, they are OK, they wed be phased, but brilliantly done so

far. Great Britain sitting in Lane 5. We talk about transitioning into

rhythm here. Look on the left of your screen, Germany are 40, Great

Britain at 38, Poland at 39, USA at 39 strokes per minute. They are

right on the edge may have got to maintain that, and Great Britain

just starting to ease here in Lane 5. On the GPS, the Brits have

overtaken the Germans, in terms of the speed they are going. That has

brought them up level with the Germans. The Poles are starting to

drift back. The Americans are not in the race so I think it will come

down to the Germans against the British. The British now have not

got the best start that they have a great middle and end and they will

need it. They have also got a slight advantage in the lane and they have

to make that count. The Germans will not want to end with another minor

medal. Sensational stuff from Great Britain as we head towards the

halfway line. We are already at the halfway mark in the final of the

men's heavyweight eight. And Great Britain have taken it on by two or

three feet over Poland. Germany slipping back into that place. Now,

this is where we really lay it down, the third 500. Expect a big, big

push here from Great Britain, sitting in Lane 5. The Germans,

though, slipping back here, Poland still going strong. The race is on

for gold between these three boats. The shot from behind, the Brits were

looking a little bit ragged. They are still moving on the Germans, and

I saw the German starting to glimpse over at both the Poles and the

Brits. They are not comfortable either, it will be a 3-way tussle

over two minutes, and these two minutes will determine whether your

year's training has been a waste of time are not. There is no one else I

would rather want to be in my bed than Constantine Louloudis, Tom

Ransley, Paul Bennett, Pete Reed, Matthew Gotrel, Williams sat,

Matthew Tarrant and Nathaniel Reilly-O'Donnell in the bow. They

know they can do it, it is all about the confidence -- Williams sat.

Constantine Louloudis is powering this way!

My prediction that the Poles would drop off is not turning out to be

true, they are only a couple of feet down on the Brits. The British, they

said they have heat in the boat and they have power in the last 500.

Now, lads, you have got to show it, and right at this point they are in

the perfect position. So now they have got to leave absolutely

everything in the last 400 metres, everything coming at the end of the

blade here, out on the water. Inside 40 strokes remaining now, they are

down to 35 strokes, they will be counting it in. Look at this go!

Great Britain now have taken Germany, they are still under

pressure, though, from Poland. This is a race to the line, and they are

300 out. Any crew that makes a mistake now, they are out of it, the

Germans are charging. They have learned from last year, they are

charging, they are closing the Poles, it is going to be a close

one. Here it is to the line, inside 200, 20 strokes, Germany now,

surely, surely Great Britain have done enough? Every single one of

them will be hurting now, everyone will been wishing for the line and

the line is coming fast and it is coming in the favour of Great

Britain! Inside ten strokes, Great Britain are going to be that our

champions in the men's 84 2014! Yes! On the line, Great Britain are the

world champions! They don't realise it yet, they do now, and they are

punching the air! World champions, Great Britain, and that, ladies and

gentlemen, is how you race at the bow champions in the men's eight!

They have completely debunked the myth of getting the 500 metres

first. This is a crew that did not panic in the middle thousand, and

look at that, rejection, completely, where did it all go wrong for

Germany, who have dominated again in 2014? As they did in 2013, but with

an almost completely different boat from last year. Great Britain are

the world champions, and well done to Phelan Hill, driving his mentor

the line, keeping clear focus. That is what it means to Constantine

Louloudis, who has come back from boat race Judy 's and put into this

position here. He led his men well. James, that was incredible. It was.

They beat the German eight by the same margin that the best four

athletes have gone out that eight, and for them to repeat the feat,

remember, last year was the first year we had ever been well champions

in the eighth. To lose your best athlete and still be well

champions. Phelan Hill, cool, calm, collected

there. That is what it is all about, they came under a tremendous amount

of pressure. There was a point at 100 metres out when Germany found

something. The boat lifted up, it came back at the British cruel, but

it was too late for them. -- came back at the British cruel, but

British crew. There is confirmation of Great

Britain, world champions once again. I think even the most optimistic of

observers did not think that was going to happen here. Everybody was

saying they might get a silver, but to win it and win it in that manner

was absolutely fantastic. Absolutely. Even during the week, it

was not obvious that result would be possible. The fact that they did it

with a kind of much less experienced crew, much less successful, we all

thought it would take a lot longer to come together and get the success

with what was possible. So to get it this year is pretty special. We only

have a couple of minutes or so before we have to say goodbye, but

that certainly ends things in the grand manner. I think the guys will

be blowing past us in a few minutes time, we might grab a quick word.

But overall that is the icing on the cake. How would you assess the last

48 hours for arts? The medals that we have one have

been incredibly sensational. The women's team, heavyweight and

lightweight women, are going to be disappointed with their haul, but

other than that, exciting place to be, and none more than on

Wednesday, those eight guys proved something special. They proved they

could pull everything together and get it right on the day. First ever

long interview, I will try to see if I can speak with them... Great

television! That got us nowhere! Well done! LAUGHTER

We know what they are thinking, we know what they want to say.

Highlight of the regatta? The men raced incredibly well, the men's

eight. Especially when you have won a race, you have got to treat it as

though you lost it. The Brits had the lane that I would have chosen to

race in but they used it well but it is important that they realise that

they may have had an advantage and do not think of themselves as world

champions over the winter, they have got to think of themselves as an

underdog. Only halfway through the Olympiad, they do not give our

Olympic medals today. The men's quad have got to have the same approach,

going through the winter ahead of them.

Thank you very much, and good luck making your decision. And whoever it

was that put all of the boom microphones down there, to ensure

that we could interview them in their moment of triumph, well done!

Thank you for watching in the last couple of days and we will see you

next season. Brazil will be only one year away.