Lucerne Highlights Rowing World Cup


Lucerne Highlights

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Hello. I suspect this is a first for the BBC, down at the river in

:00:36.:00:40.

the East Midlands. We are here to reflect on the Lucerne regatta, the

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final event of the World Cup calendar and the warm-up before the

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championships. The Great Britain team did not go to Hamburg because

:00:48.:00:56.

of the E-coli scare, meaning the Henley Regatta was even more

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significant stop -- even more significant than normal.

:00:59.:01:03.

The most significant result from The most significant result from

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Hamburg was the return to winning ways of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond

:01:06.:01:10.

of New Zealand. The Kiwi duo of New Zealand. The Kiwi duo

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strolled to victory and their first medal of the season. We were here

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to win, we want to raise the bar a bit in the pairs. We will see what

:01:18.:01:24.

happens when we meet the rest of the field in Lucerne.

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Also an action was a Kiwi singles sculler. I really feel confident

:01:31.:01:36.

now that I can get out and do it and hopefully go the same in

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Lucerne. In the absence of Great Britain,

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most of the regatta was about New Zealand.

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With hamburger out, the women's team had an unscheduled but

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successful trip to Amsterdam -- with Hamburg out. Then Henley, with

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trophies are plenty and records tumbling. We are reminded the

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growing world we are a force to be reckoned with. The men's doubles

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smashed the record by five seconds to beat the reigning Olympic

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champions. To dominate how we have, break records left, right and

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centre. The men's eight and narrowly lost out to their German

:02:15.:02:18.

counterparts. After an early lead they will want a number of times

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for crossing the path of the GB boat, and this near collision seems

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to have further ignited rivalry. Going into a son, we need to do

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something about this. -- going into a son. Andy Hodge and Pete Reed

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laid down a timing market by equalling the course record held by

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Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent. Pleased we did well, we came out

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with a top performance and we are really, really keen going forward.

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The Men's Four were on fire, knocking three seconds off the

:02:53.:02:58.

course record on their way to beat the Americans. It is not always

:02:58.:03:03.

that you get a win here, never mind beating the record.

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A men's squad beat the world champions Croatia in their final --

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of the men's quad. The Women's Eight ran America close, forcing

:03:13.:03:18.

them to another course record to win the trophy. The sparring is

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over, now it is time for the countdown to the World Championship

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to begin. The men's pair have begun with two

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victories, but now their biggest test as New Zealand awaits them in

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Lucerne. Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins, she has been in the

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power and the quad, but is this the combination that can bring the

:03:40.:03:44.

elusive gold in London? Tom James made a goal to return to

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the Men's Four after two years away. -- a golden return. And are the

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men's eight sake of the site of silver?

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-- sake of the site? Here we are with Steve Redgrave by

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the riverbank, I don't think we have ever done this with a local

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regatta in the background before. What is your take in the interest

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and participation levels? It is a great sport, the problem we have is

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space to get boats into boat houses. Juniors and veterans rowing is a

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big expansion. At grass roots, it is very healthy. Do we need more

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water?! More water, better quality water, better quality rowing clubs.

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But it is still in pretty good shape. It seems vibrant here at

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Burton. But let's go to Lucerne. The big question rowing fans were

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asking his after 12 significant -- consecutive defeat to New Zealand,

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could the British pair prove they for. New Zealand are out quick,

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looking to continue their impressive run of 12 consecutive

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wins. New Zealand are the world champions, powering through the

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:05:33.:05:37.

Zealand for the last two years. New Zealander Aaron Lane four, Canada

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in five, Hungary in lane number 6. The early leaders are in lane

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number one, the Italians. I am the Canadians are very fast. -- and the

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:06:01.:06:15.

Canadians are very fast. All four Andy Hodge, they just believe they

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can beat New Zealand. That is why they have been given another run

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:06:30.:06:31.

through this year to take them on. Canada are closest to us. About six

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or seven feet over Italy in lane do if they are to get back into the

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race, into the second 500. If you get a great start in the first five,

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it gives you the confidence to step down into your rhythm. You have to

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work up to get the speed. This is the psychological difference as New

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Zealand start to pay their way through. New Zealand did that for

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about 20 seconds. They have such flexibility, they saw there was a

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danger from Canada. They just pushed on, look at that. They have

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gone right the way through and have taken the lead from Italy at the

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top of the picture. Italy were at Henley last week. Britain beat

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Italy at Henley. But Great Britain are sitting back in the field.

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hard to see what they will do as they come towards halfway. This is

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all about making a big, big statement. Eric Murray and Hamish

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Bond are laying it down. Great Britain have to do a lot to

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have thought coming through the 1,000-metre mark in the men's

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heavyweight coxless pairs that New Zealand would have walked away from

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Great Britain, who are now languishing right back in 5th

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position? They are struggling to find any kind of speed or rhythm

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that will put them on a pace with the cruise around them, much less

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the New Zealand crew, who were just enjoying this. Eric Murray on your

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right. They are a street ahead of everybody. They have cut through

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the field, look how far they are against Great Britain, no coming

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back. They thought they had improved and moved on, but the flow

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and the ease of stroke from New Zealand, last still moving away, it

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just crap -- cut right the way from Canada. Five legs ahead of Great

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Britain. It was a high rating, but they flowed easily and let their

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boat run. They have more flexibility, they can turn it on if

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they need to. Peter Reed and Andy Hodge sat down after the World

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Championships last year, they came closest by a couple of feet to New

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Zealand, and they said, we really believe another season and we will

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catch them. Jurgen Grobler will be watching this from the side, he

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will have to really be recalculating his ambitions going

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forward for this grid. -- for the screw. Will he stay together with

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his combination? Who knows? It is the last 500 metres of the men's

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heavyweight coxless pairs, New Zealand are strolling away. They

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have the grip of this race in the first three or four strokes, got

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out quickly, got into a rhythm, and Great Britain really struggled in

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lane number 34 stop we thought New Zealand would win but we did not

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think it would be by the impressive lead they have established. They

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are enjoying this, they are enjoying the crowd as they come

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towards the last 250 metres. strokes a minute, they are on --

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they are unstoppable. They will be thinking should we try to bury the

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competition from Great Britain right now and see how much we can

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beat them by, or should we tantalise them and try to stay

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closer? This is domination. Peter Reed and Andy Hodge, they are

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racing for the silver medal against a very impressive Canadian crew.

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The last time this Canadian crew got together they won the silver

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medal in Beijing at the Olympics. This is the quality in this field.

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The Canadians are shoring up slightly. Surely they can't hold

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Great Britain, the current world silver medallists? They are looking

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long and impressive. They continued to dominate this event, to dominate

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Great Britain. 13 wins in a row from New Zealand over Great Britain

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who are, it has to be said, limping over the line into the silver

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position, and Canada get the bronze. Pretty conclusive. That is the

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first meeting they have had this year, New Zealand and Great Britain.

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New Zealand look unstoppable. Unlucky for some, 13, 13 in a row

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for New Zealand, which has become their lucky number. Look at the

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distance, almost seven seconds into distance, almost seven seconds into

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silver, over Canada in bronze medal position.

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You were pretty pumped before the race and lots of your fans in

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Britain were thinking this could be the time after the magic row in the

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world championships? We had a great preparation, a great Henley-on-

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Thames, we came here with all guns blazing, it felt, but it turned

:12:21.:12:25.

into our normal Lucerne performance, which was disappointing. But I am

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confident we can build up the speed and get them like we did last year.

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We came short by a few hundredths, but give us a month and a half and

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we can do a lot of damage. I have to ask this tough question, isn't

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it about time you went back in the four, you stop the losing streak?

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tough question, one we are always asked. At the moment we are really

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happy raising the power, it is a simple boat. Nobody likes

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collecting silver, but we feel it is good for our rowing at the

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moment. If we stay in the pair, we will aim to get our noses in front,

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but if we get a silver, we still think what we are learning will pay

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off. I feel we can really add to the boats if we go into the four.

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It is dominant, we will make it faster. At least we will have had

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this year and the last few years behind us to move the rowing on.

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A pretty resounding resort for New Zealand, so where does that leave

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Pete Reed and Andy Hodge? By themselves or relocated to the

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coxless four, which won gold in Beijing? There's a feeling you have

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to do international sport over and over and over again without ever

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taking time off. But some people think if you leave for a while it

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reignite enthusiasm, and Tom James, one of the victorious quartet in

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China, fit that category. Tom James exudes conference --

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confidence. It comes with being an Olympic champion. The British are

:14:03.:14:07.

now out, they will be the Olympic champions! Gold medal, Great

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Britain, wonderfully done! What a perfect, perfect day!

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After his Men's Four gold in Beijing, James has been out of

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sight on the British rowing scene. I have had de Quiros, been

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travelling, did the gap-year thing which I missed out on when I was 18.

