:00:35. > :00:43.The crowd are on their feet! What a He gets the gold medal. Kelly
:00:43. > :00:53.Holmes for Great Britain. What a performance! Absolutely brilliant.
:00:53. > :00:55.
:00:55. > :01:01.Hello and welcome to Manchester - Act defined by a sport red and blue.
:01:01. > :01:07.A raid from football, a small rowing club is flourishing -- away
:01:07. > :01:10.from football. They are working hard to mould international stars
:01:10. > :01:20.of the future and is events in Belgrade are anything to go by,
:01:20. > :01:28.
:01:28. > :01:33.Here comes Great Britain! It's looking pretty impressive.
:01:33. > :01:43.British are coming on the right. It will be desperately close. The
:01:43. > :01:47.British boys have their heads up. Another gold medal. Great Britain
:01:47. > :01:53.opened well the -- 2012 as they should.
:01:53. > :01:59.That is just about as good as it gets. Things get tougher as the
:01:59. > :02:04.rowing World Cup moves to Lucerne. Five-time Olympic gold medallist
:02:04. > :02:09.says Steve Redgrave is he to provide his insight. Just reflect
:02:10. > :02:13.on Belgrade and tell us how much tougher things will be in Lucerne.
:02:14. > :02:22.Belgrade was our best-ever World Cup. Saying that, traditionally we
:02:22. > :02:26.always do well. New Zealand is the second best rowing nation at the
:02:26. > :02:32.moment and they have come over in force. The Australians, the
:02:32. > :02:35.Canadians and the Americans were over earlier and they didn't do a
:02:35. > :02:40.very good world champions last year but this is the test. Because of
:02:40. > :02:47.the distance they have to travel, they will not be at their best now.
:02:47. > :02:52.That will be in three weeks' time in Munich. But this is more of what
:02:52. > :03:01.they crews will be like when they race in the Olympics. Plenty to
:03:01. > :03:07.look forward to in the show then. The men's four prove they are the
:03:07. > :03:11.ones to beat. They gave their all three weeks ago but lost again. Is
:03:11. > :03:21.today the day they finally beat the Germans? Four years ago, she had
:03:21. > :03:22.
:03:22. > :03:28.never wrote but she is now one of the favourites for London -- rowed.
:03:28. > :03:33.And there is also a quest for the women's double. So to the men's
:03:33. > :03:39.four. They set a world best time in Lucerne in the heats. Three of the
:03:39. > :03:43.crew are up Olympic champions. They won gold in Beijing. Alex Gregory
:03:43. > :03:50.is the new phase and he is well aware of the spotlight he is now
:03:50. > :03:54.under. There is the new line-up. Will it work? There was pressure in
:03:54. > :03:59.the crew. It is the Olympic year and this is the boat they will have
:03:59. > :04:04.heard about if they know anything about rowing. Undoubtedly, four of
:04:04. > :04:08.the very best athletes in rowing today. We did not look straight
:04:08. > :04:14.away but we progressed daily leading up to Belgrade. They have
:04:14. > :04:19.to lay down a huge market as you would expect of a top vote --
:04:19. > :04:25.Caister Lifeboat we had a good heat and we stepped it up again in the
:04:25. > :04:31.semi-finals. Over the line against clear water. They have made a big
:04:31. > :04:35.statement. When you step in a crew for the first time, it doesn't
:04:35. > :04:39.always work straightaway. Particularly for us, the
:04:39. > :04:44.expectation was high eight and that we would be fast immediately. We
:04:44. > :04:52.just have to keep improving and do what we can to get better and
:04:52. > :04:57.faster. My role in the boat is really weird. My position has
:04:57. > :05:02.changed massively to racing from watching. I feel really good. It is
:05:02. > :05:08.what I have aimed for ever since I started rowing. I feel like I have
:05:08. > :05:12.made the four might boat and if I can finish on a high like I did in
:05:12. > :05:17.2009 and become world champion for the first time, and to finish
:05:17. > :05:22.becoming Olympic champion, it will be amazing. I'm not a sporty person
:05:22. > :05:28.in the sport. I am competitive when I need to be but not off the water.
:05:28. > :05:35.My family is important to me. Since Jasper was born, it has changed my
:05:35. > :05:39.focus on life and rowing. After Belgrade, he asked to see my medal
:05:39. > :05:44.straightaway and he took it is school the next day. That really
:05:44. > :05:54.brought home what rowing it means to be now of -- to me now. I want
:05:54. > :06:00.
:06:00. > :06:06.to go to London and make him proud. A way it nice and long from the
:06:06. > :06:12.British crew in the lane number three. A push hard from Australia
:06:12. > :06:18.in lane number four. The British crew are led by Andrew Hodge, just
:06:18. > :06:24.pushing it out and blasting through the first 100 metres. The Aussies
:06:24. > :06:31.are fast. They are. They moved fast in the first 1000 metres of their
:06:31. > :06:37.first semi-final -- their opening heat, ride there. Great Britain
:06:37. > :06:43.have developed some confidence -- rather. They had shaky confidence
:06:43. > :06:48.in the first two rounds in Belgrade. Here, their heads are up. That
:06:48. > :06:51.world-best time really suits them and they have flown along.
:06:51. > :07:01.Australia really have gone out there in front and have about a
:07:01. > :07:06.
:07:06. > :07:14.third of a length coming up to the The British crew are expected to
:07:14. > :07:20.stretch out as they are there more powerful of the two boats. Tom
:07:20. > :07:25.James is behind him. Alex Gregory is in the bow seat. They are just
:07:25. > :07:32.settling into their rhythm. About one-third of a length down.
