:11:14. > :11:19.We are not bad at athletics, handy at sailing. In six weeks' time it
:11:19. > :11:25.could be sailing, so often a competitor that is GB's crowning
:11:25. > :11:28.glory at London 2012. People want to beat you when you are on home
:11:28. > :11:34.turf and we are the bill scalp that everyone wants to get. Gold for
:11:34. > :11:40.Great Britain. Marin Cross, Andy Holmes, Stephen Redgrave, those are
:11:40. > :11:47.names that will go down in the history of British Rowing. Never
:11:47. > :11:52.known a group of people with such high aspirations. Great Britain
:11:52. > :11:57.wonderfully done. A perfect, perfect day for the British coxless
:11:57. > :12:03.four. The team we took to Beijing was great. This is even better than
:12:03. > :12:08.that. Great Britain are the Olympic champions. It sounds fantastic.
:12:09. > :12:13.Great Britain get the gold and relief all round. It's the
:12:13. > :12:20.strongest team we have ever had going into the Olympic Games.
:12:20. > :12:28.is a great achievement. We are witnesses the birth of a new era.
:12:28. > :12:31.We want to win. Anything else is not good enough. One last time.
:12:31. > :12:36.It's just, just, just! And Great Britain are the Olympic champions.
:12:36. > :12:41.We want to be a team that people will feel proud of. Holmes and red
:12:41. > :12:46.graif win for Britain. A superb achievement. The world champions
:12:46. > :12:50.and the Olympic medals are added to their collection -- Redgrave.
:12:50. > :12:53.in Munich, the last of the World Cup Regattas after three days of
:12:53. > :12:56.glorious sunshine. It's overcast glorious sunshine. It's overcast
:12:56. > :13:03.and chilly today. For one last statement of intent by all the
:13:03. > :13:10.crews, before the Olympic Games. And we are here, myself and Sir
:13:10. > :13:14.Steve Redgrave beneath the blue, grey and white notled skies at the
:13:14. > :13:17.Thames where the women's Regatta Thames where the women's Regatta
:13:17. > :13:22.will take place this morning. Steve, morning, nice to see you. Where
:13:22. > :13:25.else would you rather will on a Sunday morning?! And when you talk
:13:25. > :13:30.about... Spent a lot of Sunday mornings here. I'm sure you have
:13:30. > :13:33.spent a lot here. It's a hostage to fortune to say this is the best
:13:33. > :13:37.team we have ever had but it's pride before a fall, but statistics
:13:38. > :13:41.don't lie, it's the best team? Certainly. Again, it's very much on
:13:41. > :13:45.paper it's what happened last year at the World Championship, what's
:13:45. > :13:49.happened so far at the World Cups. But the reality is that that counts
:13:49. > :13:53.for nothing when you go to the Games. We have some pictures of
:13:53. > :13:57.when the team was officially announced. I'm sure for everybody,
:13:57. > :14:01.even for the people who were absolute shoo-ins for selection,
:14:01. > :14:06.there is a huge sense of relief when your name is on the team
:14:06. > :14:09.sheet? Especially this year there is relief because the process is,
:14:09. > :14:13.we have had world silver medallists from the last two years who're not
:14:13. > :14:16.selected to go to the Games. That's how tough it is to get into the
:14:16. > :14:22.team. In my era, the top few boats knew they were going to be selected
:14:22. > :14:25.and it wasn't really a big issue. You knew right the way through all
:14:25. > :14:28.the training and preparation that this team is slightly different
:14:28. > :14:34.because they know outstanding athletes are not going to the Games.
:14:34. > :14:38.OK, let's start, as far as the action is concerned, from our men's
:14:38. > :14:41.coxless four, as it has been since Steve set the benchmark all those
:14:41. > :14:47.years ago. These days it's Hodge, Reid, James and Gregory, and they
:14:47. > :14:51.are still looking to refine things before the big battles ahead.
:14:51. > :14:56.We have two dominant rhythms in the boat. We are still working hard to
:14:56. > :14:59.get the that to one. We think that's a good way to go. Still
:14:59. > :15:02.trying new combinations and different ways of getting more
:15:02. > :15:08.speed and being consistent. We have shown we can be really quick. We
:15:08. > :15:11.have to keep producing that in Olympic finals. We have still got
:15:11. > :15:16.plenty to work on. Plenty of room for improvement. That's what we
:15:16. > :15:20.hope to do in Munich, be more consistent. We have stepped up
:15:20. > :15:24.after Belgrade. We know the one race to win is the Olympic Games on
:15:24. > :15:30.the 4th August, so our sights is set on that, but we are challenging
:15:30. > :15:34.ourselves on a daily basis and we know our record can't give us
:15:34. > :15:44.anything on the start line so we need to push on from there, so we
:15:44. > :15:48.
:15:48. > :15:53.final World Cup Regatta in Munich. This is the boat that everybody
:15:53. > :15:59.expects. COMMENTATOR: Leaving the start area. In reality, all eyes on
:15:59. > :16:02.two, one is Great Britain in lane five. Inseed them, lane four
:16:02. > :16:07.Australia. Watching the British crew now moving away, but it's the
:16:07. > :16:12.Czech Republic in lane three who've had the better of the starts. The
:16:12. > :16:16.British crew in five just being dumbed downment now, stretching out
:16:16. > :16:20.through the first 100 metres. In lane one, Romania, two, Serbia, the
:16:20. > :16:25.Czech relake in three. Australia, the new crew coming together in
:16:25. > :16:30.lane four. Great Britain five, Belarus in lane six. And the
:16:30. > :16:33.British crew here now really starting to struggle. Everybody
:16:33. > :16:38.leapt out there. I didn't see anything go wrong there with the
:16:38. > :16:43.way the British took off, but they certainly didn't take that sort of
:16:43. > :16:47.immediate pick up that they get really normally. Out there in front
:16:47. > :16:50.very quickly were the Czech Republic. They qualified in the
:16:50. > :16:54.qualifying Regatta four weeks ago. Great Britain now just beginning to
:16:54. > :17:00.get into their pride and the crews are now beginning to pull them all
:17:00. > :17:04.back. Certainly Serbia up there. We are moving up fast. Romania very
:17:04. > :17:10.fast starters very often. They are new guys on the block as well. Look
:17:10. > :17:14.at Australia, settled into a very nice, long flowing rhythm.
:17:14. > :17:19.Grin came up against Australia in their semi-final -- Great Britain.
:17:19. > :17:22.They led Australia to the 500 metre mark. They just turned that around
:17:22. > :17:27.now, Australia leading Great Britain through the first five into
:17:27. > :17:33.now the rhythm part where they just come down on to race, race. To be
:17:33. > :17:43.honest with you, the British and the Australians, whether it's good
:17:43. > :17:45.
:17:45. > :17:49.or bad tactic, they'll be unaware of what's happening in lane one.
:17:49. > :17:53.There's a lovely shot, stroke for stroke. I like the way the British
:17:53. > :17:57.four is row, much better than yesterday. They have a flow to the
:17:57. > :18:01.way they are moving. There's more patience about the way they pick up
:18:01. > :18:05.the stroke. They are now neck and neck with Australia. They will move,
:18:05. > :18:09.I'm sure, past the crew at the top there who went out very fast.
:18:10. > :18:15.Romania. Great Britain rowing with a lot more relaxation. If they can
:18:15. > :18:18.keep that loose relaxation and then develop their power in the last 250,
:18:18. > :18:22.300 metres of the race, I think they'll be there. At the moment,
:18:22. > :18:27.it's looking very, very nice for Great Britain, although Australia
:18:27. > :18:31.just got their noses in front. The British are rowing longer than
:18:31. > :18:34.they were in the semi-final. And what we are seeing now is just
:18:34. > :18:44.confidence, speed of the movement. You see the hands moving around and
:18:44. > :18:44.