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-- I have had a year off. I did some skiing and put on weight. I

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did some work experience, planning for when I eventually finished

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rolling. I came back into it at the end of 2009. I got injured, I

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thought it was a normal back strain but it turned into a pretty bad

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back injury. Things escalated, and when you get into that situation,

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your heart stops. Out of sight means out of mind, generally, but

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that does not apply to James. Despite the injuries, he has been

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confident enough to fit back in. have a gold medal under my belt,

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which gives you a certain confidence. Not complacency, but

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you know you have been there, done that and you are a top athlete.

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There is a certain expectation about winning races. Things have

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stepped up since Beijing. The team has really grown, there is a lot of

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camaraderie, a lot of banter. quartet needed reinvigorating.

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Failure to win gold in another championship meant it was back to

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the drawing board over the winter, and to good effect. A gold medal,

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back on top of the podium, the men's heavyweight coxless four.

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have shown we are pretty quick already. It is early days, we want

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to build. The most important thing, we have the same attitude to racing.

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We don't want to be too prescriptive, we like being free in

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our racing, turning up and being quite reactive and being able to

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race, not having too much of a race plan. Timing is everything in sport.

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Tom has chosen his comeback wisely. At stake, a place for 2012. As a

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late place for Beijing, James knows nobody in his game is guaranteed.

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Winning in Beijing came very quickly, I was not in the squad the

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year before. That year was fantastic, selection went really

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well, by the end of it I got a gold medal. I was left thinking, what do

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I do now? I am 24 with a gold medal, I can do a lot of things. But then

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you have London looming over you, it will be one of the best games

:16:51.:17:01.
:17:01.:17:02.

Tom James obviously a key component of the coxless four, so let's see

:17:02.:17:12.
:17:12.:17:18.

Germany on the outside. United States of America in one, Greece in

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:17:28.:17:29.

two, and we're watching the German crew here. The World Cup leaders

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with the yellow Jersey is under their racing tops. Challenging

:17:35.:17:43.

alongside the British crew there. The Greeks will be quick and the

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first 500 metres. Germany, interestingly have been swapping

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between the eight and the four, to try to find the best combinations.

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They have not been beaten in twenty-five races, the eights. But

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the four have been juggled around, to get the best combination. So we

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will see how this four shapes up. They are beginning to edge away,

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with a quarter length lead on the field. Looking very calm. The boat

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travels between strokes very nicely. And the coach for the British fours,

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John West. Very calm and experienced coach. Working well

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with this combination. And we have Tom James back, it really has

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worked well. Tom James, Olympic champion, 2,000 and Date, he took

:18:47.:18:56.

one year off in 2009, he was injured in 2010. And the British

:18:56.:19:06.
:19:06.:19:08.

crew now can just enjoy this second 500, just laying down the race plan.

:19:08.:19:12.

What Tom James does when he gets into the boat, he allows the others

:19:12.:19:22.
:19:22.:19:22.

to relax. He is so flexible. He is not big, he just gets sucked into

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that bolt, and allows the big guys to have a little more time to roll.

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So they just long. -- they just below along. He started his

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international career at the Olympics when he was 19 years old.

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Just taking a length. Just moving steadily ahead. And very good form.

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Coming up to the halfway mark and that teams will receive

:19:55.:20:01.

encouragement, shouting, from their team-mates. Going through 1,000

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metres, 1,000 metres gone, and what a position for the British crew.

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The British have to lay down a bigger benchmark because there is

:20:12.:20:17.

so much going on. This year, or next year, when we have a pair that

:20:17.:20:23.

might want to go into this, Andy Hodge and Pete Reed, because there

:20:23.:20:33.
:20:33.:20:34.

pair is not going as well as the magnate like it to. -- as they make

:20:34.:20:44.
:20:44.:20:52.

and Reid, with that upset the balance? Just strengthening that

:20:52.:20:56.

eight with two goes out of that board, that would strengthen the

:20:56.:20:59.

eight and produce the chances. That would be the perfect strategy

:20:59.:21:07.

through the winter if they could work that out. But Britain is just

:21:07.:21:12.

winning at the front of this all the time and it is quite remarkable.

:21:12.:21:17.

It is to do with money because �24 million and very good organisation

:21:17.:21:24.

has gone into the British team. It just shows that that kind of

:21:24.:21:29.

investment really pays off. British crew, now, ahead, into the

:21:30.:21:36.

last quarter of this race. Not seeing too much from them, just

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containing their position. Holding of Greece, end only number of two.

:21:45.:21:53.

-- in lane number two. The US are fantastically fast finishers, lying

:21:53.:21:57.

in 5th position in the qualifiers, and came right through to qualifier.

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The best four athletes in the American squad and that they hoped

:22:05.:22:15.
:22:15.:22:17.

to challenge at the top level. They are not going to catch Britain, who

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are just so strong. Alex Gregory in the stroke seat from Reading

:22:22.:22:27.

University Boat Club. Just coming up towards the finishing line. A

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little over 200m remaining. They can enjoy this. Looking back and

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seeing the world coming at them but under no pressure whatsoever. 100,

:22:41.:22:46.

a little over, Great Britain's safely in the gold medal position.

:22:46.:22:52.

So much going on with this four, in the light of other things going on

:22:52.:22:56.

in the men's events, the men's teams, but they can enjoy the

:22:56.:23:04.

moment, they are gold-medallists today, and by some distance. These

:23:04.:23:07.

second and just on the line, the United States of America take the

:23:07.:23:12.

bronze. Great Britain get the gold medal from Greece and the United

:23:12.:23:17.

States. The British are just getting better and better. Turning

:23:17.:23:21.

around that 4th place at the World around that 4th place at the World

:23:21.:23:26.

Championship last year. How exciting was that? You destroyed

:23:26.:23:32.

the field. It was nice to see, from my seat, everyone going backwards.

:23:32.:23:36.

Nice not to have to sprint for the line, and watching everyone else

:23:36.:23:41.

printing or second or third, it is nice to dominate the race. We have

:23:41.:23:44.

a long period from now until the World Championships and we have to

:23:44.:23:48.

enjoy these moments, because this is what we do it for. I really

:23:48.:23:53.

enjoyed it. What are you Michael Thaw's, on the Men's Pair results,

:23:53.:23:58.

and the difference between the Kiwis and the British pair? It was

:23:58.:24:06.

a big margin, but Pete and Andy have tried hard and credit to them.

:24:06.:24:16.
:24:16.:24:18.

It is the event. We're here to make our four will quickly and Andy and

:24:18.:24:20.

Pete Artemis and we will support them Foster in any event, we want

:24:20.:24:27.

to see them win. But we are talking about the coxless fours here, so...

:24:27.:24:33.

The coxless fours in Mike impious form. And Andy Reed -- and Pete

:24:33.:24:38.

Reed and Andy Hodge Peat Inn resoundingly. So what is going on?

:24:38.:24:44.

No one can answer that better than Pete Reid and Andy Hodge themselves.

:24:44.:24:48.

Pete said that this might be our last time racing in the pairs, so

:24:48.:24:51.

they might knew that the pressure was on after their performance last

:24:52.:24:58.

year. It is always very difficult coming out of Henley, racing. They

:24:58.:25:03.

found themselves at the top of the pack behind. In previous races it

:25:03.:25:08.

has been the Kiwis, the Brits, and then the pack behind. You do not

:25:08.:25:12.

change a winning team, so why change the four when they are

:25:12.:25:16.

looking so good? I don't think you can change the four at the moment.

:25:17.:25:21.

I cannot see Jurgen Grobler changing anything. I think he will

:25:21.:25:26.

see this season out. It is a matter of less than two months to the

:25:26.:25:31.

world championships. I think he will stick with what he has got now.

:25:32.:25:37.

But there will be changes for next year, through the winter. If the

:25:37.:25:43.

four goes on and wins everything, is there an option to put Pete Reed

:25:43.:25:48.

and Andy Hodge into a eight, to give them a substantial chance of

:25:48.:25:53.

winning the gold medal there? Putting the two best guys in the

:25:53.:25:57.

British team will make the eight go faster, but will it be fast enough

:25:57.:26:03.

to win on last year's will John Major performance? Yes. On this

:26:03.:26:10.

year's performance, probably not. - - last year's world championship

:26:10.:26:14.

performance. But that is about pique and Andy who are the stars

:26:14.:26:19.

and the British team and are not winning, but the four is. Is it a

:26:20.:26:23.

man management issue? How do you say to somebody, I don't think you

:26:23.:26:28.

are going to win a gold medal in that boat, so I am seeking you out

:26:28.:26:32.

of their and putting you somewhere else. If the two individuals want

:26:32.:26:37.

to carry on in the pairs, there is no reason why they cannot overturn

:26:37.:26:43.