:07:32. > :07:37.Australia, Great Britain and then Germany. The question in the second
:07:37. > :07:41.500 is can the British keep cool and calm as they know over 2000
:07:41. > :07:51.metres they are so much faster than the Aussies. They have to keep it
:07:51. > :07:55.relaxed. Australia in a number four. They were quicker to the 1000 in
:07:55. > :08:00.the two heats but in the second half, that is where the British
:08:00. > :08:05.unleashed a phenomenal amount of power. A I like the way the
:08:05. > :08:11.Australians are roaming though. They are very flowing. Germany is
:08:11. > :08:15.not quite in the same class as the two leading boats. More muscular
:08:15. > :08:20.work but not enough run and spread. Australia are looking very
:08:20. > :08:28.confident. There boat is travelling along without any dip. Not bouncing
:08:28. > :08:36.up and down. They are just sitting there with long arms and legs. They
:08:36. > :08:46.have the Great Britain four in their sights at the moment. The two
:08:46. > :08:59.
:08:59. > :09:05.boats are starting to move away and the chasing field. There is a
:09:05. > :09:09.real edge match between Australia in four and Great Britain in three.
:09:10. > :09:16.Great Britain must feel they confidence rising because they are
:09:16. > :09:19.surely coming back and through the Aussies. Don't be too short! Great
:09:19. > :09:24.Britain at are still not completely comfortable yet, even when they
:09:24. > :09:30.were breaking the world's best time on Friday, they still didn't feel
:09:30. > :09:34.it was rowing completely as they wanted it to row. Tom James is
:09:34. > :09:38.sitting at three and he is very good at bringing a bit of
:09:38. > :09:42.relaxation and rhythm to the boat. Here, it will be very tough as they
:09:42. > :09:48.have to keep their rhythm and shape and put the pressure on Australia.
:09:48. > :09:58.Australia have only been over for five days so they are in a good
:09:58. > :10:08.
:10:08. > :10:13.position coming into the 1500 metre about rhythm. For Great Britain, it
:10:13. > :10:19.is about keeping it long so they can apply a power. They are a
:10:19. > :10:26.stronger boat and they need to be efficient with that power. Into the
:10:26. > :10:35.last 500 and Great Britain are struggling in the third. Australia
:10:35. > :10:44.are keeping its move. It is very tough. They have to do what they
:10:44. > :10:54.did when they broke that well time on Friday. Australia is really
:10:54. > :11:04.
:11:04. > :11:10.tank to lead. A further down the course they go, they know the
:11:10. > :11:18.British power will kick in. Australia, and the crowd on the far
:11:18. > :11:28.side now. This is surely a fantastic competition. The first
:11:28. > :11:34.
:11:34. > :11:44.head-to-head in 2012. Hodge demands it. Pete Reed as well. The great
:11:44. > :11:48.
:11:48. > :11:57.is how to do it. Heads and shoulders above Australia. They
:11:57. > :12:05.were down but a power saw them through. You cannot write off this
:12:05. > :12:10.four and you cannot write off Jurgen Grobler. It probably wasn't
:12:10. > :12:14.our best rowing. We committed to it and I don't think we doubt it
:12:14. > :12:18.ourselves. Australia did a fantastic race by the sound of it
:12:18. > :12:22.and put us under pressure but this is what the Olympics is going to be
:12:22. > :12:28.like. We might have got the world record on Friday but it does not
:12:28. > :12:36.mean there isn't another crew who are able to do it. It was a good
:12:36. > :12:42.platform for moving towards the I-Spy is the Australians may cause
:12:42. > :12:50.a worry? They heat two days ago of smashing the world best time is a
:12:50. > :13:00.great start at the Lucerne Regatta. The Aussies have been talked up --
:13:00. > :13:03.
:13:03. > :13:05.the British crew. They surprised me in some ways. As they got through
:13:05. > :13:10.and one reason than that - might reasonably comfortably, they will
:13:10. > :13:14.be pretty pleased with that. But the Aussies have just come over.
:13:14. > :13:19.How much is the time difference affecting them at the moment? They
:13:19. > :13:25.will get stronger. It will be a fantastic race. Maybe Beijing all
:13:25. > :13:29.over again. Now to the women's doubles. There was a double
:13:29. > :13:33.performance to win in Belgrade but for Catherine the pressure is
:13:33. > :13:43.mounting. She continues her quest for the elusive goal after three
:13:43. > :14:05.
:14:05. > :14:09.seat. Anna Watkins also. What a partnership and friendship they
:14:09. > :14:19.have developed over the last few years of rowing together. Germany
:14:19. > :14:26.
:14:26. > :14:31.won in lane number five and China, scullers. They have succeeded very
:14:31. > :14:35.well. Here, is a slow-motion shot where the action is about to happen.
:14:35. > :14:41.There is a distraction but this is great Britain taking off from the
:14:41. > :14:45.beginning of the race. They are just beginning to move out wearing
:14:45. > :14:50.the yellow jersey is. The winners ill Belgrade. They are looking long
:14:50. > :14:54.and strong. I wonder whether they have more under their belt. They
:14:54. > :14:59.were hard pressed in the semi-final, by Germany. I wonder if they are
:14:59. > :15:04.keeping their powder dry a bit. If they beat Germany by too much, the
:15:04. > :15:14.Germans will go back into the court and strengthened the court. There
:15:14. > :15:24.