:18:44. > :18:48.the boat just runs on here. But the Aussies up there in lane three, the
:18:48. > :18:54.multi-Olympic Chan is there, his name is snon nous with coming back
:18:54. > :18:58.in an Olympic year and making boat goes fast -- synonymous. Australia
:18:58. > :19:03.from Great Britain, not much in it. Romania, Serbia, the Czech Republic
:19:03. > :19:09.and Belarus in this race as well, but everybody watching lane four,
:19:09. > :19:15.lane five tipping the two crews. One of these two will win the gold
:19:15. > :19:20.in London in six weeks e' time. The British had a good first 1,000, a
:19:20. > :19:29.lousy start, they got into it. The second five was good. The third 500
:19:29. > :19:33.now, it's looking like the Australians, with the yellow
:19:33. > :19:36.glasses, that Australian, that will favour the Australians, because the
:19:36. > :19:40.Swindon dying down. Yesterday's semi-final at this stage Great
:19:40. > :19:45.Britain were a length behind. In Lucerne, they were even more than
:19:45. > :19:51.that behind and then they made up with their power in the last 250
:19:51. > :20:01.metres. With this length, if they can keep their cool and smoothness,
:20:01. > :20:04.
:20:04. > :20:13.their power in the last 500 could Great Britain really in a good
:20:13. > :20:17.position there to mount that attack. Hodge, 33 years of age. The Olympic
:20:17. > :20:24.champion 2008 in this event. Three of the cee are Olympic champions.
:20:24. > :20:28.Watching the Aussies moving away again -- three of these are Olympic
:20:28. > :20:32.champions. The defending Olympic champions are a quarter of a length
:20:32. > :20:37.down on Australia. The Australians led Great Britain on a timing point
:20:37. > :20:41.and also marking through 1,000 through 1500, they beat them in the
:20:41. > :20:44.semi-final yesterday. Both crews looking confident. The British
:20:44. > :20:49.undoubtedly looking better. They are keeping it long and starting to
:20:49. > :20:55.lift up the rate here, but the Aussies in lane four are really
:20:55. > :20:59.long and just moving effortlessly. Great Britain have shortened a
:20:59. > :21:03.little as their number of strokes per minute goes up to 38 thousand.
:21:03. > :21:07.They are being pushed hard now by Belarus as well closest to the
:21:07. > :21:11.camera. But Australia are looking very sweet with just about two
:21:11. > :21:14.thirds of a length. They've stretched out, lookings nice and
:21:14. > :21:18.easy around the finish of the stroke. As they stroke, they
:21:18. > :21:22.finally draw that last part of the stroke. Great Britain have to make
:21:22. > :21:27.the attack. 250 metres remain, 25 strokes, they'll count them in and
:21:27. > :21:31.step them up. The rate will come up. They'll go ten and keep long. The
:21:31. > :21:36.Australians though, three quarters of a length. Here come Belarus in
:21:36. > :21:40.lane six. 125 metres to go. Australia from Great Britain,
:21:40. > :21:46.Belarus continue to push hard. Australia again holding on for one
:21:46. > :21:49.last push. Here comes Andy Hodge driving his guys home inside 50
:21:49. > :21:54.metres. It's going to be Australia but it's going to be very, very
:21:54. > :22:00.close. Coming up to the line now, six feet in it. It's holding on.
:22:00. > :22:04.Australia, gold for Australia. Silver for Great Britain. Huge
:22:04. > :22:08.disappointment there. Belarus will get the bronze. The heads go down
:22:08. > :22:15.and surely now the Australians go away as the favourites for the gold
:22:15. > :22:19.medal at the Olympics in six weeks' time. What have Jurgen and these
:22:19. > :22:23.guys got to do to turn it around? They rode a very good race there.
:22:23. > :22:28.The middle part was very smooth and long, but my goodness, this will be
:22:28. > :22:35.quite a blow. They were very much the top hope for a gold medal in
:22:35. > :22:45.the rowing squad in London. But Australia have really come through
:22:45. > :22:48.
:22:48. > :22:52.extremely effectively, especially sleeping giant now.
:22:52. > :22:56.Raise they are not used to seeing Great Britain in second in that
:22:56. > :23:00.event. Haven't been used to that for years and the look on the guys'
:23:00. > :23:04.faces was shell shock almost? faces was shell shock almost?
:23:04. > :23:09.not that shocked myself. I thought the Australians looked really good
:23:09. > :23:13.three weeks ago but tired in the closing stages. I thought it was a
:23:13. > :23:16.very key yesterday of the Australians beating our guys in the
:23:16. > :23:20.semi-final. I think that really sort of put the writing on the wall
:23:21. > :23:25.in some ways. Obviously that's very close to call and it can go either
:23:25. > :23:30.way over the next five weeks, but five weeks is a long time but it's
:23:30. > :23:33.also a very short time. Gary and Dan seem very confident
:23:33. > :23:36.throughout the whole race that it was only a matter of time before a
:23:36. > :23:40.great surge at the end would mean that Great Britain had their noses
:23:40. > :23:44.in front and it didn't happen. What do you put that down to? Again, I
:23:44. > :23:49.think that the Australians knew of quite what was going to happen and
:23:49. > :23:53.so they were more prepared for it than our guys. I think Dan and Gary
:23:53. > :23:58.sort of got a little carried away in some ways of what happened three
:23:58. > :24:03.weeks ago, of that big turn of speed they had in the closing
:24:03. > :24:08.stages. It may be that they've decided to train through this
:24:08. > :24:13.Regatta and not in quite the same fighting fit mode as they were
:24:13. > :24:16.three weeks ago. That means they still may have that potential speed
:24:16. > :24:19.there. But it certainly wasn't there this weekend. All that
:24:19. > :24:25.matters is the result in five or six weeks' time. How much bearing
:24:25. > :24:28.might that have on what happens in London? I hate to say it in some
:24:28. > :24:34.ways, but Pete Andrunachey have been coming second for a long time
:24:34. > :24:38.and that starts to ingrain in your pliend in some ways. When you have
:24:38. > :24:41.a element of doubt, there is always a little doubt in your mind and if
:24:41. > :24:46.you haven't been winning races, iters the confidence in some ways.
:24:46. > :24:49.That is going to boost the Australians, they're very
:24:49. > :24:52.experienced. You talk about the four racing four years ago, the
:24:52. > :24:56.Australians weren't that experienced and it was a very, very
:24:56. > :24:59.close race and our guys came through and rode at the finish.
:24:59. > :25:03.Looks like it could be the same thing of let's hope the guys pull
:25:03. > :25:08.it out the bag and can get their speed at if end and row through
:25:08. > :25:17.them again as they did four years ago -- at the end. You can tweak
:25:17. > :25:22.things in five weeks. What will Jurgen Grobler be doing to say it's
:25:22. > :25:25.about tiny margins and what can they do to try and refine that?
:25:25. > :25:29.mare minds, they have to get it in their minds of how they are going
:25:29. > :25:33.to row the race. It's the second and third 50 where the Australians
:25:33. > :25:37.are killing your guys, we have too much to do in the closing stages.
:25:37. > :25:40.They have to be more in the race in the middle period. That's a mental
:25:40. > :25:45.process, not really a physical process. They've got to be more
:25:45. > :25:48.determined and gutsy to stay in there. Especially that third 500.