13 defeats. But you only need to win one or, as long as it is the

:26:43.:26:47.

right one. You only get one chance at the Olympics, once every four

:26:47.:26:53.

years. Whoever his bid is going into it, there is a lot of pressure

:26:53.:27:00.

on that. -- whoever his favourite going into it. It is a difficult

:27:00.:27:06.

process. The underlying factor is British rowing wants to have gold

:27:06.:27:10.

medals and even though it is fantastic having a silver medal and

:27:10.:27:14.

it is good for the credibility of rowing in at the UK, we want our

:27:14.:27:18.

best people winning gold medals. That is going to continue in the

:27:18.:27:24.

weeks and months ahead. We had been talking about 2012. The rowing

:27:24.:27:28.

story of the Year centres on Katherine Grainger. The

:27:28.:27:33.

unforgettable images of the Sydney Olympics. Great Britain gets the

:27:33.:27:41.

gold medal! Steve Redgrave, five in a row! What a great Olympian.

:27:41.:27:45.

the undercard was a rowing silver poorer women squat who has gone on

:27:45.:27:53.

to become great Britain's best-ever female raw. It is called for

:27:53.:27:58.

Germany, and on the line they are pushing on! It is going to be a

:27:58.:28:05.

photo-finish. In gold police Mac, Germany, and Silver Place, Britain,

:28:05.:28:11.

we got it! Katherine Grainger turning silver into gold. Romania

:28:11.:28:15.

defended the Olympic gold medal, they did it again, and Great

:28:15.:28:18.

Britain put everything into the melting pot and take the silver

:28:18.:28:24.

medal. And, so, to Beijing, and the dominant British crew would surely

:28:24.:28:30.

make a dull time lucky for the indomitable Scot. It will be

:28:30.:28:36.

another silver for Great Britain. They 1 three silver medals at

:28:36.:28:39.

consider the Olympics, so the choice is stark, give it everything

:28:39.:28:43.

or give it up. And Katherine Grainger chose to go for it, afford

:28:43.:28:50.

crack at the most Czechs support -- was cherished event in sport.

:28:50.:28:54.

a fabulous result for Katherine Grainger, the silver medal. But she

:28:54.:29:00.

has always really wanted to be part of a team. For me, rowing is about

:29:00.:29:10.
:29:10.:29:11.

being in might accrue. -- in and crew. It is about trying to put

:29:11.:29:15.

everything into place to get a result. But it is about every

:29:16.:29:20.

element of that team feeling that it is the right thing to do, and

:29:20.:29:26.

this build Wright, from the of bus- stop it was early 2010 and we went

:29:27.:29:33.

out to a training camp in Portugal. We thought, I am just doing my

:29:33.:29:39.

thing, and Caton is doing her thing, but it was actually together. I

:29:39.:29:45.

made a few calls, and she changed in exactly the way that I meant it

:29:45.:29:49.

without me having to explain it in much details, and knowing how

:29:49.:29:54.

strong the board are physically, I knew that if we had this technical

:29:54.:29:59.

synergy, then it could be really special. It build good and it was

:29:59.:30:07.

good. The 2010 campaign ended in world championship glory. Look at

:30:07.:30:11.

this she a determination from Katherine Grainger in the stroke

:30:11.:30:18.

seat. What a combination. They are just stretched out now, having

:30:18.:30:24.

annihilated the field. Impressive from the first to the last. Great

:30:24.:30:28.

Britain are the new world champions in the women's double sculls.

:30:28.:30:31.

Katherine Grainger is used to being the number one performer in winter

:30:31.:30:35.

training. But this time around, Anna Watkins beat her in the trials.

:30:35.:30:41.

The clock Willie is ticking. knows what next year is about. --

:30:41.:30:49.

really is ticking. It is in the here and now that she was second to

:30:49.:30:53.

Anna Watkins in the singles and I'm sure that she was to come first

:30:53.:30:58.

next year. So in the double the will have new challenge is, and new

:30:58.:31:02.

crews to make, there. The sense of urgency and getting things right

:31:02.:31:07.

probably builds as you go on. Katherine Grainger has had enough

:31:07.:31:12.

of being second and it is likely that London will be our last chance

:31:12.:31:16.

of standing on the podium, and she wants it badly, but so does her

:31:16.:31:21.

crew made, so the knack have the air of a winning combination.

:31:21.:31:28.

all know what Katharine is capable of. But I want it for myself.

:31:28.:31:32.

Nobody or in the winning team -- women's team has ever won a gold

:31:32.:31:36.

medal. This crew is special and it deserves to get special resource.

:31:36.:31:43.

We are very much on the countdown to 2012 now. But we cannot last for

:31:43.:31:49.

up to that point. It is all about taking steps on the way they are.

:31:49.:31:53.

In some ways it deals round the corner, in other ways, there is a

:31:53.:31:59.

lot to be done. Sport matters to me a great deal. I still celebrate the

:31:59.:32:05.

highs as much as I have ever suffered the laws, but you can

:32:05.:32:15.
:32:15.:32:16.

also... I cannot see what shape it is going to take. I do not know

:32:16.:32:25.

what is coming. I can see that it Katherine Grainger's dedication and

:32:25.:32:30.

commitment is total, but it is longevity, a decade plus of

:32:30.:32:34.

maintaining that enthusiasm, that is what sets some athletes apart

:32:34.:32:40.

from others? Definitely. And within women's rowing it is more unusual

:32:40.:32:45.

than men's, but it is still unusual within men's rowing, to row for

:32:45.:32:50.

such a long period. Three silver medals, two of them outstanding

:32:50.:32:55.

performances, the last one was a bit disappointing. The combination

:32:55.:32:58.

with Anna works really well, there is a lot of competition between

:32:58.:33:02.

them when they are training and Anna has beaten her up a couple of

:33:02.:33:06.

times that trials, which pushes you on a little bit and shows you how

:33:06.:33:10.

close they are in performance, and that closeness is really pushing

:33:10.:33:14.

through on the overall performance. Anna has had trouble with a back

:33:15.:33:19.

injury in the last few months, they are not in the best possible shape.

:33:19.:33:29.
:33:29.:33:33.

the Women's Double Sculls, Anna Watkins and Katherine Grainger from

:33:33.:33:35.

Watkins and Katherine Grainger from Great Britain are showing things

:33:35.:33:40.

are again looking to be almost back to normal. They are almost a length

:33:40.:33:44.

ahead, their first real, proper ahead, their first real, proper

:33:44.:33:50.

test in the 2011 season, and they must be very happy. At Munich, Anna

:33:50.:33:55.

was injured and Katherine Grainger teamed up with the spare, they won

:33:55.:34:02.

pretty convincingly. This is getting Anna back, taking it

:34:02.:34:07.

gradually, not wanting to put any big riskiness. They are working

:34:07.:34:14.

well together. Pressure is coming from the Australians. They are just

:34:14.:34:21.

hanging on. Perhaps they are going slightly quicker. This is a repeat

:34:21.:34:26.

of the World Championship final last year. Last year in the World

:34:26.:34:32.

Championship, but a ball so well comfortable, but now they are

:34:32.:34:37.

having to fight more, finding their way again -- the doubles were

:34:37.:34:42.

comfortable. It was looking a bit Labour and and heavy before as the

:34:42.:34:46.

Australian's challenge, they were gearing up to make a move. They

:34:46.:34:50.

went up to 36 strokes a minute, they have held off the Australian

:34:50.:34:55.

challenge. The Australians are up to 38 strokes a minute, reckoning

:34:55.:34:59.

they have a good chance of matching them. Ready to exploit Anna's

:35:00.:35:05.

hesitancy about her back. This is the time they really want to try to

:35:06.:35:09.

cause some psychological damage. They are pushing hard and it is

:35:09.:35:15.

still coming back. Into the last 500 metres we will see a great race.

:35:15.:35:20.

The Australians are in second, Great Britain in first, first and

:35:20.:35:24.

second from the world championships last year. Everybody else is racing

:35:24.:35:30.

for the Brahms. Great Britain are holding a game. Look at the lens of

:35:30.:35:36.

stroke from the British crew, Grainger, from St Andrew boat club,

:35:36.:35:40.

Anna Watkins from Leander Club. They are thinking about being long

:35:40.:35:44.

and relaxed. They were caught a bit by the

:35:44.:35:48.

Australian challenge. They want to keep control and not have to sprint.

:35:49.:35:54.

But it got heavy dealing that. It looks much easier now, much

:35:54.:36:00.

livelier. They are moving away from Australia. They wanted to put

:36:00.:36:05.

pressure on Watkins' back, to see if they could break her down before

:36:05.:36:10.

the World Championships, but she looks very strong. The boat looks

:36:10.:36:15.

much livelier as they come into the last 250 metres. The British crew

:36:15.:36:22.

moving to a length over the world silver medallists Australia. Just

:36:22.:36:31.

looking at Ukraine in lane number 54 stop -- lane number 5. Now some

:36:31.:36:36.

clear water from Great Britain. They can enjoy the last bit after

:36:36.:36:41.

doing all that was asked of them. In the last 500 they held off a

:36:41.:36:46.

sustained attack from the Australians. It is a solid back

:36:46.:36:50.

from Anna Watkins. They have got inside, five strokes, they can

:36:51.:36:54.

count them in, it is a job well done. When they look back at the

:36:55.:36:59.

gold medal they have won, you can see this was perhaps a very

:36:59.:37:03.

significant win over Australia. Australia close in a little bit

:37:03.:37:09.

again. They were able to maintain 36 or 37 strokes a minute ride the

:37:09.:37:14.

way through. Great Britain first of Australia and Ukraine, a very

:37:14.:37:19.