:15:24. > :15:34.is a sense they want to keep mark in rhythm. The boats are
:15:34. > :15:34.
:15:35. > :15:43.running along quite nicely. Into the second 500 metres of this final.
:15:43. > :15:48.They will start to stretch out again. Such determination. Look at
:15:48. > :15:54.the swing! You can see what rowing is about when you look at the
:15:54. > :16:04.rhythm. Through the stroke and recovering of the finish. It is a
:16:04. > :16:04.
:16:04. > :16:11.nice display of a terrific Reed them. -- rhythm. The sisters in
:16:11. > :16:18.lane one were 6th in the World Championship last year. They are a
:16:18. > :16:24.bit unstable in the balance. We have glorious conditions in Lucerne.
:16:24. > :16:30.For the last couple of days, we have had a tail wind. They have
:16:30. > :16:39.been setting world-best times left, right and centre. It is settling
:16:39. > :16:46.down a bit. 500 metres remaining. The Great Britain crew of Katherine
:16:46. > :16:51.Grainger and Anna Watkins have it under control. It is all about
:16:51. > :16:58.perfection - the hunt seeking perfection for this crew. They have
:16:58. > :17:04.just moved the strokes up a bit. From 34 strokes a minute to 37
:17:04. > :17:08.strokes a minute. They are pushing up hard to try to justify the very
:17:08. > :17:16.far semi-final performance they did yesterday. Poland are beginning to
:17:16. > :17:22.attack as they come up almost level with Germany. Germany up slipping
:17:22. > :17:29.back. Comparing the Stroke rates, the number of strokes they take per
:17:29. > :17:34.minute, Great Britain is 35. Poland, in lane number three, 5th in the
:17:34. > :17:39.world championships, are throwing everything and the kitchen sink and
:17:39. > :17:43.more at Great Britain, through the last 50 metres. Great Britain have
:17:43. > :17:49.sat there, contain them and the Polish have been pushing back and
:17:49. > :17:55.pushing back. 200 metres and we would expect the British to take on
:17:55. > :18:00.the power. There goes Katherine Grainger, backed up by Anna Watkins.
:18:00. > :18:04.It was almost crawl for the Polish. The class that is the British
:18:04. > :18:12.double scull of Grainger and Watkins, all they needed to do was
:18:12. > :18:18.keep the length in the water. They are coming up to the line. Another
:18:18. > :18:25.gold medal and a huge step towards the Olympics in London. It is Great
:18:25. > :18:30.Britain over in first place. Poland in seconds. Germany heads down in
:18:30. > :18:34.bronze medal position. We were tested quite hard in Belgrade. We
:18:34. > :18:39.wanted to move on a lot from there. It is fantastic to have different
:18:39. > :18:44.countries trying different things to race Against Us. It makes us
:18:44. > :18:49.better. The Poles did a cheeky push at the end. It shows the Germans
:18:49. > :18:52.are not the only challenge. Congratulations to them. How did
:18:52. > :18:57.they look in comparison with Belgrade? In Belgrade they
:18:57. > :19:02.dominated the field. Competition has stepped up here. It was a bit
:19:02. > :19:07.of a scramble a few weeks ago. In control here. They looked confident
:19:07. > :19:14.and comfortable. A really good rhythm. We will move on to the
:19:14. > :19:18.men's lightweight double with Zac Purchase and Hunter. They won gold
:19:18. > :19:28.in Belgrade three weeks ago. They only made it into the final by
:19:28. > :19:34.scrambling third place in the semis. The Canadians taking the final of
:19:34. > :19:37.the men's lightweight double sculls through the 500 metre mark. Great
:19:37. > :19:42.Britain is currently sitting in fifth-place. Unbelievable for the
:19:42. > :19:50.world and Olympic champions to be right down there. Nice view it as
:19:50. > :19:55.they come side on. The water is perfect. There is talk the British
:19:55. > :20:00.crews have not tapered for this regatta. They have been training
:20:00. > :20:05.all the way through. If that is true, we are seeing some of the
:20:05. > :20:11.results now. Purchase and Hunter are normally out front. They are
:20:11. > :20:16.languishing down at the back. is a choice. Do you wind down for a
:20:16. > :20:21.big event like this all, do you say, most important for us is London? We
:20:21. > :20:28.will keep the pressure on now because we cannot build it up
:20:28. > :20:33.closer to the Olympic Games. Canada continue to lead but only just over
:20:33. > :20:38.France and New Zealand. Great Britain continue to be back in 6th
:20:39. > :20:44.position. If anything they have dropped slightly back in the first
:20:44. > :20:49.500. The fight is on. All these crews will be stepping up into
:20:50. > :20:55.maximum race pace, less than 50 strokes. You will count 10 and go,
:20:55. > :21:01.10 and go, 10 and go. That is what France are doing in lane number
:21:01. > :21:06.three as they come up level with Canada. The Canadians have so
:21:06. > :21:12.valiantly lead this final all the way. How cruel at is it now with
:21:13. > :21:21.the French easing away? They are moving out now up to two seat was
:21:21. > :21:27.Doug New Zealand, the world silver medallists, are coming up. -- two
:21:27. > :21:32.seat. The New Zealanders are up to 38 strokes a minute. They are
:21:32. > :21:40.eating into the position of Canada as silver medallists. France are
:21:40. > :21:44.looking very nice. 38 strokes a minute and they are looking supreme.
:21:44. > :21:52.This is a new combination in the French lightweight double sculls.
:21:52. > :22:00.They are finding such speed. Inside 75 metres. Less than five strokes.