:25:48. > :25:51.1,000 metres, that's where the Australians are taking it by the
:25:51. > :25:55.scruff and saying this is our race, you challenge us in the closing
:25:55. > :25:58.stages. I would prefer to be out in front in the Australian boat than I
:25:58. > :26:03.would coming in behind from the Brits. Interesting to hear what the
:26:03. > :26:08.crew have to say about that race which took place a few minutes ago
:26:08. > :26:12.in Munich. Let's go from the marquee boat from the men's point
:26:12. > :26:16.of view to the women and the Double Sculls with Katherine Grainger and
:26:16. > :26:26.Anna Watkins who've been carrying all before them so they are
:26:26. > :26:27.
:26:27. > :26:32.It has been good come up we have been tested this year more than
:26:32. > :26:39.previous years. Every nation steps up and tries to close the gap
:26:39. > :26:47.coming up to the Olympics. But we have learnt more of than we could
:26:47. > :26:53.ever win, winning by eight miles. Everyone has had a go and it is a
:26:53. > :27:01.case of just making sure we are as fast as we can possibly be. And
:27:01. > :27:07.other people have to respond to us. In a two-person crew we have to
:27:07. > :27:13.really support each other. We talk a lot about how we feel about the
:27:13. > :27:21.Olympics, about tactics. We are a really tight unit and needs to keep
:27:21. > :27:26.that going because it is a real strength. We look after each other.
:27:26. > :27:30.No one more bored than granger it you suspect with the talk of a
:27:30. > :27:38.Olympics past. One more warm-up Olympics past. One more warm-up
:27:38. > :27:43.before her date with destiny. Katherine Grainger, that look of
:27:43. > :27:53.determination that we have become used to. This is the final of the
:27:53. > :27:55.
:27:55. > :28:01.women's heavyweight double sculls. The next time they are up there you
:28:01. > :28:08.will be in the Olympic Games. But this race has a huge significance
:28:08. > :28:14.for the British double sculls. Because Australia have just come
:28:14. > :28:21.from nowhere in this double sculls combination. They stormed to a
:28:21. > :28:26.medal in Lucerne three weeks ago. And they surely have to be a threat
:28:26. > :28:33.for the British doubles. In the opening heat these Australians went
:28:33. > :28:38.a couple of seconds faster in their qualifying races. You did not know
:28:38. > :28:45.if the British double where just not pushing themselves too hard,
:28:45. > :28:49.not wanting to show their cards too early. But they have taken a good
:28:49. > :28:56.half length lead now and can keep the strain it in their sights. But
:28:56. > :29:02.Australia are certainly a threat. Kim Crow did the single in Lucerne
:29:02. > :29:08.because her partner was injured. But she's back now and very strong.
:29:08. > :29:18.Earlier the British saw off the German double who wear the closest
:29:18. > :29:41.
:29:41. > :29:47.opposition. We have a race on a last year. So a classy line-up. But
:29:47. > :29:55.the British pushing on hard at 34 strokes per minute. This is where
:29:55. > :30:00.they're comfortable. They have just moved it up as I speak. Great
:30:00. > :30:05.Britain now really have to get a little bit more distance on
:30:05. > :30:14.Australia because this trillion Double Scull is an unknown quantity.
:30:15. > :30:19.Great Britain are looking very powerful. There is liveliness about
:30:19. > :30:23.the Australian doubles. They have been separated for quite a while
:30:23. > :30:28.through that injury so they have got quite a lot more to come in the
:30:28. > :30:35.next six weeks. But there is confidence in the wake that Great
:30:35. > :30:45.Britain are at sculling. You expect them just to squeeze on and get
:30:45. > :30:51.
:30:51. > :31:01.ahead. This is the 1972 Olympic course.
:31:01. > :31:02.
:31:02. > :31:09.The race developing up to the halfway mark. Great Britain have
:31:09. > :31:19.now stretched out from the pack. All eyes on the British Double
:31:19. > :31:25.Scull. Can they hold of the Australian pair? Kim Crow was the
:31:25. > :31:31.silver medallist in this event last year. Here come the Australians.
:31:31. > :31:38.The wind starting to die down which will benefit the group on the far
:31:38. > :31:43.side. But surely the experience of Great Britain it will be enough to
:31:43. > :31:49.hold them off? They have just pushed on again to try to blunt
:31:49. > :31:54.this pushed from the Australia. They have got to keep their links.
:31:54. > :32:04.They must not tighten up because if they do it will inhibit the flow
:32:04. > :32:09.
:32:09. > :32:16.and the free movement of their boat. But Australia pushing up. Will it
:32:16. > :32:22.be another gold medal right now? The Australians, their confidence
:32:22. > :32:28.is riding high. They are constantly pushing, may lead challenging the
:32:28. > :32:34.composure of Great Britain's Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins.
:32:34. > :32:39.I have not yet seen an explosive lift Anjum response. There comes
:32:39. > :32:49.the response now and Katherine Grainger brings it back up to 35
:32:49. > :32:49.
:32:49. > :32:59.strokes per minute. And the British are moving. They really have sat
:32:59. > :33:02.
:33:02. > :33:07.just within their own rhythm. Australia have pushed hard, every
:33:07. > :33:12.time, they are now starting to move in. And this is an impressive
:33:12. > :33:21.performance from Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins, two-times world
:33:21. > :33:25.champions in this event. We are now seeing a display of double sculls,
:33:25. > :33:31.calm and a forager did from the British doubles. The strain and had
:33:31. > :33:37.their chance in that middle 1000 metres but they will settle for a
:33:37. > :33:42.silver medal. The British double moved earlier than you would expect,
:33:42. > :33:48.going up to 35 strokes per minute, and that really made a difference.
:33:48. > :33:54.That power be brought a long, they kept their cool and it has given
:33:55. > :34:00.them over one length of lead. There is no work really that the strain
:34:00. > :34:07.you can go with this. So Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins Kubica et
:34:07. > :34:14.NICE and long. They have got the race under control. -- keeping it
:34:14. > :34:22.nice and long. The British now have 125 metres left in this final. They
:34:22. > :34:28.have done everything that has been asked of them in this combination.
:34:28. > :34:33.They're making it three each in a road for 2012. The one elusive
:34:33. > :34:39.medals still remains for Katherine Grainger and surely they go now
:34:39. > :34:47.into their final training camp with their confidence high. They have
:34:47. > :34:54.done it again. Australia in second place and now the bronze medal
:34:54. > :34:57.going to Poland. The British crew can go away with their heads up.
:34:58. > :35:07.Everything to do. Katherine Grainger will be very pleased with
:35:08. > :35:09.
:35:09. > :35:19.that. They have another year under the bonnet if they need it. That is
:35:19. > :35:21.
:35:21. > :35:26.the bonnet if they need it. That is Scull at the top of these kind of
:35:26. > :35:30.medal podiums time and again. How much would Katherine Grainger give
:35:30. > :35:38.for that last gold medal? In six weeks' time they all come together
:35:38. > :35:44.weeks' time they all come together again. Well we can talk repeatedly
:35:44. > :35:48.about the relevance of these races as far as London is concerned, but
:35:48. > :35:52.that was a definitive statement. You feel every other crew will say,
:35:52. > :35:57.we're almost playing for second. There was an element in the middle
:35:57. > :36:07.of the race when the strains were pushing really hard. They had an
:36:07. > :36:08.
:36:08. > :36:12.injury in that boat and they will get stronger. But the confidence
:36:12. > :36:16.with which they finished that race will boast them again. They know
:36:16. > :36:22.that they have a race on their hands, and that is what you want.