Australia and Ukraine, a very important win. -- first, although

:37:19.:37:25.

Australia and Ukraine. Anna, it looked like a tough race

:37:25.:37:29.

for your comeback international of the season? It was tough,

:37:29.:37:33.

psychologically and tactically more than physically, probably, because

:37:33.:37:36.

we have not had the preparation or got the confidence back that we

:37:36.:37:41.

usually have. It was a really good race to be in the fight, we have

:37:41.:37:44.

not had that in the doubles before, we are confident we can step up

:37:44.:37:50.

from here. Last year with the World Championship, everyone had you down

:37:50.:37:54.

as Britain's top crew to win gold. The field looks like it is closing

:37:54.:38:00.

now? When we decided to come here, Anna was not backed a full racing

:38:01.:38:04.

fitness and we had to hedge our bets whether it was worth coming,

:38:04.:38:09.

we decided we wanted to get some tough racing under our belts. The

:38:09.:38:12.

fact we are still ahead of the field without much preparation

:38:12.:38:17.

together is looking quite good. Another victory, perhaps closer

:38:17.:38:21.

than you might have thought, how much of that was down to Anna

:38:21.:38:25.

missing so much training? I think time in the boat has been missed,

:38:25.:38:29.

she has been training throughout but it is never quite the same

:38:30.:38:33.

intensity if you are doing rehab training than actually being in the

:38:33.:38:39.

boat. But I was really quite pleased with how they performed

:38:39.:38:45.

when put under pressure. In the past, that is one that has been an

:38:45.:38:52.

issue of crews putting pressure at major championships and faltering.

:38:52.:38:57.

Knowing the preparation has not been brilliant, that will set them

:38:57.:39:01.

in a really good stead for future pressure races, and there will be a

:39:01.:39:06.

few of them. Hovering in the background is the thought, do they

:39:06.:39:11.

double up and try to win two gold medals? They are very keen to be

:39:11.:39:15.

able to do that. You could look at it either way, should they

:39:15.:39:18.

concentrate on the one they are doing? They have done that before

:39:18.:39:23.

and it has not worked at the Olympics. By doing two events, does

:39:23.:39:27.

that break the pressure and give you more time to think about the

:39:27.:39:31.

issues you have than the issues which have arisen from what has

:39:31.:39:36.

happened in the past? What about someone like Kelly Holmes, winning

:39:36.:39:41.

the 1500? It is like one is a backstop, but the backstop can end

:39:41.:39:45.

up being your strongest event? Exactly. There are so many

:39:45.:39:50.

different ways you can look at it. If you double up and it is

:39:50.:39:54.

successful, you have made the right decision. If you double up and you

:39:54.:39:58.

are not successful, either of them, at the level you want to be, it

:39:58.:40:04.

becomes a bigger issue. Then you will be slated for doing that. Some

:40:04.:40:08.

very big decisions to be made in the next couple of months.

:40:08.:40:12.

We started the programme by talking about Great Britain and New Zealand,

:40:12.:40:22.
:40:22.:40:30.

and their rivalry, here is another pair gets away, really looking at

:40:30.:40:36.

the centre, lane three, Great Britain, silver medallists at the

:40:36.:40:41.

World Championships. Elaine four, New Zealand, the world champions.

:40:41.:40:45.

Great Britain are going OPs move and relaxed, Heather Stanning in

:40:45.:40:50.

the stroke seat closest to worse, from the army Rowing Club. She is

:40:50.:41:00.

relaxed through 100 metres. -- in the stroke seat closest to us.

:41:00.:41:03.

looked for a long and effective. They are settling down now, they

:41:03.:41:09.

have picked it up at a higher rate, settling down into their race pace.

:41:09.:41:14.

Moving very well in lane three, Great Britain. The British crew

:41:14.:41:19.

have got almost clear water, and going away from the All Blacks tour

:41:19.:41:27.

of New Zealand in lane number four. -- going away from the all-black

:41:27.:41:31.

strip of New Zealand. They have really opened it up. Quite a

:41:31.:41:37.

dangerous tactic from what is, experienced wise, a young pair.

:41:37.:41:41.

They are so much. They have lovely legs, very relaxed, doing nothing

:41:41.:41:47.

wrong, no complicated movements. They have settled into a nice race

:41:47.:41:52.

pace, 34 strokes a minute. Now they just have to hold a very, very

:41:52.:41:59.

strong middle of the race pace. big surprise in the opening quarter

:41:59.:42:06.

of this final of the women's pair is that New Zealand's, the world

:42:06.:42:10.

champions, they are going through in 4th place -- New Zealand, the

:42:10.:42:15.

world champions. We are now approaching the three-

:42:15.:42:18.

quarter way mark, look at the space between the British crew in lane

:42:19.:42:24.

number 3 and, slowly but surely, New Zealand coming through the pack.

:42:24.:42:29.

They have taken over the USA in a number one. Do they have the

:42:29.:42:35.

experience as we go into the 4th quarter? This is where the

:42:35.:42:41.

experience, wisdom and everything players in. Have the British got

:42:41.:42:46.

the cushion to hold on to the New the cushion to hold on to the New

:42:46.:42:51.

Zealanders, who are coming up in the overlap? New Zealand are

:42:51.:42:55.

experienced, they are at 37 strokes a minute, you would expect the

:42:55.:42:59.

British to react. New Zealand hunting them down, there is an

:42:59.:43:05.

overlap. They have been a 37 strokes a minute for about three

:43:05.:43:12.

minutes. Through 300 metres from a line, one thing is for sure, New

:43:12.:43:16.

Zealand, the world champions, are hunting the British pair down. They

:43:16.:43:20.

were caught napping in the first 500 metres, they were dumped off

:43:20.:43:25.

the start and they have to work hard in the second 1000. New

:43:25.:43:30.

Zealand are coming up again, they are about a third of a length off.

:43:30.:43:35.

Still they are fighting to the line. The British pair have to respond.

:43:35.:43:40.

The British crew have to go up, the world champions are coming through.

:43:40.:43:45.

Great Britain is still there, but at the lower rate of 34 strokes per

:43:45.:43:49.

minute. Now they are trying to respond. But watch New Zealand, the

:43:49.:43:54.

fight is on for the last 200 metres. Inside the last 10 strokes, it will

:43:54.:43:59.

be a race for the line. Great Britain are hanging on by about

:43:59.:44:03.

three or four feet, we are up to the line and the British crew have

:44:03.:44:08.

held off an incredible charge from New Zealand as they come through.

:44:08.:44:13.

New Zealand's heads are down, they realise they got the first 1000

:44:13.:44:16.

wrong. It will be an incredible race when they come Back Again at

:44:16.:44:22.

the World Championship. Great Britain imperious in the first 1000,

:44:22.:44:27.

under pressure in the second. Top of the tree over New Zealand, last

:44:27.:44:37.
:44:37.:44:38.

How did that feel, to beat the world champions in Lucerne?

:44:38.:44:42.

really good feeling. We are really pleased with our performance, it is

:44:42.:44:47.

the first time we have raised, we were coming here to beat them and

:44:47.:44:54.

to win. It put us on a really good progression towards Bled, but at

:44:54.:44:58.

the same time it was a really close race, so we know it is not always

:44:58.:45:04.

done, give us six more weeks of hard training. Helen, looking at

:45:04.:45:08.

your improvement curve, it is forever going upwards at an amazing

:45:08.:45:13.

rate. It has been such a whirlwind 12 months, what is it like to look

:45:13.:45:19.

back as the Lucerne winners? little bit surreal. I feel like I

:45:19.:45:22.

really want to keep hold of this momentum, we are still improving,

:45:22.:45:26.

and the longer we can hold back on, it is just brilliant and, like you

:45:26.:45:31.

say, 12 months ago I would really have aspired to be where we are now,

:45:31.:45:35.

so I think it is real justification for our hard work.

:45:35.:45:39.

That race, Classic in terms of a rolling sense, the only sport where

:45:39.:45:43.

you can compete backward so you can see how much closer people are

:45:43.:45:47.

getting to you. How difficult is it when you see the gap narrowing

:45:47.:45:52.

inexorably, to keep your calm and hold on and keep your composure?

:45:52.:45:56.