:22:00. > :22:08.The British are out the back. Today it is a day for of France. Over New
:22:08. > :22:14.Zealand. It will be tight and on the line, Denmark from Canada.
:22:14. > :22:19.Great Britain now over the line. Heads down, slumped in the boat.
:22:19. > :22:23.one likes to lose. We love winning. You have to take knocks on the chin
:22:23. > :22:28.and go home, back to the drawing board and moved on from there. In
:22:28. > :22:33.the past we have shown we had come back from adversity quite well. I
:22:33. > :22:37.spent a few days out of the boat with illness beforehand. It has
:22:37. > :22:43.hampered our performances. Nine weeks to the Olympics and we have
:22:43. > :22:47.plenty of time to put it right. We have a lot of potential to increase
:22:47. > :22:53.speed and increase places. concerned were you with that
:22:53. > :22:57.result? You need to be a little concerned if you know you are not
:22:57. > :23:01.at full strength in one race. Particularly if you are experienced
:23:01. > :23:06.like them. They have not been performing over the whole regatta.
:23:06. > :23:12.It was not the real surprise. In the bigger picture, they have had
:23:12. > :23:19.upsets in the past and they have had to come through them. As that
:23:19. > :23:23.group, long-term, I do not have a problem. Now we moved on to the
:23:23. > :23:30.Women's Pair which was expected to be a battle between Great Britain
:23:30. > :23:34.and New Zealand. It was extremely tight last year. Our girls are
:23:34. > :23:41.getting better all the time. Helen Glover had not started rowing until
:23:41. > :23:51.after the Beijing Games in 2008. The men to meet at home in Cornwall.
:23:51. > :23:54.
:23:54. > :23:59.Some days it is hard to get my head around the fact that I was not a
:23:59. > :24:04.role. I was not going to be Olympics and competing. Here I am.
:24:04. > :24:10.It has happened through hard work with the help of brilliant coaches.
:24:10. > :24:16.It is exciting. I have had this dream since I was tiny will start a
:24:16. > :24:21.wanted to compete in the greatest sporting arena. -- I it was tiny. I
:24:21. > :24:27.wanted to compete in the greatest sporting arena. By mum saw an
:24:27. > :24:31.advert in the newspaper and they were looking for people over five
:24:31. > :24:37.foot nine for girls to try different sports that to you need
:24:37. > :24:42.long levers for. Rowing is one of them. I was training to be a PE
:24:42. > :24:46.teacher. I carried on my training and got a teaching job. Looking
:24:46. > :24:52.back, I do not know how I did it. I was teaching all day and getting up
:24:52. > :24:56.at about 5 o'clock in the morning to do my first session training.
:24:56. > :25:01.After school I would do my second session late into the night. It was
:25:01. > :25:07.really tough. I have a really supportive family. They are
:25:07. > :25:12.brilliant. I have my mum and my dad and two brothers and sisters. My
:25:12. > :25:18.gran lives at home with us. She is the most excited out of everyone
:25:18. > :25:27.about the Olympics. My boyfriend is a canoeist and he trains in
:25:27. > :25:31.Nottingham. He trains really hard. I have always been really
:25:31. > :25:35.competitive. Everything was made into a competition when I was
:25:36. > :25:45.little. I ran international cross country and played hockey for my
:25:45. > :25:50.county. Every sport I did, I do it to be the best I could be. -- I did.
:25:50. > :25:57.Heather is a commonly strong and fit. We have to live in each
:25:57. > :26:01.other's pockets. I am the messy one and she is in the Army. She is very
:26:01. > :26:06.tidy. Everyone is going to be going for the same thing - the dream -
:26:06. > :26:10.Olympic gold. If we keep progressing, we are going to be in
:26:11. > :26:20.a brilliant place on the start-line. If we put together a good race,
:26:21. > :26:27.
:26:27. > :26:34.Weem must be pleased with that. -- Britain pair are doing everything
:26:34. > :26:39.their coach has asked them. They are holding a. Clear water over the
:26:39. > :26:46.United States of America, who have come through New Zealand - the
:26:46. > :26:52.world champions - in the second 500. The third 500 metres is crucial.
:26:52. > :26:57.New Zealand up on their back foot. They will be under pressure. Great
:26:57. > :27:04.Britain will have to grow in confidence. If ever a crew enjoys
:27:04. > :27:11.racing, it is Great Britain. They must be the most experienced of all
:27:11. > :27:15.of the athletes in this field. If we go right back to 2008 in Beijing,
:27:15. > :27:22.looking at the United States, they are Olympic champions in the
:27:22. > :27:27.Women's Eight. They are very strong - big athletes. The British pair,
:27:27. > :27:31.you saw Helen Glover looked across to check the United States. She
:27:31. > :27:40.knows that crew will give them the most pressure. They have raised
:27:40. > :27:45.them twice was dug -- raced them twice. They have the measure of
:27:45. > :27:49.them. This is where the big test will be. How flexible bar of the
:27:49. > :27:56.British pair to change their rate and change their rhythm to lift the
:27:56. > :28:01.pace in the last 500 metres? That will be the key. I think the New
:28:01. > :28:11.Zealanders are suffering a bit from jet-lag. They only arrived about
:28:11. > :28:15.
:28:15. > :28:20.five days ago and are still recovering. Four years ago, Helen
:28:20. > :28:30.Glover could not Rome and Helen's damning was about to start life as
:28:30. > :28:32.