:36:22. > :36:28.You still have to have that element of thinking, we need to push on.
:36:28. > :36:38.And they will have one eye on the a Australians all the way. Dan thinks
:36:38. > :36:38.
:36:38. > :36:47.they have got another year to go up as well. I think they have. -- gear.
:36:47. > :36:52.But I think it is going to be a closer race in London. The
:36:52. > :36:57.Australians are a class act. They have had injury, they're coming
:36:57. > :37:04.back from that. It will be an interesting race. The indefinable
:37:04. > :37:08.element to this that none of us can appreciate these, as it gets closer,
:37:08. > :37:16.the mental element for Katherine Grainger and especially, I have to
:37:16. > :37:21.get it this time. That must come into play to some degree. We do not
:37:21. > :37:25.know how much that will come into play, being in this situation of
:37:25. > :37:31.being a reigning Olympic champion coming into the next Olympics, all
:37:31. > :37:34.the races in between are just stepping stones. They're not that
:37:34. > :37:40.important in the big scheme. And the closer that race gets the more
:37:40. > :37:46.nerve-racking it becomes. And they have to deal with the whole process,
:37:46. > :37:52.Katherine Grainger especially. Looking at the list of crews that
:37:52. > :37:56.have a real possibility of a gold medal, the reigning champions from
:37:56. > :38:02.Beijing, Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter, it will undoubtedly be near
:38:02. > :38:06.the top. But they finished in 6th place in Lucerne. Was that just a
:38:06. > :38:13.minor blip? We had a setback, things did not go
:38:13. > :38:19.too well. There seems to be bit of a jinx when we go to this end. We
:38:19. > :38:28.have put things in place for Munich and we will be back on the podium.
:38:28. > :38:32.It is frustrating to lose to people we should not have lost to. Zack
:38:32. > :38:38.purchase was poorly before we went out there, up we were trying to
:38:38. > :38:45.play catch-up at times. That was disappointing. But we have spent
:38:46. > :38:50.some good time in the boat now and be looking forward to Munich.
:38:50. > :38:55.Well that must have been a jolt to the system. Today was a day to
:38:55. > :39:02.the system. Today was a day to resumed normal service.
:39:02. > :39:06.What a difference three weeks makes. Mark Hunter and Zack perches were
:39:06. > :39:16.very disappointed with that 6th place finish at Lucerne three weeks
:39:16. > :39:43.
:39:43. > :39:49.analysts in Lucerne. And they were very disappointed. The fastest crew
:39:49. > :39:55.there was certainly France. And there are now up there with New
:39:55. > :40:02.Zealand who were second in Lucerne. Derek Close. Great Britain have,
:40:02. > :40:05.bit late in this event. Their great competitors so they pull themselves
:40:05. > :40:11.together very well in the last six or seven weeks before the
:40:11. > :40:21.championships. But they have a lot of work to do before it landed and
:40:21. > :40:32.
:40:32. > :40:36.2012 if they are to claim that a Zealand from France, Great Britain
:40:36. > :40:41.in amongst the hunt there, currently in last position but not
:40:41. > :40:44.much in it -- 500 down. You will expect though, as Olympic champions,
:40:44. > :40:48.they have that experience and the thing is just to move it on,
:40:48. > :40:50.thinking about doing the basics. Talking to Mark Hunter, it's about
:40:50. > :40:54.dog the basics right and remembering what they've done
:40:54. > :41:01.before, building on that. They have the confidence and they've shown
:41:01. > :41:05.some great speed in training. In Caversham, their training lake,
:41:05. > :41:14.they've been training there. They know it's there, it's allowing it
:41:14. > :41:19.all to come together today and then in six weeks at the Olympics.
:41:19. > :41:23.Hungary are going quickly. They're back after some years in retirement.
:41:23. > :41:33.Great Britain still in there, but just at the back of the group and
:41:33. > :41:41.they've got to push on as they come into the last 1250 metres.
:41:41. > :41:50.Zealand. The all-black strip, not quite broken free yet. Lane five,
:41:51. > :41:58.France. Winners from Lucerne, the World Cup in 2012. The form crew
:41:58. > :42:03.coming into this Regatta. New Zealand again high strokes, 38
:42:03. > :42:07.strokes a minute but just powering away, quite short strokes but very
:42:07. > :42:11.powerful in the middle of the stroke. The power comes on very
:42:11. > :42:15.quickly and they finish off the strokes very well. They've led from
:42:15. > :42:19.the first stroke, New Zealand now go into the second half of the
:42:19. > :42:23.final of the men's Lightweight Double Scull with confidence
:42:23. > :42:27.growing. Particularly looking right in lane three. Their eyes will be
:42:27. > :42:30.on Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter, the two time world defending
:42:30. > :42:34.Olympic champions. They are well off the pace here. Hard really to
:42:34. > :42:38.see, unless there's a big explosion in the zeal steel crew, hard to see
:42:38. > :42:47.how Great Britain can come back from there, but you can't write off
:42:47. > :42:52.Olympic and two-time world champions -- New Zealand crew. From
:42:52. > :42:56.France, lane five still on the tails of New Zealand. Great Britain
:42:56. > :43:00.having to fight hard if they want to get on to the podium. This race
:43:00. > :43:09.is running out. They've got 250, 300 metres to go, they've got to
:43:09. > :43:15.push on very hard now. Getting clear diswater coming up
:43:15. > :43:19.now. Through the 1250 mark. Great Britain in amongst the middle of
:43:19. > :43:23.the pack. For them, it's all about rowing well, finding a good rhythm
:43:23. > :43:27.and pattern that will get them back into the race. Currently in fourth
:43:27. > :43:30.position, it's showing there, New Zealand on the top left hand side
:43:30. > :43:36.showing they have the better of the speed and Great Britain currently
:43:36. > :43:40.in third, fourth perhaps on the overall speed chart.
:43:40. > :43:44.There's the British crew. Mark Hunter just looking as though it's
:43:44. > :43:48.a little bit painful there, not quite flowing the way that we'd
:43:48. > :43:55.expect. Still got Italy to catch. They're
:43:55. > :44:05.into fourth place. They've got to pull Italy back. 5050 metres remain
:44:05. > :44:05.
:44:05. > :44:15.in the final men's Lightweight Double Sculls -- 500 metres remain.
:44:15. > :44:19.New Zealand looking good. They're scheming the speed up here. Watch
:44:19. > :44:24.their boat. It doesn't dip at the stern or the catch, it's moving
:44:24. > :44:30.very nicely, runs through the water very evenly. Great Britain just not
:44:30. > :44:35.clicking, not quite right. They haven't got a lot of time to put it
:44:35. > :44:38.together. The yellow jerseys of the crew indicating they are World Cup
:44:38. > :44:43.leaders, but that's irrelevant for Mark and Zac who'll be concerned
:44:43. > :44:47.with only one thing, finding speed out front. New Zealand being put
:44:47. > :44:51.under pressure from France. Here come the French. We have 250 metres
:44:52. > :44:56.remaining and Denmark lane six having moved back into the bronze
:44:56. > :45:01.medal position. 200 out from the line, New Zealand France and
:45:01. > :45:06.Denmark. Denmark are the reigning world record holders, the world
:45:07. > :45:10.best holders from back in 2007. Don't discount those in lane number
:45:10. > :45:16.one at the top of the picture. The British crew though struggling at
:45:16. > :45:19.the back end of the pack. Haven't New Zealand stretched out the field,
:45:20. > :45:23.my goodness. Three quarters of a length ahead. France trying to get
:45:23. > :45:27.back on terms but it will certainly be New Zealand, France in second
:45:27. > :45:30.and Denmark trying to get into third. France for the last time
:45:30. > :45:34.charging up to the line, but it's New Zealand surely they've done
:45:34. > :45:39.enough, they are not going to lose it here. Oh, so close by about a
:45:39. > :45:42.foot. New Zealand, France and Denmark coming over in third, Italy
:45:42. > :45:47.in fourth, Hungary in fifth and Great Britain just limping over the
:45:47. > :45:51.line in sixth and a disappointing finish for the two-time world
:45:51. > :45:54.champions and defending Olympic champions.