Really tough, especially having such a big lead, then the Kiwis

:45:56.:46:04.

came back so strong. You could see how hard the Kiwis were going. Our

:46:04.:46:09.

girls were very steady, probably a little bit too steady in some ways!

:46:09.:46:13.

They were feeling fatigued. But just to stay cool under that

:46:13.:46:18.

pressure and intensity, from last year they surprised me by the

:46:18.:46:21.

silver medal they got, but certainly they have been backing

:46:21.:46:24.

that up this season, then beating the world champions, very, very

:46:24.:46:29.

impressive. A couple of weeks ago at Henley,

:46:29.:46:33.

success almost across the board, but notably for the Men's Quad, but

:46:33.:46:38.

also for the Red express off Wells and Bateman. The last time we saw

:46:38.:46:41.

there was at Munich, where they finished third. Could they improve

:46:41.:46:51.
:46:51.:46:55.

technique is not great but the speed is that. Germany leading by

:46:55.:47:00.

almost a length over a chasing field. Great Britain are second. At

:47:00.:47:10.
:47:10.:47:18.

the top of your picture, France are surprised that the British crew

:47:18.:47:25.

have not launched a big attack. Looking forward, because in the

:47:25.:47:30.

first 500, he borrowed champions New Zealand had a complete shocker.

:47:30.:47:34.

They seemed to be working it back. Looking at Marcus Bateman work in

:47:34.:47:39.

this crew. New Zealand just creeping up now, moving back on

:47:39.:47:47.

France, who was white moving very sweetly at the top of the picture.

:47:47.:47:50.

France and New Zealand beginning to move up alongside and through Great

:47:50.:47:55.

Britain. Great Britain are going to have to make a move and react to

:47:55.:47:59.

all of this. Germany seemed to be well clear. Now, here comes New

:47:59.:48:05.

Zealand. New Zealand are absolutely flying. At they have clawed their

:48:05.:48:12.

way back. And they have had to grind it out and grinding they are.

:48:12.:48:17.

They were dumped on the first quarter mark, but they are world

:48:17.:48:23.

champions, first at Hamburg three weeks ago and these guys looked

:48:23.:48:28.

like they are screaming along. to 37 strokes a minute, that is

:48:28.:48:38.
:48:38.:48:39.

very high in a double scull. Germany went up very hard so might

:48:39.:48:44.

people often the last five under. That is the wrong caption on the

:48:44.:48:47.

left-hand side. Germany in the league. Three boats hunting them

:48:47.:48:51.

down, New Zealand leading from Great Britain and France, the

:48:51.:48:56.

chasing pack. Germany out, and New Zealand continue to throw

:48:56.:49:01.

everything at Great Britain, everything that Germany, and you

:49:01.:49:06.

have got to think they could get an overlap with the Germans. The

:49:06.:49:12.

British, Wills and Bateman, from the Leander Club, coached by Mark

:49:12.:49:16.

Earnshaw, world silver medalists, been overhauled by world champions

:49:16.:49:21.

New Zealand, and New Zealand have the bit between their teeth, they

:49:21.:49:26.

can almost smell the Germans, and Great Britain has to go now that

:49:26.:49:29.

these are on. Great Britain are at 39 strokes a minute, but New

:49:29.:49:38.

Zealand even higher. Germany, beginning to fade. They went out so

:49:38.:49:43.

hard, but this has been a sustained attack from New Zealand and look

:49:43.:49:47.

how they have come through. 42 strokes a minute. They have gone

:49:47.:49:52.

right through. That is an incredible performance from the

:49:52.:50:00.

world champions, New Zealand. They get ahead of Germany, the early

:50:00.:50:05.

race leaders. New Zealand, dumped in the first 500 metres, and they

:50:05.:50:09.

have shown such class and style, showing why they are world

:50:09.:50:15.

champions, in first place, recovered to win the gold medal.

:50:15.:50:21.

Germany get the silver, and Great Britain get the bronze. If there is

:50:21.:50:27.

one race and performance in terms of ducts from start to finish, that

:50:27.:50:33.

is your crew. An extraordinary sprint. They sprinted from the 500-

:50:33.:50:39.

metre long. Reminded me of 1992 when they started sprinting at

:50:40.:50:43.

about 750 metres and you sprinted through the remaining world

:50:43.:50:48.

champions, and Italy, to take the gold medal. That is what these guys

:50:48.:50:58.
:50:58.:51:00.

just dead. Heroic performance from easy on to take the gold medal. --

:51:00.:51:07.

from New Zealand. I am Tom Solesbury. I am sometimes it from

:51:07.:51:10.

the men's quad. The best thing about going for me is being truly

:51:10.:51:15.

inspired by the dedication of my cronies. Seeing my competitors

:51:15.:51:21.

faces after I have just crushed them. The best thing for me, Steve

:51:22.:51:27.

Redgrave's Cola. It has been like this for two years! The worst thing

:51:27.:51:32.

about going is getting up early morning in the winter, minus Mac

:51:32.:51:42.

five. It is been nearly 30 and not having a penny to my name. I do not

:51:42.:51:52.
:51:52.:51:56.

get an even tan all over. Up to the 1,000-metre mark. Stretching out in

:51:56.:52:00.

that middle second five, important to Neil the rhythm, hard. The

:52:00.:52:08.

British grew up in Elaine one, led by Ben Lucas and Sam Townshend,

:52:08.:52:13.

with Steve Rowbotham and Tom Townsend in the bows cease.

:52:13.:52:18.

Switzerland, the whole nation is drawing the crowd on the Sunday

:52:18.:52:24.

afternoon. The British qualified with the six slowest time in the

:52:24.:52:29.

spinal so they might have to attack on every single stroke. They got

:52:29.:52:34.

off well and it is the second or third 500 that they might have to

:52:34.:52:40.

lay down their pace. But this last 500 metres, can be Max Brand? It is

:52:40.:52:44.

difficult with a young, new crew to get that perfect cohesion when you

:52:44.:52:54.
:52:54.:52:55.

are up against it. -- can they sprint? Good performance in this

:52:55.:53:03.

first 500 metres, again. It is all about stepping up. The home nation

:53:03.:53:10.

here on the Rotsee, Switzerland, all have these profiles in training

:53:10.:53:14.

and replicate that at a higher intensity come race day, come the

:53:14.:53:23.

finals. Germany have had a blistering third by pundits. The

:53:23.:53:33.

race is very tight. The race is really on, very tight, for the

:53:33.:53:39.

silver and bronze. Look at that water up there. Just delightful to

:53:39.:53:45.

be up there. Every stroke, they get more confident down the line. Mark

:53:45.:53:50.

Banks in charge of this crew, an inspirational coach, when it comes

:53:50.:53:55.

to getting in among the big names, particularly Germany, the race

:53:55.:54:01.

leaders. Germany have opened it up. Croatia, world champions, slipping

:54:01.:54:08.

further back. Great Britain is in there, in the hunt, and winding it

:54:08.:54:14.

up very well moving into the last 300 metres. Australia, the world

:54:14.:54:20.

bronze medallists from 2010, they are now going for the line. The

:54:20.:54:26.

crowds on the far bank enjoying the spectacle. Inside the closing

:54:26.:54:33.

stages. Germany have gone away from everybody. Now the race is on

:54:33.:54:35.

course over Foster on the far side you have Great Britain nudging

:54:35.:54:39.

ahead, but the Australians are coming back, it is Great Britain

:54:39.:54:45.

and Australia, four silver, and on the line, the British crew, what a

:54:45.:54:52.

fabulous result, silver for Great Britain. And this British quadruple

:54:52.:54:58.

scull are getting better and better. That was spectacular, spectacular

:54:58.:55:02.

result of Great Britain. The quadruple scull, we have never got

:55:02.:55:06.

a medal in this, this was a fantastic performance, and they

:55:06.:55:12.

have got a lot more to give. Britain in second place to Germany.

:55:12.:55:18.

Australia have been etched into the bronze medal position. What a great

:55:18.:55:26.

position to be in going into the What are your thoughts on the

:55:26.:55:34.

double sculls? They are going to be a little disappointed. They talked

:55:34.:55:40.

about how hard it is coming out of Henley and coming into this. It is

:55:40.:55:46.

a mental test, of the amount of races that you have been in.

:55:47.:55:56.

Unbelievable, they were unbelievable, New Zealand, with

:55:56.:56:00.

sheer guts and determination, and Germany hanging on for such a long

:56:00.:56:06.

time, from halfway along. Our guys looked smoother but did not close

:56:06.:56:14.

the gap. And the Quatt? Again, moving on all the time. It is

:56:14.:56:19.

impressive over the last few years, it is a boat that we have not done

:56:19.:56:23.

very well in since it became a world championship event, only

:56:23.:56:27.

making the world championships three times in total now. But the

:56:27.:56:32.

sport has got a chance of getting a medal. Beating Croatia at Henley

:56:32.:56:37.

last week, and then coming out and doing it again this time, and

:56:37.:56:43.

finishing in a strong position. They are going to feel very upbeat

:56:43.:56:50.

after that. Carrying that through, year on year, it is getting better

:56:50.:56:57.

and better. The finish of the men's single sculls, that was won by the

:56:57.:57:03.