:28:32. > :28:38.a soldier. -- Helen standing. This is absolutely critical. Time and
:28:38. > :28:45.again we have seen Great Britain in this position. They have been
:28:45. > :28:51.exceptional out to be 1500 metre mark. USA in lane five. The New
:28:51. > :28:56.Zealand crew, on the left of your picture, they are scampering along.
:28:56. > :29:02.It is hard to see whether they will come back on terms. The big
:29:02. > :29:06.powerful crew of the United States - the Olympic champions in the
:29:06. > :29:12.Women's Eight - they have the experience to overhaul Great
:29:12. > :29:18.Britain. We're into the last 250 metres. Britain are still at 33
:29:18. > :29:28.strokes a minute and then they moved up to vertical 0.5. The other
:29:28. > :29:29.
:29:29. > :29:34.pair up at 38. -- to 34.5. metres now remaining. The crowd is
:29:34. > :29:42.on its feet. Surely the British pair have done enough to hold of
:29:42. > :29:48.the United States of America? New Zealand are upping the rate. Great
:29:48. > :29:54.Britain have replied. The British crew have found the pace surely to
:29:54. > :30:01.take them to the line. They up inside 10 strokes and it will be
:30:01. > :30:11.agog Murdoch full Great Britain over an exceptional field. -- a
:30:11. > :30:23.
:30:23. > :30:29.perfect. An exceptional confidence boost. They now know they really
:30:29. > :30:36.have the ability to move on to the Olympic Games coming up in little
:30:36. > :30:41.over 60 days. You just can't predict, especially in our event,
:30:41. > :30:45.who can predict what will happen. Every nation will have a different
:30:45. > :30:50.approach to the regatta and will learn different things. We are
:30:50. > :30:54.letting everyone else decide what they want to decide and keeps our
:30:54. > :31:01.heads and training good. There's Americans have been breathing down
:31:01. > :31:06.your neck? In Belgrade, they showed they are quick. They sorted them
:31:06. > :31:16.supped with their start so were quick again. It is fun to have
:31:16. > :31:19.
:31:19. > :31:23.It seems as though they are on track. Is that fair? Lastly, they
:31:23. > :31:30.dominated the circuit but got picked at the post by the Kiwis.
:31:30. > :31:36.The Kiwis looked a bit uncomfortable. Rating Harley. Dan
:31:36. > :31:40.was saying they couldn't go faster by rating higher. Sometimes by
:31:40. > :31:47.having less strokes per minute you can go faster but they will improve.
:31:47. > :31:51.Gold-medal? I hope so. I tipped them from the middle of last season.
:31:51. > :31:56.When they crossed that -- cross that line that will make is certain
:31:56. > :32:06.but I think it will be. The First World Cup regatta for the sculling
:32:06. > :32:09.
:32:09. > :32:16.side of the male - man -- men's squad. As in Belgrade, they
:32:16. > :32:21.finished 7th overall. We start with the new look double who impressed
:32:21. > :32:27.with a double in Belgrade. We were pleased with the whole regatta and
:32:27. > :32:32.not just the final. We delivered well right from the heat and semi-
:32:32. > :32:37.final. For those who watched it, it was a tight race. To come out on
:32:37. > :32:45.the right side in get a medal was really good. It is great to know
:32:45. > :32:54.wait you fitting to what is a high standard feel. -- field. It is not
:32:54. > :33:04.a big margin. You can fit in very close to the top of that event and
:33:04. > :33:10.
:33:10. > :33:17.it is tight enough to push on and British suffering in lane number
:33:17. > :33:22.one. Lucas and Townshend. The French were valiant in the third
:33:22. > :33:28.500 and into the third 500 they have done enough to hold on. The
:33:28. > :33:34.Germans are right back in it. Australia, the Olympic champions,
:33:34. > :33:39.yellow in the middle of the picture, are pushing on hard. A good push
:33:39. > :33:47.back for Australia. They started steady. Slovenia are doing very
:33:47. > :33:52.well on the road from retirement. Germany in the Yellow at the top.
:33:52. > :33:58.They are coming back hard on the early leaders, France. This is
:33:58. > :34:08.where they will push hard won last time. The Germans have gone through
:34:08. > :34:23.
:34:23. > :34:33.still in this. France does look like they are holding on for dear
:34:33. > :34:50.
:34:50. > :34:57.wait for a cut -- full confirmation of silver. But the Germans, well!
:34:57. > :35:02.They put themselves into it. They were fils at the first 500. They
:35:02. > :35:12.were second at 1500 and they timed it to perfection. First over the
:35:12. > :35:28.
:35:28. > :35:37.Alan Campbell has been overhauled in third for Great Britain. Closest
:35:37. > :35:44.to us, he was ache at the World Championships in Bled last year and
:35:44. > :35:54.he is having a flyer. Four scullers going for the gold medal. Alan
:35:54. > :36:08.
:36:08. > :36:18.Campbell will drive on, believing He correctly looks the grass and
:36:18. > :36:19.
:36:19. > :36:25.sees what he's got to do. It is a very close finish. Q But is not out
:36:26. > :36:30.of it. You have to go a long way before you see a hard sculler like
:36:30. > :36:40.this. He has battled this but he is under an enormous amount of
:36:40. > :36:55.
:36:55. > :37:00.pressure. The Sprint is coming from the line. A massive, massive
:37:00. > :37:04.disappointment for Alan Campbell who talk that the race last night
:37:04. > :37:14.but he sits and will have to reflect that the second half did
:37:14. > :37:18.