:45:54. > :45:58.How disappointing for Great Britain. They've got a lot of work to do.
:45:58. > :46:05.New Zealand back on top. They were world champions two years ago, got
:46:05. > :46:15.taken back by Great Britain last year. But now they are back on top.
:46:15. > :46:18.
:46:18. > :46:22.Great Britain will be bitterly disappointed with sixth place.
:46:22. > :46:28.What do we make of that? Off the pace again. Three weeks ago they
:46:28. > :46:32.weren't at the races at all through the heats, semi-finals or finals.
:46:32. > :46:35.Certainly that performance is not what we expect from our reigning
:46:35. > :46:39.world and Olympic champions. But they did have a good performance
:46:39. > :46:44.yesterday so maybe things are coming out. But now with the short
:46:44. > :46:46.period to go towards the Games, they're not going to be automobile
:46:46. > :46:52.to test themselves against their opposition again. We know they've
:46:52. > :46:57.got the capability, they know it, but now we start talking about
:46:57. > :47:03.pulling it out the bag on the day. Can we do it in five weeks in
:47:03. > :47:07.London, or not? When Dan talks about a lot of work lefpt to do.
:47:07. > :47:12.The temptation is to train even harder and then there's nothing
:47:12. > :47:17.left in the tank tonne day itself. The team around them need to be
:47:17. > :47:22.careful in the intervening period, don't they -- left in the tank on
:47:22. > :47:26.the day itself. They certainly do. The support staff will monitor them
:47:27. > :47:31.and make sure it's not just about sheer graft of work they've got to
:47:31. > :47:33.do. It's really about getting their minds right in some ways.
:47:33. > :47:37.We started the programme by talking about how this is the strongest
:47:37. > :47:43.team that we've ever had. Then there's one of our lead boats
:47:43. > :47:49.finishing sixth in a final. Will that have any bearing on how other
:47:49. > :47:53.crews start feeling? I don't think it will. Really, rowing is about
:47:53. > :47:56.consistency and what Zac and Mark are showing at the moment is not
:47:56. > :48:01.about consistency. The other lead boats are being very consistent
:48:01. > :48:07.from that point of view. We've got really five gold medal chances to
:48:07. > :48:12.bring all five in will be unlikely. Are they still one off that? Are
:48:12. > :48:17.you taking him off the list? They are still on the list for me but
:48:17. > :48:20.they've got to be marked down a couple of notchs in some ways. They
:48:20. > :48:27.are reigning loick champions and reigning world champions, they have
:48:27. > :48:30.a lot of pride. They'll be fighting and very determined -- b reigning
:48:30. > :48:35.Olympic champions. They'll be tough to beat at the games but you can't
:48:35. > :48:38.class them as favourites going into it. The mythical list that we have
:48:38. > :48:43.includes the Women's Pair of Heather Stanning and Helen Glover
:48:43. > :48:46.who've been untouchable of late and they've a simple strategy, go out
:48:46. > :48:49.in front and say catch me if you can.
:48:49. > :48:52.You take a lot of confidence from being able to watch the field
:48:52. > :48:56.behind you because when you are in front you can see everyone behind
:48:56. > :49:00.you so that's great. Maybe this year we are quicker than last year,
:49:00. > :49:05.so that's stepped the game on a bit. There is other people out there
:49:05. > :49:09.who've stepped up as well. So far, we have been fortunate to come off
:49:09. > :49:13.the right side of the medals. New Zealand will be stronger in Munich.
:49:13. > :49:16.America put in a great performance in the last two World Cups. I don't
:49:16. > :49:23.think they are going to be in Munich, but come the Games, maybe
:49:23. > :49:28.they'll be strong as well. I just don't know really. All things being
:49:28. > :49:38.equal, they could be our first gold medal of the Games in the rowing in
:49:38. > :49:41.
:49:41. > :49:49.2012 on Wednesday August 1st. Stanning and Helen Glover looking
:49:49. > :49:55.to make it three in a row for the 2012 World Cup. Being led in lane
:49:55. > :50:00.two, Germany's team. Argentina in one, Germany, early race leaders in
:50:00. > :50:03.lane two. Great Britain in three. New Zealand, a classy field, the
:50:03. > :50:06.all-black strip in the white boat middle of the picture, they are the
:50:06. > :50:11.world champions. In lane five, Romania. The Olympic champions, the
:50:11. > :50:14.first time we see them back into the 2012 season. We haven't seen
:50:14. > :50:21.them since Beijing. Looking there now at New Zealand, the world
:50:21. > :50:24.champions and making up the order. Lane six, closest to us, Canada.
:50:24. > :50:29.Now already into the first two 50 metres, Great Britain's looking to
:50:29. > :50:33.stretch it out. Two or three feet. Coming up towards a canvas, going
:50:33. > :50:37.pretty well. They took a very good move there just as they settled
:50:37. > :50:40.into their rhythm. Germany was leading them and then as they
:50:40. > :50:46.settled down into their mid race pace, Great Britain just moved and
:50:46. > :50:50.it was extraordinary, they took about half a length, the chasing
:50:50. > :50:53.New Zealanders there, high rate of striking, high number of strokes
:50:53. > :50:57.per minute and they are moving up there as well. Germany who
:50:57. > :51:03.qualified three weeks ago at the qualifying Regatta, they took that
:51:03. > :51:07.early lead but they are falling back already. Conditions really
:51:07. > :51:12.picking up here on the course at Munich. The 1972 Olympic course.
:51:12. > :51:16.Great Britain squeezing out now to just over a half a length and just
:51:16. > :51:24.compare the yellow boat leading, the British boat. Look how long
:51:24. > :51:28.they are, the great technique of this boat is long and loose. Great
:51:28. > :51:33.Britain's Helen Glover, Heather Stanning had a fabulous first 500
:51:33. > :51:39.metres now. They are out and away moving. That confidence allows them
:51:39. > :51:42.to kick into the second 500 metres of which we are now entering. You
:51:42. > :51:46.see the speed they have you will against New Zealand, the all-black
:51:46. > :51:51.strip. They are the two-time world champions. It's looking very staby
:51:51. > :51:56.from New Zealand on the far side in lane two. Germany tenth at the
:51:56. > :52:00.World Championships last year, but this now is real just poetry in
:52:00. > :52:03.motion. They're moving very well indeed. They have a lovely flow
:52:03. > :52:06.about them and good length. They are at 36 strokes a money, New
:52:06. > :52:10.Zealand at 38 and New Zealand will have nowhere to go when the
:52:10. > :52:15.pressure comes on. Through this last winter, what the British pair
:52:15. > :52:23.have learned is flexibility. Being able to change pace, go up a gear.