Czech Republic. Campbell is not competing here for us. It is the

:57:03.:57:09.

wrong time of the year to be here. Yes, he has been up and down with

:57:09.:57:15.

illness. You can never rule him out. But this season has been very

:57:15.:57:24.

difficult for him. Normally, he confidence, but he was very

:57:24.:57:28.

disappointed that Munich. He won at Henley last weekend, but there was

:57:28.:57:35.

not that stiff opposition for him. Probably a good decision not to

:57:35.:57:43.

raise it here. To re-evaluate, and wait for the World Championships.

:57:43.:57:47.

From when a New Zealand runner up to a New Zealand winner, he is the

:57:47.:57:57.
:57:57.:57:59.

single sculls, -- here is Emma Trigg. Maybe her period of

:57:59.:58:05.

domination in the game is coming to a close. Two races, two defeat by

:58:05.:58:10.

Germany, can the men's eight overcome their rivals? We have the

:58:10.:58:14.

latest hour from inside the camp. It is not all about rowing and

:58:14.:58:19.

training. Sophie Hosking talks us through her day job. At the

:58:19.:58:22.

Chambers Brothers combine for a pastime in a World Cup event as the

:58:22.:58:25.

world champion lightweight or look to get back to the top. Let us

:58:26.:58:32.

start with the Women's court. First place for them at the First World

:58:32.:58:42.
:58:42.:58:44.

Cup regatta of the Year in Munich - through the halfway mark in second

:58:44.:58:48.

place to push on. Great Britain have been challenged by the United

:58:48.:58:55.

States of America and by Australia on the left, and by New Zealand to

:58:55.:59:02.

their right. Great Britain, still nice and relaxed. A length down and

:59:02.:59:06.

Germany going through the halfway mark. You have the Americans

:59:06.:59:10.

hunting down on the left. You want to start focusing on the boat ahead

:59:10.:59:15.

of you, rather than defending the boats behind you. It is all about

:59:15.:59:19.

mindset, chasing the boat in front, and everyone behind you doing the

:59:19.:59:23.

work. Bury Sterry in the middle part of this race, obviously

:59:23.:59:30.

working to a plan. -- very steady. Germany have dominated this event

:59:30.:59:36.

since its inception, only beaten two or three times in 30 years.

:59:36.:59:43.

They are back on song. Back in the driving seat. But other crews now

:59:43.:59:53.

are very close to them. Great Britain, having to make an attack

:59:53.:59:59.

now. Otherwise, they are going to find there is too much to do in the

:59:59.:00:08.

last 600 metres. Berry Flood and Annabel Vernon, silver medallists,

:00:08.:00:13.

and this German crew knows what it is like to be in a monks ate, they

:00:13.:00:20.

are world champions. As we head towards the 1,500m mark they have

:00:20.:00:24.

to remain -- have to remind themselves where they stand in the

:00:24.:00:28.

world. Great Britain in second but New Zealand have taken on the

:00:28.:00:32.

challenge over America, so, to their right, Great Britain have to

:00:32.:00:38.

worry, to keep their eye or New Zealand who are, all the time,

:00:38.:00:42.

tracking down Germany. They might have got a deal over lap. It is all

:00:42.:00:47.

about winding them in Mike coming down the final part of the track.

:00:47.:00:53.

That was a good move. Coming up to about half a length down on Germany.

:00:53.:00:59.

Still, New Zealand pushing hard on the far side. Great Britain need to

:00:59.:01:04.

do something special, and have to wind it right up, up to 39 strokes

:01:04.:01:09.

a minute, and try to pull Germany back. Germany has worked very hard

:01:09.:01:12.

to be where they are, but Great Britain should have the flexibility

:01:12.:01:22.
:01:22.:01:30.

bit of a head breeze coming in. The crews will have to think about

:01:30.:01:34.

finishing. Great Britain have responded to New Zealand's

:01:34.:01:38.

challenge and continue to pile the pressure on Germany. Now every

:01:38.:01:43.

single stroke, the British are starting to move. They have about

:01:43.:01:48.

150 metres, a little over 15 strokes. Surely Germany have done

:01:48.:01:52.

enough to hold on to the challenge? The Germans are coming to the line,

:01:52.:01:57.

the British are continuing to wind the rate up, but it will be gold

:01:57.:02:00.

for Germany and saw the for Great Britain. Both crews moving away

:02:00.:02:05.

from New Zealand. New Zealand coming through in the bronze-medal

:02:05.:02:11.

position. The exhaustion is evident in the British crew, they have had

:02:11.:02:16.

to work hard in the last 500 metres, they gave away too much to Germany,

:02:16.:02:26.
:02:26.:02:29.

Tie, IM Sophie Hosking, international rower, lightweight

:02:29.:02:35.

women's double, World Cup gold medallist and when I am not rowing,

:02:35.:02:44.

I like to... Clean up contaminated land. Basically, I studied

:02:44.:02:49.

chemistry and physics at university. It is an expanding area in

:02:49.:02:52.

construction, it looked quite an interesting thing to get involved

:02:52.:02:58.

with. Former petrol stations, Gasworks, we have worked on old

:02:58.:03:04.

tips. Anything we can to help -- do to help clean up the environment is

:03:04.:03:09.

great. I get a bit of banter about hard hats and steel toecap birds.

:03:09.:03:13.

They like the fact that people do other things apart from rowing,

:03:13.:03:18.

they seem quite interested. It is nice to come down on the site and

:03:18.:03:24.

chat to people who don't know what to do for the rest of the time and

:03:24.:03:28.

maybe see you on television occasionally. Rowing will only last

:03:28.:03:32.

for so long and I need something to going to afterwards. I am all done

:03:32.:03:42.
:03:42.:03:46.

are looking pretty strong in the leading position. Just shy of a

:03:47.:03:52.

length over the United States of America. Great Britain are just

:03:52.:04:00.

sitting, those markers were wrong, Great Britain are in third position.

:04:00.:04:04.

Into the third 500, this is a really important 500. It is where

:04:04.:04:09.

you start to think about building it in for a line. If you can sneak

:04:09.:04:14.

a few strokes ahead and get the gap and anticipates when your

:04:14.:04:19.

competition will move, that will stand you in good stead in the

:04:19.:04:27.

closing stages. They seem to be stepping it up slightly. Canada

:04:27.:04:33.

have moved on. They have just moved through the United States, they

:04:33.:04:39.

have a tremendous amount to do to catch cannot afford stop they are

:04:39.:04:46.

continuing to move ahead. -- they have a tremendous amount to do to

:04:46.:04:56.
:04:56.:05:00.

catch Canada. Canada are well clear and under a lot of pressure. Lynne

:05:00.:05:08.

degenerate into Tracy Cameron, the world champions in this event. --

:05:08.:05:13.

Lynsey and Tracy Cameron. It is not as smooth as it could be. They have

:05:13.:05:18.

great boat speed. The Canadians have a lot of lean back, it is

:05:19.:05:26.

typical of the coaching in Canada. The surge at the finish of the

:05:27.:05:33.

stroke gives the bowler to a good speed. It will take a big last 500

:05:33.:05:37.

metres for the British double scull to overhaul Canada, the reigning

:05:37.:05:42.

world champions. British are still in third place. That captured

:05:42.:05:52.
:05:52.:05:56.

remains wrong. -- that captured the get an overlap, they are putting in

:05:56.:06:01.

so much effort. The Canadians are just thinking about effort to keep

:06:01.:06:06.

the gap going. Psychologically, they are coming at it from a very

:06:06.:06:11.

different perspective. In amongst it all, the United States of

:06:11.:06:15.

America are in lane number 3, looking to spoil the party for the

:06:15.:06:20.

British double scull. But both crews... The Americans look higher,

:06:20.:06:24.

they are taking more strokes per minute than the British crew. The

:06:24.:06:30.

British really have to respond, they don't look as dynamic. Now

:06:30.:06:36.

they are moving a bit more dynamically. You can see the speed

:06:36.:06:41.

going into the water, the likes coming down, but the Americans have

:06:41.:06:47.

responded. The race for silver is going on, and the race for the gold

:06:47.:06:51.

medal is out front. Canada are looking back, they are looking very

:06:51.:06:57.

relaxed. 125 metres from the line, they are not going to be challenged.

:06:57.:07:01.

They made to keep an eye on Great Britain, who are slowly getting

:07:01.:07:05.

through the United States of America -- they need to keep an eye

:07:05.:07:10.

on Great Britain. Inside the last 50 metres, long strokes coming from

:07:10.:07:14.

the Canadians. The British crew are through the United States into

:07:14.:07:22.

silver, they were almost have an overlap. Goals to Canada, -- Gold

:07:23.:07:26.

to Canada, so will the two Great Britain and bronze to the United

:07:26.:07:36.
:07:36.:07:38.