:37:18. > :37:23.Alan Campbell finishes for. Heidi you assess that? Very disappointing.
:37:23. > :37:28.With Alan, he never gives up. He did blow. He paddled across the
:37:28. > :37:37.finishing line which is not him. I don't know what the issue is. I
:37:37. > :37:45.will agree -- disagree with Dan a bit. He said he is looking snooze.
:37:45. > :37:49.His legs were nothing -- moving before the connection of the plate
:37:49. > :37:53.which is not getting the most out of the leg drive. Speeding rowing
:37:53. > :37:58.is all about that. He has to work on that but rumours are coming out
:37:58. > :38:05.of the camp that he was working well and technically well but he
:38:05. > :38:12.did not show it there. Lucas and Townshend finished in sixth.
:38:12. > :38:17.Between the performances, would you say it is unsatisfying? Big what
:38:17. > :38:27.has been our weakest point in recent years so it is not too
:38:27. > :38:28.
:38:28. > :38:33.unusual. Obviously, the new double... Nothing is firing. It may
:38:33. > :38:37.be that Alan might go in the double early through the winter and
:38:37. > :38:42.working from that. Perhaps they have lost a bit of focus in their
:38:42. > :38:48.individual boats. For the doubles, they have been up with the French
:38:48. > :38:53.in recent years. Whatever double we put out, the French are well up
:38:53. > :38:57.there and our guys are not. men's eight is still to come but
:38:57. > :39:04.letters round at some of the others off - other finals. We start with
:39:04. > :39:09.the men's pair. They got pushed by the Canadians this time. Knowing
:39:09. > :39:12.the Brits are out, they may have got an easy run but it does not
:39:12. > :39:17.always work that way as the Canadians pushed them hard. They
:39:17. > :39:21.were comfortable winners so it will be interesting to see what happens
:39:21. > :39:27.in three weeks' time in the next World Cup. They are looking good at
:39:27. > :39:37.the moment. George Nash and wheel macro finished 5th. Is that a true
:39:37. > :39:38.
:39:38. > :39:47.reflection of their abilities? Unfortunately yes. Andy and peaked
:39:47. > :39:51.where the strongest pair. The four would be the first boat and the
:39:51. > :39:56.eight would be the second. Making a final is good if they can do that
:39:56. > :40:01.at the Olympics but I don't see a medal coming from them. What about
:40:01. > :40:05.the women's squad who finished in 5th? A little bit of an issue there.
:40:05. > :40:08.They weren't that impresses three weeks ago and they have not moved
:40:08. > :40:12.on from that. You would have thought they would be more
:40:12. > :40:16.competent than that with a little more time in the boat but they are
:40:16. > :40:26.struggling at the back end of the final, which is not a good thing to
:40:26. > :40:29.
:40:29. > :40:36.sea in women's quad. The women's this have had a lot of illness. --
:40:36. > :40:42.the eight. They are all struggling at the back end of the final rather
:40:42. > :40:46.than the front. Everyone was on a bit of a high before but this is a
:40:46. > :40:53.reality check and it is a good time to have it. In the women's
:40:53. > :40:57.lightweight double, China established an early lead. Greece
:40:57. > :41:02.where in third and Great Britain finished in 5th. What about their
:41:02. > :41:05.performance? Stepped down a bit from three weeks ago when they beat
:41:05. > :41:12.the Chinese. The Chinese have moved on because they were third three
:41:12. > :41:16.weeks ago and are now winning. It is early days for that partnership.
:41:16. > :41:21.They haven't been together for long and I am sure they will improve
:41:21. > :41:26.from that and move up a few places by the time the Games come along.
:41:26. > :41:32.Now the men's lightweight. The most exciting race of any regatta. A
:41:32. > :41:42.desperate battle for the finish line. Peter Chambers is out injured
:41:42. > :41:47.
:41:48. > :41:54.by a matter of a few feet, great Britain continue to lead. China and
:41:54. > :41:59.Denmark as it was at the 500. The crews have to find something to
:41:59. > :42:04.push on. It is about a psychological battle in the third
:42:04. > :42:10.500. Great Britain are skirting to drive it on. Keeping the length and
:42:10. > :42:20.a little bit more power in the finish. The crowd will now scream
:42:20. > :42:28.
:42:28. > :42:37.through. Great Britain have to keep their heads that because coming
:42:37. > :42:43.hard-up is Denmark. China are at 38 strokes a minute, three strokes
:42:43. > :42:53.higher than Britain. Denmark are also coming up all the time. This
:42:53. > :42:58.is fantastic stuff. Each boat will have one Carl on their mind. It is
:42:58. > :43:04.all about gold here, setting a market too late on to the next
:43:04. > :43:14.regatta. Three weeks from Munich but it is one step at a time from
:43:14. > :43:25.
:43:25. > :43:35.Britain. Paul Mattick is in the bow Denmark, defending Olympic
:43:35. > :43:38.
:43:38. > :43:45.champions in lane one. A little look right from Chris Bartley.
:43:45. > :43:50.China looks strong. They are out by almost half the length now. Look at
:43:50. > :43:55.the length of Denmark in lane one. They are right up there. South
:43:55. > :44:01.Africa are coming through. They are pushing right on through. Great
:44:01. > :44:09.Britain have to do an awful lot. China stretching out at 42 strokes
:44:09. > :44:15.per minute. They are flying. Chinese look so powerful. The race
:44:15. > :44:22.is tightening up. At go Great Britain on 40 strokes per minute.