:52:23. > :52:26.We saw that in Lucerne three weeks ago. But look at the camera,
:52:26. > :52:31.closest to the camera, Romania fourth place. They've come out of
:52:31. > :52:37.retirement this year, they've got a lot to make up now on the leading
:52:37. > :52:42.two pairs. Our clear water now from Great
:52:42. > :52:47.Britain in the middle part of the second 500 metres. The confidence
:52:47. > :52:52.just grows and rightly so. It's a fabulous friendship, a great
:52:52. > :52:56.partnership, the amount of trust they have in each other. Rob
:52:56. > :53:03.Williams coaches, he's done a great job bringing both these girls up
:53:03. > :53:09.through the last couple of years. What's really interesting about the
:53:09. > :53:13.pair, three years ago they were new to the game entirely, they were the
:53:13. > :53:20.last choice boat, the eight had been chosen and now look at them
:53:20. > :53:23.three years on. Helen Glover is 26 years old today, her birthday, a
:53:23. > :53:28.big happy birthday and it's all going very, very well for Great
:53:28. > :53:33.Britain in lane three. This is final of the Women's Pair. It's the
:53:33. > :53:37.third of three Regattas here and it's all going British way. Helen
:53:38. > :53:44.Glover and Heather Stanning in lane three. It's a classy field. New
:53:44. > :53:48.Zealand in lane four left of your picture. World champions in 2011.
:53:48. > :53:53.Romania have come back into the fray. They are in lane five, they
:53:53. > :53:56.are the Olympic champions, but having just nothing compared to
:53:56. > :54:01.Great Britain, lane three. This is the field they are going to
:54:01. > :54:04.have in London and look, they've got two lengths now on their
:54:04. > :54:08.closest rivals, or two-and-a-half lengths. This is the crew that
:54:08. > :54:15.probably is now becoming the favourite for a gold in London and
:54:15. > :54:20.could be Britain's first gold medal for a woman at an Olympics ever.
:54:20. > :54:24.That's an extraordinary journey for them over this last three years
:54:24. > :54:28.from spares to silver, silver and with the potential of gold at the
:54:28. > :54:31.Olympics in six weeks' time. They're taking the pressure very
:54:31. > :54:34.well though, all in their stride. They are so relaxed with it.
:54:34. > :54:38.There's no huge expectations within the boat. They're going out there,
:54:38. > :54:43.doing what they do well. They love the rowing, teamwork together. Look
:54:43. > :54:48.at the length and the flow. And Rob Williams has done a great job in
:54:48. > :54:51.technique here with the girls. can sigh the difference in styles
:54:51. > :54:57.between the New Zealanders and the Great Britain pair. New Zealand
:54:57. > :55:07.have a higher stroke per minute, stabby, and here you have flow and
:55:07. > :55:17.
:55:17. > :55:22.run with the British pair. It's this final. This is a slight head
:55:22. > :55:27.breeze which they will feel it all backs as they come through to the
:55:27. > :55:37.finish. But the speed has been impressive from Helen Glover and
:55:37. > :55:38.
:55:38. > :55:42.Heather Stanning. And still the British are moving away.
:55:42. > :55:52.Germany know where to be seen. Great Britain out in front, leading
:55:52. > :56:00.comfortably. Romania are the Olympic champions in this event
:56:00. > :56:07.from Beijing. Canada bringing up the rear in lane number six. There
:56:07. > :56:12.is a cross headwind coming from the site where the British pair are or
:56:12. > :56:16.and making the course slightly unfair. It sets the water in motion.
:56:16. > :56:26.And you're getting a bit of protection from that far side of
:56:26. > :56:31.the course. So they are really ramming in good flat water. And
:56:31. > :56:41.that may be exaggerating the difference between the crews.
:56:41. > :56:44.
:56:44. > :56:50.metres remaining in this final. What a unit. The next time they go
:56:50. > :56:56.out, they go out to the Olympic Games. It has been fabulous ride
:56:56. > :57:03.from the first stroke. They will not be challenged today by a New
:57:03. > :57:08.Zealander who are the world champions. Great Britain out in
:57:08. > :57:13.front, paddling up to the line. Three he in a rope for Great
:57:13. > :57:18.Britain in the women's coxless pair. It is a happy birthday to Helen
:57:18. > :57:22.Glover and all going according to plan. New Zealand are second,
:57:23. > :57:32.Romania in the third. That was a fantastic performance from the
:57:32. > :57:36.British pair. They looked so mature and did not have to use anything at
:57:36. > :57:43.the end there to push on against the end there to push on against
:57:43. > :57:50.New Zealand. They have got it made. So great Britain topping the medal
:57:50. > :57:56.table. Helen Glover and Heather Stanning about to enter the best
:57:56. > :58:05.six weeks of their lives. The next time bear out on water in
:58:05. > :58:11.competition will be in the heat of the Olympic Games.
:58:11. > :58:18.Well we're here at Henley where the women's regatta is taking place.
:58:18. > :58:23.But obviously we are focusing on the regatta taking place in Munich.
:58:23. > :58:31.We have shown the effectively the four races so far for a we have the
:58:31. > :58:37.best hopes of a medal in London. It has been up and down so far. But
:58:37. > :58:41.this pair are remarkably up. Very much so. They hugely impressed me
:58:41. > :58:51.last year. They went through the same series of races and they won
:58:51. > :58:53.
:58:53. > :58:58.all of them. New Zealand led all the way last year and that reversed
:58:58. > :59:02.then in the world Championship. It was just a matter of inches between
:59:02. > :59:07.the two groups. And it looks like no one will be challenging them at
:59:07. > :59:12.all this year. There will be brimming with confidence. They will
:59:12. > :59:17.be. But this is their first Olympic Games so there will be a lot of
:59:17. > :59:21.nerves as well. But I would put them as favourites any day of the
:59:22. > :59:27.week. They're absolutely flying at the moment and I cannot see any
:59:27. > :59:34.reason why that would change. we are mixing and matching between
:59:34. > :59:40.live and recorded action this morning. We can show you the men's
:59:40. > :59:44.double sculls cloud which took place around 45 minutes ago. And
:59:44. > :59:50.place around 45 minutes ago. And this is Bill Lucas and Sam Townsend.
:59:50. > :00:00.What was your take on this performance? Well they didn't have
:00:00. > :00:03.a good performance three weeks ago. They came back very disappointed.
:00:03. > :00:12.And they are showing a lot more potential this weekend than they
:00:12. > :00:20.were three weeks ago. These guys are starting to build their
:00:20. > :00:26.confidence. Weaker moved on now to the men's Quadruple Scull. Tom
:00:26. > :00:30.Solesbury, Charles Cousins, Stephen Rowbotham and Matthew Wells. If
:00:30. > :00:36.they get to the final in London, when you're in the final bend
:00:36. > :00:42.anyone has a chance of a medal. But they would be an outside shot?
:00:42. > :00:46.much an outside shot. We have not got much history of the Quadruple
:00:46. > :00:52.Scull making the final. Two years ago was the last time they were in
:00:52. > :01:01.the final and then it was the 19 eighties before that. But last year
:01:01. > :01:11.they did beat the world champions. So there is a slim chance there of
:01:11. > :01:12.
:01:12. > :01:18.doing well. They are certainly going to be there. Well these are
:01:18. > :01:27.live pictures now from Munich and there is Alan Campbell in his Great
:01:27. > :01:37.Britain vest. The great New Zealand Warwick is not competing this time
:01:37. > :01:47.
:01:47. > :01:57.after an accident on his bike. The Czech Republic also out of this
:01:57. > :02:00.
:02:00. > :02:10.line-up. This is a big race for Alan Campbell in lane number three.
:02:10. > :02:47.
:02:47. > :02:57.Olaf Tufte, the Olympic champion, is a race that he has to win, dare
:02:57. > :03:03.we say it Fulstow of it is the race that he has got to win.