States to America. -- Silva 2 Great The British will be happy with

:07:38.:07:41.

their silver medal. What are your views on the women's

:07:41.:07:47.

quad? Very good. I think they expect a bigger things in the first

:07:48.:07:51.

race this season, rising British women's sculling expected bigger

:07:51.:07:55.

things, a disappointing third, if you can be disappointed with the

:07:55.:07:59.

bronze medal. But they have had quite a lot of illness and injury,

:07:59.:08:06.

everyone has done different boats, it is very difficult. Two new girls

:08:06.:08:11.

this time. A strong second place, I think they will be really pleased,

:08:11.:08:18.

in some respects. And knowing that Fran is potentially coming back,

:08:19.:08:24.

more strength to come, they will be really pleased that they were

:08:25.:08:28.

pushing the Germans hard. Do you think Sophie and Hester, I was

:08:28.:08:33.

going to say are outside contenders, but they are live contenders?

:08:33.:08:37.

always have very mixed results. Over the last few years they have

:08:37.:08:41.

had a couple of very good results, got to the major championships and

:08:41.:08:44.

disappointed a little. Last year they did very well during the

:08:44.:08:49.

season. I think they have really been given strength, they have not

:08:49.:08:53.

been as dominant this year at the World Cup, but I think they have an

:08:53.:08:58.

inner belief they can perform at the highest level. Why not take the

:08:58.:09:04.

gold medal this year? And London 2012 next year, even better?

:09:04.:09:08.

Talking about lightweight doubles, you think about Purchase and Hunter,

:09:09.:09:14.

the Olympic champions. The men's weight -- race was won by New

:09:14.:09:19.

Zealand. What do you think about the future of their partnership?

:09:19.:09:23.

disappointing results at the First World Cup race. Coming back from

:09:23.:09:28.

that, one of them came down with a virus. It has taken a long time to

:09:28.:09:33.

recover from. Rumours within the camp have said if they can just

:09:33.:09:39.

qualifier the boat this year with the championships, that is all we

:09:39.:09:47.

are worried about. When the pulley player comes back, he adds so much

:09:47.:09:55.

to the crew. Hopefully he will be back for these world championships.

:09:55.:10:04.

If he is back, the contenders will be... But on the grapevine, it is

:10:04.:10:09.

let's concentrate on next year. Let's talk about the lightweight

:10:09.:10:14.

fours, which invariably provides the most exciting race. This

:10:14.:10:18.

particular event is very special for the Chambers family, both

:10:18.:10:22.

brothers competing in the same boat in a World Cup for the very first

:10:22.:10:32.
:10:32.:10:37.

it, it is tight. At the halfway mark, very little between all six

:10:37.:10:43.

boats. Australia have kicked back, the South Africans are leading

:10:43.:10:49.

slightly. Australia, who had a bit of a slowdown into the second 500,

:10:49.:10:54.

they are at speed again. This is the most exciting race. Really

:10:54.:10:59.

can't afford a single mistake on any single stroke. They had just

:10:59.:11:04.

slipped into the lead, I don't know why the chart on the left showed

:11:04.:11:09.

them in 5th, they were well up. They have just eased into the front.

:11:09.:11:14.

Can they sustain it? Can they turn it on in the last 500 when

:11:15.:11:20.

everybody will attack? Richard Chambers is in the bow seat, his

:11:20.:11:25.

brother Peter is also there, Paul Mattick, Rob Williams, a really

:11:25.:11:31.

good, tight knit group. We are watching Switzerland in lane number

:11:31.:11:37.

to. Great Britain are coached by Rob Morgan. Very good experience,

:11:37.:11:42.

they trust each other, which will now be called for as we get towards

:11:42.:11:47.

the business and. 750 metres to go in the final of the men's

:11:47.:11:52.

lightweight coxless four. The crew average maximum individual cannot

:11:52.:11:58.

exceed 72.5 kilograms, the crew average cannot exceed 70 telegrams.

:11:58.:12:03.

What Denmark at the top of the picture as they really start to

:12:03.:12:13.
:12:13.:12:19.

motor. -- and what Denmark. -- and discount a single boat at this

:12:19.:12:23.

stage in the race. The British are right up there, almost on the edge

:12:23.:12:32.

of a sprint. They have probably got one more sprint level to go.

:12:32.:12:37.

Switzerland in amongst it all, hanging on for dear life. In lane

:12:37.:12:43.

number 1, Denmark a game will push on hard. Switzerland are 40 strokes

:12:43.:12:47.

a minute, Great Britain moving up through 39 strokes a minute. Still

:12:47.:12:54.

a little bit more to go. Chamber as his four years younger than his

:12:54.:13:02.

older brother. He just slotted in and it is really sweet -- chambers

:13:02.:13:08.

his four years younger. They are being attacked, here we are in the

:13:08.:13:12.

dangerous part of the race. 200 metres remaining, surely they have

:13:12.:13:17.

done enough to hang on? Every single one of them is coming back.

:13:17.:13:21.

Great Britain are in front, they are moving away, it has been

:13:21.:13:26.

beautifully timed. They have moved it up now and in the last 150

:13:26.:13:31.

metres they are shooting. British crew have done enough, but

:13:31.:13:36.

the Australians attack harder. Here come the Italians and the Danes,

:13:36.:13:41.

but it is gold for Great Britain. It is sold before Italy, we wait

:13:41.:13:49.

for the full, -- it is a silver medal for Italy, we wait for the

:13:49.:13:56.

full confirmation for the bronze medal. Brotherly love, that is

:13:56.:14:01.

great. What a triumph for Peter Chambers to be a winner here and,

:14:01.:14:06.

as I say, the injured Chris Barclay will struggle to get back in, that

:14:06.:14:10.

was a very sweet line-up. All credit to Rob Williams in the

:14:10.:14:15.

stroke seat, he did a great job. wonderful performance for Great

:14:15.:14:25.
:14:25.:14:27.

Tallis about your little brother and what he has done? -- tell us

:14:27.:14:34.

about? I am so proud. To come into a boat that expects gold every time,

:14:34.:14:38.

that is massive. He delivered a good performance and support to

:14:38.:14:44.

this the whole way through. We have come away with a whim, he has shown

:14:44.:14:46.

his immaturity of the last couple of weeks and it has been awesome to

:14:46.:14:52.

race with him. -- he has shown his maturity over the last couple of

:14:52.:14:58.

weeks. Haven't you won more than he did at the age of 21? I don't know,

:14:58.:15:05.

we will have to see! We did some good races, we had a good plan and

:15:05.:15:10.

went out and did it. How special was it to row with your older

:15:10.:15:17.

brother? It is our first time together, and the fact that we won

:15:17.:15:19.

on the properly -- on the first time we race to together, I am

:15:19.:15:24.

proud. Tremendously exciting and a great result. You can get too

:15:24.:15:29.

carried away, but fantastic for the Chambers family? Brilliant for the

:15:29.:15:33.

brothers and the family. I think it is outstanding the way they

:15:33.:15:39.

conducted themselves over this week. They were bitterly disappointed

:15:39.:15:43.

with their performance at Munich, even though they came back into it

:15:43.:15:47.

in the last race, but they were swaggering around as world

:15:47.:15:51.

champions, we are the best. They did not produce the goods they felt

:15:51.:15:56.

they could, they went away, worked on it and came back, you can always

:15:56.:16:03.

see lightweight coxless fours, they are very tight. They were racing

:16:03.:16:07.

some talented groups, who blew them away in lightweight terms. The

:16:07.:16:12.

margin does not seem very much, but for some reason in lightweight fors,

:16:12.:16:18.

it is a big margin. They will be pleased, going into the world

:16:18.:16:22.

championships. Just a couple more races to show you, the Women's

:16:22.:16:24.

Eight and the Men's Eight, but first he is Greg Searle with his

:16:25.:16:34.
:16:35.:16:41.

Ready? Hands on, and left. We in Munich for the first of the 2011

:16:42.:16:46.

World Cup races, and it is the morning of the final. It is our job

:16:46.:16:50.

to make sure that we do not play out the usual script for the

:16:50.:16:57.

Germans, which is for them to get a place and does not to be able to

:16:57.:17:05.

get back on terms. Today, we need to be different. Germany, the world

:17:05.:17:10.

champions, out fast in the Green vote. Germany gets the gold, Great

:17:10.:17:16.