:44:22. > :44:32.They have 175 metres remaining and South Africa, from No where, have
:44:32. > :44:42.
:44:42. > :44:48.Britain getting the bronze. A fabulous result for the Chinese.
:44:48. > :44:55.Well deserved. They punched the air and right that they should. A
:44:55. > :45:05.phenomenal sprint from South Africa. Great Britain... Well, it wasn't as
:45:05. > :45:06.
:45:06. > :45:11.good as three weeks ago but it was To achieve the brunt medal, that's
:45:11. > :45:19.the way it is. It is Olympic year so what do you expect? It is what
:45:19. > :45:29.we had to do to get from A to B as quickly as possible. Steve, was
:45:29. > :45:33.
:45:33. > :45:40.I think it was a good performance. Peter Chambers is out, injured at
:45:40. > :45:47.the moment. With him in the four it should be faster. They have been
:45:47. > :45:50.raising for the last few seasons so it is established. They would not
:45:50. > :45:57.make the change if they did not think it would be passed to repeat
:45:57. > :46:03.in it. It is always very close. It could be a bronze, it could be 6th
:46:03. > :46:09.place, it could be a god medal. am going to speak to the chairman
:46:09. > :46:17.of the rowing club here. -- gold medal. Rowing and Manchester does
:46:17. > :46:25.not trip off the tongue. We moved here to a purpose built facility.
:46:25. > :46:32.We have grown from about 12 people to 120. Thereat in the two rowing
:46:32. > :46:37.clubs in Greater Manchester. -- there are only two rowing clubs.
:46:37. > :46:41.Thank you very much for having us today. We are going to press on
:46:41. > :46:47.with the action and to the men's fate which proved to be the most
:46:47. > :46:54.exciting race in Belgrade. The Men's Eight. It would become a
:46:55. > :46:59.little bit tougher in Lucerne with Australia and Canada entering the
:46:59. > :47:05.frame. Alex Partridge is a sportsman who has enjoyed the
:47:05. > :47:09.sports highs and lows over the last decade. This is the one that is
:47:10. > :47:16.going to the Olympics. Alex Partridge unfortunately suffered a
:47:16. > :47:24.collapsed lung. The British crew grit their teeth. Great Britain get
:47:24. > :47:29.the silver medal. The dream for me is to win the Olympic gold medal. I
:47:29. > :47:35.chose to be in the eight because I believe that is the best boat for
:47:35. > :47:40.me. There is not a lot to dwell on. It is getting this going. Every
:47:40. > :47:45.time I do something, it is probably going to be the last time I do it.
:47:45. > :47:52.The only race that matters is the Olympic final. London is probably
:47:52. > :47:57.the last time I will have a shot at being able to fulfil the Olympic
:47:57. > :48:02.dream. The British have got their bows just ahead. It looks like
:48:02. > :48:07.Germany have got their bows back but there is nothing in it. Great
:48:07. > :48:14.Britain will get second. Do not want to come second, we want to
:48:14. > :48:19.come first. -- we do not want. You either come first or you come last.
:48:19. > :48:25.That is how we want to race. We changed the order of the crew and
:48:25. > :48:34.shuffled everyone around. We took it by the horns. It was an
:48:34. > :48:39.efficient effort but we were too slow. It is not surprising. We had
:48:39. > :48:43.not rowed that combination enough. We thought we would come back from
:48:43. > :48:48.Belgrade and we would have had Constantine back in the boat. We're
:48:48. > :48:52.going to give him some more time and we're going to rise without him
:48:52. > :48:56.in his Lucerne. We're going to lead the race from the front and go toe-
:48:56. > :49:06.to-toe with the Germans. We're going to be more efficient and
:49:06. > :49:10.
:49:10. > :49:16.practise doing what will win the quickly. Netherlands have the
:49:16. > :49:23.better of the first five strokes. Netherlands are in lane one was a
:49:23. > :49:28.great Britain are in two. Canada, the Olympic champions, are in lane
:49:28. > :49:37.number four. Poland up in lane number six. The big race for the
:49:37. > :49:44.British crew. That is Greg Searle it in the bow seat of the British
:49:44. > :49:49.crew. If this is the battle between Canada, he went fastest in the
:49:49. > :49:54.heats, and have come back with a complete the new crew. The coach
:49:54. > :50:01.has a magical hand in turning raw- material into fantastically fast
:50:01. > :50:05.eight crews will start it will be interesting to see how they can
:50:05. > :50:11.come back and to challenge Germany. They have been dominant on the
:50:11. > :50:16.world seen since 2009. Germany just going through the picture. They are
:50:16. > :50:22.world champions. Canada are the Olympic champions. There are three
:50:22. > :50:29.from the Olympic eight on board in the Canadian crew. Brian Price is
:50:29. > :50:34.in the driver's seat as they come through the 500 metre mark. It is
:50:34. > :50:41.Germany from Great Britain. Now they have to consolidate that. It
:50:41. > :50:48.is about finding rhythm and finding the length. Germany from Great
:50:48. > :50:56.Britain. Canada in third position. Poland in force. Australia in five
:50:56. > :51:03.and Netherlands in 6th. -- 4th. Canada are usually far stabbed in
:51:03. > :51:13.the first 500 metres. They are being led by Great Britain. --
:51:13. > :51:18.
:51:18. > :51:24.usually fast out. Germany are still the fast boat pulls up -- for
:51:25. > :51:30.Germany are still the faster boat. The British are looking all right
:51:30. > :51:36.was that they are in the race and in their rhythm. They can keep
:51:36. > :51:42.their heads up. We are looking at the Netherlands. The British art in
:51:42. > :51:48.this race will start they were leading Germany in Belgrade.