:03:04. > :03:13.medallists from Lucerne are not here. There are under starter's
:03:14. > :03:24.
:03:24. > :03:34.start and they are away. Alan Campbell was down as stroke, but he
:03:34. > :03:44.is away. A love tuft of Norway, the two-time Olympic champion in lame
:03:44. > :03:48.
:03:48. > :03:56.number two. Look at the top of the picture, young Graham Thomas
:03:56. > :04:00.sitting up there and doing a fantastic job. He is quite
:04:00. > :04:10.experienced so he will have gone out as fast as he can to see what
:04:10. > :04:12.
:04:12. > :04:22.he can do. But Alan Campbell getting into his stride now.
:04:22. > :04:57.
:04:57. > :05:07.The Olympic champion Olaf Tufte has quarter of the race down, 500 gone,
:05:07. > :05:10.
:05:10. > :05:15.1500 to go. We talked about Alan's race plant
:05:15. > :05:23.and he is looking for some more consistency. Sometimes he sprints
:05:23. > :05:33.out to try to get clear water. He was looking at doing the 33 strokes
:05:33. > :05:34.
:05:35. > :05:40.per minute for the first 1000 and then slowly stepping up.
:05:40. > :05:50.I am a bit concerned about Alan Campbell, he got quite dehydrated
:05:50. > :05:52.
:05:52. > :06:02.yesterday and it really affected him. He had to stay ahead of Lassi
:06:02. > :06:14.
:06:14. > :06:19.second position now and sitting there just trying to get a good
:06:19. > :06:29.rhythm going. But not looking quite as comfortable as it should be for
:06:29. > :06:40.
:06:40. > :06:48.Alan Campbell. Marcel Hake clear. Lassi Karonen leading Alan Campbell.
:06:49. > :06:58.This has been a big surprise here on the 1972 Olympic regatta course.
:06:58. > :07:08.Alan Campbell struggling back in 4th position. The Mexican leading
:07:08. > :07:13.Alan Campbell into this third 500. He should really be up there in the
:07:13. > :07:23.lead but he clearly has had a bit of a struggle this regatta. He has
:07:23. > :07:24.
:07:24. > :07:29.not really recovered from that. The New Zealand rower is not here and
:07:29. > :07:36.neither is the Cuban sculler. So you have to add three more people
:07:37. > :07:46.into this makes for the London Olympics. Glorious conditions up
:07:47. > :07:57.
:07:57. > :08:03.there. The Germans on home of water. Continuing to dominate. Campbell is
:08:03. > :08:08.a very brave sculler, he will not let go. He will not want Lassi
:08:08. > :08:14.Karonen to beat him. If he is suffering he will try to do
:08:14. > :08:20.everything he can't to overcome that. But I do not think any one is
:08:20. > :08:28.going to catch the German who is looking very strong out there.
:08:28. > :08:35.Campbell has meddled at every World Championship. He is a two-time
:08:35. > :08:43.bronze medallist and has plenty of experience. Alan Campbell dragging
:08:43. > :08:51.himself through in third position. The sprint is on. And Graham Thomas
:08:51. > :09:00.from Great Britain, 23 years of age, in 4th position. A fantastic scull
:09:00. > :09:05.from the former rugby player. He is coming through the team. He is an
:09:05. > :09:15.aim to watch for the future. Alan Campbell raised his game a little
:09:15. > :09:15.
:09:16. > :09:25.bit, trying to push on there. Try to get through Lassi Karonen. But
:09:26. > :09:29.
:09:29. > :09:37.it looks as if Lassi Karonen has enough to hold off Alan Campbell.
:09:37. > :09:40.When the German is under pressure he starts to perform less well.
:09:40. > :09:45.Certainly classic Rhone and is coming back on him and will be a
:09:45. > :09:55.force at London. I'm not sure what is going to happen to Alan Campbell.
:09:55. > :10:01.He has to recover from this regatta. Alan Campbell is sprinting hard in
:10:01. > :10:11.his silver medal position. The German crowd going absolutely wild
:10:11. > :10:13.
:10:13. > :10:20.here in the stands. What a way to finish the 2012 World Cup season.
:10:20. > :10:23.The German getting the gold medal on the line. Lassi Karonen gets the
:10:24. > :10:30.silver and Alan Campbell coming up to the line for the bronze. And
:10:30. > :10:40.over he goes. So much to play for in the next six weeks. And hats off
:10:40. > :10:44.
:10:44. > :10:54.Campbell. You would expect him to be up there with Hacker, but a good
:10:54. > :11:04.
:11:04. > :11:08.Campbell, they'll see someone who's very disappointed and very tired
:11:08. > :11:16.because he was putting everything in but it wasn't enough, Steve?
:11:16. > :11:19.quite sure what to say there, because I'd expected him to
:11:19. > :11:23.dominate that field with the two main guys not here. You would think
:11:23. > :11:26.that he'd cruise through that relatively easily and she was
:11:26. > :11:31.struggling big time. Having seen that race, you would almost say the
:11:31. > :11:35.extent of his ambitions in London would be getting to the final, as
:11:35. > :11:39.opposed to being on the podium? ambitions will still be about
:11:39. > :11:45.winning a medal without a doubt. He's consistently shown that over
:11:45. > :11:48.the last four years. Three weeks ago it wasn't a very good result,
:11:48. > :11:51.this is even worse than that, so he's not going in the right
:11:51. > :11:55.direction going towards the Olympic direction going towards the Olympic
:11:55. > :11:59.Games, confidence-wise. I would like to hear of quite what his take
:11:59. > :12:05.is on that. But that's not the Alan Campbell of old that we've seen
:12:05. > :12:10.year in year out for the last few years. The Men's Eight coming up
:12:10. > :12:14.shortly and we'll show you highlights of some other races. A
:12:14. > :12:19.spectacular performance by a British crew included in that too.
:12:19. > :12:25.Miriam, you won a Sydney medal in the Olympics 12 years ago but also
:12:25. > :12:29.tomorrow you take control of the whole of the women's Henley Regatta,
:12:29. > :12:33.an own Russ responsibility? When I was asked, I thought a great
:12:33. > :12:37.opportunity, and over the weekend I've got a handle on how big the
:12:37. > :12:42.job is. This Regatta is the pinnacle for women's club rowing in
:12:42. > :12:46.the country and also a huge part of that stepping stone pathway that
:12:46. > :12:50.our junior and under 23 crews are taking on their way to Olympic
:12:50. > :12:53.success, so our future is rowing here today.
:12:53. > :12:59.Your predecessor has done it for the last 25 years, so have you
:12:59. > :13:04.signed up for a quarter of a century of this? No, don't say that
:13:04. > :13:08.to me! No, no, I would be delighted to be able to last as long as Di
:13:08. > :13:13.has, however, I think the task is much bigger than it was at the
:13:13. > :13:18.beginning. The Regatta's tkwroun to 1500 competitors now. We have over
:13:18. > :13:21.40 crews from abroad here, mostly from the US, many of the
:13:21. > :13:25.universities from the States come over as well as the schools. We
:13:25. > :13:29.have some crews from Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Norway, as
:13:29. > :13:34.well as a couple of crews that have come all the way from Australia.
:13:34. > :13:38.It's becoming an international event. We have moments of your
:13:38. > :13:46.triumph here in Sydney 12 years ago. How much has women's rowing changed
:13:46. > :13:51.in the last decade or so? Hasively. Through the 90s, we had an
:13:51. > :13:54.exponetial growth, phenomenal, reflected in the number of events.