Britain get the silver, they knew that they live in Germany slip

:17:16.:17:20.

through too much in the vast 500 metres. We did play out exactly the

:17:20.:17:24.

script which we have had before when racing the Germans. We had

:17:24.:17:29.

hoped they would not be that fast, but they are fast, they trained

:17:29.:17:35.

hard, too, and they rode quite well. The message is clear, we need to

:17:35.:17:42.

make sure that we go faster because that is going to be boring, if that

:17:42.:17:46.

happens every time between now and the Olympics. But I trust our

:17:46.:17:51.

coaches and the rest of the team, that people want it and a hungry

:17:51.:18:00.

for it, just as much as I am. It is 2nd July, 2011. Henley Royal

:18:00.:18:05.

Regatta. It is a very classy event. The Australians are good and the

:18:05.:18:10.

Germans are here. We need to be right on our game. Training has

:18:10.:18:16.

been interesting for the last month. We have had a situation with E-coli,

:18:16.:18:22.

which meant that we did not race in my handbag. This is the first race

:18:22.:18:29.

since Munich, which was five weeks ago now. And going to lose to the

:18:29.:18:33.

Germans, but I feel like we have made progress and eventually we

:18:33.:18:38.

will get past them. This gives us the rage, that we need to do

:18:38.:18:43.

something about this. We have got to use that to make a stronger and

:18:43.:18:53.
:18:53.:18:56.

make us raise better next weekend, The legs will be burning but they

:18:56.:19:01.

have to go one more time, to step up the raised profile, all the

:19:01.:19:06.

training demand, around the 1,000- metre mark, but the Germans put

:19:06.:19:11.

everything into the first half, and always just hang on. And Canada

:19:11.:19:18.

going very strongly in lane five. The British crew continue to be up

:19:18.:19:22.

there. They no they have got a quick second half, if everything

:19:22.:19:27.

comes together. Germany have not got their usual one light lead at

:19:28.:19:35.

the halfway mark. The British crew over in lane six, they no they have

:19:35.:19:42.

to wind it up and reel in the Germans. USA at the top of the

:19:42.:19:50.

picture, they were into place, but still moving quite well. -- in the

:19:50.:20:00.

5th place. The Germans are just running that bought out. The boat

:20:00.:20:07.

once on an they are on to it very quickly. -- the boat runs on.

:20:07.:20:14.

Confidence in that German crew, sky-high. America, in 6th place, in

:20:14.:20:21.

early No. 1, in amongst it all as well. The United States are rowing

:20:21.:20:25.

technically well. 10 McClaren, their coach, working hard on

:20:25.:20:29.

getting their technique improved. He is trying to make them work in

:20:29.:20:35.

small boats, just work a little bit more effectively, more in sympathy

:20:35.:20:41.

with at the boat and with the water around them. A as we get the wards

:20:41.:20:48.

the closing stages, there is going to be a lot of noise. 500 metres

:20:48.:20:53.

remain. The Germans three-quarters of a live up on the United States.

:20:53.:20:57.

At Great Britain in and around third position. That caption was

:20:57.:21:03.

wrong. Now the British have to just lift it up, keep tunnel vision in

:21:03.:21:10.

the British crew and think about the 30 strokes up towards the line.

:21:10.:21:17.

Dan Ritchie in the stern, pushing them on. He but the Germans will

:21:17.:21:21.

sense everyone coming back at them. The latest days moving very fast

:21:21.:21:27.

now. The United States are at 38 strokes a minute. Germany, looking

:21:27.:21:32.

strong. They have the tandem rig in the middle of the board. Four or

:21:32.:21:37.

five on the same side. And it makes that boat go straight and move very

:21:37.:21:41.

well. You cannot see them, but there have been mounting a

:21:41.:21:46.

challenge. They will be stunned by the fees from the Netherlands and

:21:46.:21:52.

Poland but now they are moving. 200m remaining. The Netherlands in

:21:52.:21:57.

Elaine four, pushing on, it is going to be a sprint for the line.

:21:57.:22:01.

Great Britain fighting for the bronze medal. United States hanging

:22:01.:22:06.

on, Germany has got the gold, benevolence attacked Great Britain

:22:06.:22:09.

one more time, it is Germany for gold, and the British are now

:22:09.:22:13.

coming, almost on the line, this could be for a medal, Germany

:22:13.:22:18.

through, and it'll be a photo- finish for the silver medal between

:22:18.:22:24.

Great Britain and the Netherlands. And it does not get any closer than

:22:24.:22:29.

that. Germany hung on out there, ahead, but Great Britain had the

:22:29.:22:34.

sprint to get in. Again, the Netherlands find the closing speech

:22:34.:22:44.
:22:44.:22:44.

to come right back into it. -- speed. Silver for the Netherlands

:22:45.:22:48.

and bronze for Great Britain. The great British crew on the medal

:22:48.:22:58.
:22:58.:23:04.

podium, but things getting so close America going through the 1,500m

:23:04.:23:12.

mark -- and the United States of America. They should think about

:23:12.:23:16.

keeping the line, the quicker on the catches and they could catch

:23:16.:23:22.

the Netherlands. If they can do that that would be a great sculp in

:23:22.:23:27.

this race. Canada just crept up and crept up. The Netherlands being

:23:27.:23:32.

left behind over the last bite hundred metres. Canada will start

:23:33.:23:38.

to raise up to 38 strokes a minute, and try to match the Nikkei stays

:23:38.:23:48.
:23:48.:23:48.

on the run-in. -- the United States. The naked spacer America have led

:23:48.:23:58.
:23:58.:24:07.

the way. By -- the United States experience there to let this slip

:24:07.:24:14.

now. Lesley Thomson just driving on heart crew, 150 metres remaining.

:24:14.:24:21.

Great Britain being pushed hard by Caroline or corner in lane one. The

:24:21.:24:25.

Americans have pen strokes to the line. The Americans lead over

:24:25.:24:33.

Canada. Not much in it. It is the US, from Canada, from the

:24:33.:24:38.

Netherlands, from Great Britain. And that his goal to the USA.

:24:39.:24:43.

Silver for Canada, the Netherlands get the bronze, and Great Britain

:24:43.:24:53.
:24:53.:25:02.

coming through in opposition. The I am going to ask a British -- a

:25:02.:25:07.

difficult question - which British victory as impressed you most?

:25:07.:25:13.

is a difficult question to answer. Perhaps the Women's Pair. The match

:25:13.:25:21.

were completely brilliant, dominant. And what style from the lightweight

:25:21.:25:29.

four. By we have just had a cracking day. You have coaches

:25:29.:25:33.

meetings coming up. Do you expect any change to these crews before

:25:33.:25:38.

the World Championships? I didn't announce them on air. We have a few

:25:38.:25:43.

things to talk about. But it is good decision-making from a strong

:25:43.:25:48.

position, to squeeze up the medals, and so on. It will be a hard

:25:49.:25:52.

decision to make but we will announce the team on Tuesday week.

:25:52.:25:57.

There was a time, 30 years ago, when one bronze medal would have

:25:57.:26:03.

been regarded as a success. This is fantastic, isn't it? But a mite

:26:03.:26:13.

cold, four Silva and two bronze -- for gold, four silvers, and two

:26:13.:26:19.

bronze. They might have put all this together, and if we can do it

:26:19.:26:25.

in July and August of next year, that is going to be incredible. It

:26:25.:26:31.

is almost East German like, in some ways. They used to win everything

:26:31.:26:37.

when I started out, with two boats that would come first and second.

:26:37.:26:42.

New Zealand are performing well as a team. But there is nobody else

:26:42.:26:49.

who is there, in it. Germany have some good boats, but they are not

:26:49.:26:53.

beer in debt. Almost every Olympic category, we are contesting for

:26:53.:26:58.

medals. You do not want to get ahead of yourself, because pride

:26:58.:27:03.

comes before a ball, but are we all lost on the cusp of this British

:27:03.:27:10.

rowing team doing what the cycling team did in Beijing? Very possible.

:27:10.:27:15.

I think that, to win as many gold medals as the cycling team, is

:27:15.:27:21.

going to be very tough. But if you talk to any of the individual boats,

:27:21.:27:25.

taking out the women's single, the weakest event, all of them have

:27:25.:27:32.

chances of winning a medal. And if they could be gold medals. There

:27:32.:27:39.

are 14 Olympic events. If you're talking about 13 Bury good chances.

:27:39.:27:46.

-- very good. Could you might hear as well? Yes, the double sculls was

:27:46.:27:52.

even closer than the lightweight fours at Lucerne. Plenty more spoke

:27:52.:27:56.

to alert you to on BBC television. The Open golf at San which starts

:27:56.:28:06.
:28:06.:28:08.

on Thursday. -- Sandwich. You can follow that across all platforms.

:28:08.:28:11.

Then the Rowing Championships at Lake Bled, coverage on the red

:28:11.:28:21.
:28:21.:28:22.

button and highlights on BBC One on You won't miss a stroke. Thanks to

:28:22.:28:28.

everybody at the Bolton Regatta, and as you can see the sport at

:28:28.:28:33.

this level is very vibrant. It has been lovely at this beer. And at

:28:33.:28:39.

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