:51:48. > :51:55.this race. They need to hold it together. At the halfway mark by
:51:55. > :52:01.just a quarter of a length, it is Germany over Great Britain. Now the
:52:01. > :52:11.race will start to wind up. This is the final of the Men's Eight.
:52:11. > :52:11.
:52:11. > :52:18.Bigger pictures are a match -- around -- big pushes up around this
:52:18. > :52:24.mark. The world champions retain the power. Great Britain is a third
:52:24. > :52:30.of a length down. Great Britain is just edging Canada at the moment.
:52:31. > :52:36.They are in a very good position. Poland is closest to us in third
:52:36. > :52:41.place. They are trying to get alongside Canada and Great Britain.
:52:41. > :52:46.Germany are doing what they do best and dominating the scene. It is a
:52:46. > :52:51.fantastic turnaround for the British crew. They are in second
:52:51. > :52:58.position. They are putting pressure on the world champions. They are
:52:58. > :53:06.half a length up on Canada, the Olympic champions. They could close
:53:06. > :53:10.the door on Canada and focus on Germany. The Germans are relentless.
:53:10. > :53:17.In the bow seat, looking a lot better than he has in the early
:53:17. > :53:26.part of this race. Great Britain are coming back. They have closed
:53:26. > :53:30.down the gap on Germany. The race is on. It is Great Britain's for
:53:30. > :53:40.the taking. The boat is travelling between the strokes Gustav they
:53:40. > :53:46.have really learnt from the last regatta. Bob -- the strokes. Can
:53:46. > :53:53.Germany do it? Canada are in third place and cannot catch Britain from
:53:53. > :53:59.this point. Germany are responding. They have moved at to six feet from
:53:59. > :54:03.three feet. Great Britain need to remember they are racers and
:54:03. > :54:10.fighters. They will be so confident in his position. They have the
:54:10. > :54:17.better of Canada inside 200 metres. Germany has turned it on. They have
:54:17. > :54:23.an extra gear. Up Great Britain have to move. They have to bring it
:54:23. > :54:31.right back on to Germany Again. Inside the last 100 was up gold
:54:31. > :54:37.again undefeated Germany. -- the last 100. The Great Britain crew
:54:37. > :54:42.have turned it around. Silver again for Great Britain. Canada, the
:54:42. > :54:47.Olympic champions, take the bronze medal today. One thing is sure,
:54:47. > :54:55.Great Britain are back in the hunt. This crew is coming together. We
:54:55. > :55:01.are still learning. In this regatta we have really progressed. You have
:55:01. > :55:08.the old man back in the bow seat. How does that feel? I love it there.
:55:08. > :55:14.I need to keep my blinkers on. Looking at them only distracts me.
:55:14. > :55:21.I can get a real feel for what is going on in the boat and move with
:55:21. > :55:27.it. I am enjoying the challenge. The British team were on track in
:55:27. > :55:34.Belgrade. How tough where the opposition here? Really tough. We
:55:34. > :55:37.do all three World Cups. Not everyone does. We were not quite
:55:37. > :55:44.recovered from the first one and did not need to be. We have got a
:55:44. > :55:50.lot of people coming in. It has been outstanding. The Olympic field
:55:50. > :55:58.is here. You have seen it taught in Lucerne. We need to build on the
:55:58. > :56:03.last 500. -- all in Lucerne. We are learning and getting better. The
:56:03. > :56:08.last race counts and it will be in London on 1st August. Germany
:56:08. > :56:15.continue their unbeaten run since Beijing. I'll be getting any closer
:56:15. > :56:25.to toppling the Germans? -- are we getting? It was a great performance
:56:25. > :56:25.
:56:25. > :56:29.by the guys. Will he be back for the next one or in for the Games?
:56:29. > :56:33.Heat is the young star that everyone wants to see. He has been
:56:33. > :56:38.stroking the boat when he has been in the boat. It makes the
:56:38. > :56:43.difference when he is fit and healthy. We will have to watch this
:56:43. > :56:48.space. I am disappointed with the Canadians. World-best time two days
:56:48. > :56:54.ago and not in the race now. Is that inexperience from their point
:56:54. > :56:58.of view? You would think the coach would have been more sharp in
:56:58. > :57:03.making sure they did their best performance in the final and not
:57:03. > :57:09.the first race. I think the Canadians can push the Germans as
:57:09. > :57:16.well as us. You got 12 medals in Belgrade. What to make of the
:57:16. > :57:21.overall performance? There will be four boats who will be very happy
:57:21. > :57:26.and the other 13 will be disappointed. On the Olympic
:57:26. > :57:30.statistics, the won less medals than we did four years ago. This
:57:30. > :57:35.time there were three goals. 10 medals at the world championships
:57:35. > :57:42.last year and only five this time. A bit of his trouble from that
:57:42. > :57:48.point of view. A little bit disappointed over all. -- a bit of
:57:48. > :57:52.a struggle from that point of view. We will be back in three weeks'
:57:52. > :57:56.time when the British Olympic team will have been selected and I have
:57:56. > :58:02.the last competitive outing before decamping to Eton Dorney for the
:58:02. > :58:10.summer. The World Cup is in Munich on 11th June and we will be life.
:58:10. > :58:14.We will be presenting from Henley. They will be celebrating their 25th
:58:14. > :58:19.anniversary of the Women's Regatta. We said at the start of the show