:13:54. > :14:00.The stand hard had gone up phenomenally as well, reflected in
:14:00. > :14:05.how well we are doing at Olympics and World Championships too. Wa do
:14:05. > :14:09.you put that down to? An increase in women wanting to be active, an
:14:09. > :14:14.increase in women rowing at club, mostly due to Steve's success and
:14:14. > :14:19.the success that we've had on the women's side and also a lot more
:14:19. > :14:23.schools are rowing and they're also feeding into clubs. So many clubs
:14:23. > :14:28.that didn't have junior sections before now have very, very active
:14:28. > :14:38.junior sections that are continuing to row as they get older.
:14:38. > :14:40.
:14:40. > :14:47.mentioned Steve there. You are - we have some pictures of you on the
:14:48. > :14:51.Thames there. How was this for you, Mir ram? It was amazing. -- Miriam.
:14:51. > :14:55.Absolutely phenomenal. Just checking my blade work to make sure
:14:55. > :14:59.I'm in time with Steve. It was like rowing in lots of mini Olympics,
:14:59. > :15:03.every single bridge we went under there was another 30,000 people
:15:03. > :15:08.cheering so the point where it was like 1.2 million people were there.
:15:08. > :15:13.It was very, very special. Would it have helped the Gary
:15:13. > :15:18.Herbert would have been Coxing, do you think? No. Matthew got a bit
:15:18. > :15:23.tired during the end and went and steered the boat. Good luck with
:15:23. > :15:28.the next 25 years! Thank you. That's a rueful smile you are
:15:28. > :15:31.giving there. But anyway, well done. And listen, the number of people
:15:31. > :15:34.here today, it's great atmosphere so may you have many more days like
:15:35. > :15:40.this. Thanks for talking to us. You might be interested in this
:15:40. > :15:44.actually, the women's quad for half an hour or so ago in Munich. I'm
:15:44. > :15:54.watching this actually not knowing watching this actually not knowing
:15:54. > :15:55.
:15:55. > :16:01.where they finish. Wilson, flood taking part in this. Steve, did you
:16:01. > :16:10.watch this race? These are the first views of the pictures we have
:16:10. > :16:14.seen. I'm being told they got bronze. The Ukraine dominated.
:16:15. > :16:19.Three weeks ago they won by a big margin and again there. That'll
:16:19. > :16:23.give the other boats a bit more confidence of closing down on
:16:23. > :16:29.Ukraine who absolutely dominated it three weeks ago. That was a tiny
:16:29. > :16:33.margin there between second and third, Germany getting the nod. The
:16:33. > :16:43.men's Lightweight four, the Chambers brothers, Williams and
:16:43. > :16:50.
:16:50. > :16:54.That's the race plan in the middle thousand. Great Britain qualified
:16:54. > :17:01.fastest in the opening heats and they qualified directly for the
:17:01. > :17:08.final. Everybody else has had to raise the repechage. Great Britain
:17:08. > :17:13.have got to really move now in this second quarter. They are moving
:17:13. > :17:19.well. Peter Chambers has come back into the boat after being injured
:17:20. > :17:24.for Lucerne and Mattock sat in his place. They did pretty well, third
:17:24. > :17:28.in Lucerne, but now with their full crew, this is where they've got to
:17:28. > :17:34.start to move through. They're coming in nicely, back on the Swiss
:17:34. > :17:44.who led early and on France. Switzerland in lane two, top of the
:17:44. > :17:45.
:17:45. > :17:50.picture. It's now as we head towards the middle, it's becoming a
:17:50. > :17:54.real cat-and-mouse here. The lead is changing from Switzerland, Great
:17:54. > :17:58.Britain were up there at the early stages and France are moving on
:17:58. > :18:03.hard. Very little in it. It's a blanket across the half way mark in
:18:03. > :18:07.this final of the men's Lightweight coxless four, Great Britain lane
:18:07. > :18:11.three. Australia the world champions, in lane four. The
:18:11. > :18:17.British crew were third, three on that boat were third at the World
:18:18. > :18:22.Championships last year. Back in 20. We are looking at the great British
:18:22. > :18:26.crew. They were world champions in 2010.
:18:26. > :18:29.Good swing in their stroke. They are going to go through,
:18:29. > :18:35.Switzerland, all depends on what Australia and Denmark can do
:18:35. > :18:41.closest to us there. Denmark still with that high very eager, anxious
:18:41. > :18:47.stroke that they've got there. Great Britain looking very calm.
:18:47. > :18:51.Look at the nice swing back that they have as they hit the front.
:18:52. > :18:56.The British crew getting into a lovely rhythm there. Quite
:18:56. > :19:02.sustainable, but look at the noise around there. Don't know where to
:19:02. > :19:08.look for the next challenge. You can't write off Denmark in lane six.
:19:08. > :19:12.Closest to us. They get up on their rate, there are 38 strokes per
:19:12. > :19:16.minute, they'll take that through to the last 250. You lack at the
:19:16. > :19:21.British crew, they are at 36 and a half strokes a minute but they look
:19:21. > :19:25.so much more in control and looser and longer than the Dane who is're
:19:25. > :19:29.closest to us. The Great Britain four is looking extremely good now
:19:29. > :19:33.as they take three quarters of a length from Switzerland and come
:19:33. > :19:37.into the last 500. Couldn't be going any better for
:19:37. > :19:42.the British quartet in the final of the men's Lightweight coxless four.
:19:42. > :19:46.They have led and dominated this middle 1,000. Now they are in a
:19:46. > :19:51.position just to step on and step on they are, because Denmark in
:19:51. > :19:57.lane six starting to push hard. France also in five. The world
:19:57. > :20:00.champions in lane four. Here they come, Australia also starting their
:20:00. > :20:04.charge for the line. This is a stunning performance from the
:20:04. > :20:08.British four. Look, they've got clear water now on the field on the
:20:08. > :20:14.world champions. Remember still, China to come who were first in
:20:14. > :20:19.Lucerne. Remember also we've got South Africa to come, but this is a
:20:19. > :20:23.fantastic result at the moment here for Great Britain in what is a most
:20:23. > :20:29.competitive event. It's usually just a blanket finish, but they are
:20:29. > :20:32.dominating this field. 250 through to the line. Now the British crew
:20:32. > :20:36.building up. Australia, the world champions, failed to qualify for
:20:36. > :20:40.the final at Lucerne three weeks ago. They found a bit more form
:20:40. > :20:45.here, the Australians are coming and with them the chasing world 175
:20:45. > :20:49.metres out from the line. The British though have just stretched
:20:49. > :20:54.it out on the length. The boat's running beautifully. 75 out from
:20:54. > :20:59.the line. The world is coming back at the British four, but Great
:20:59. > :21:03.Britain looking strong. Still 37 strokes a minute when everybody
:21:03. > :21:09.else is up at 40. This is a very, very mature performance. Up to the
:21:09. > :21:15.line, the British crew have done their job, job well done. Gold for
:21:15. > :21:19.Great Britain, silver for Australia and we'll wait for confirmation of
:21:19. > :21:25.Denmark coming through in bronze position. They pat themselves on
:21:25. > :21:28.the back and rightly so. Perfect. That was exceptional, a beautifully
:21:28. > :21:33.executed race. They sat in the middle of the pack to halfway,
:21:33. > :21:38.pushed on and looked so effortless about it. They had length, ease and
:21:38. > :21:48.everybody else was looking under pressure and moving faster, Great
:21:48. > :21:52.
:21:52. > :21:55.We began this programme by talking about this Regatta offering crew as
:21:55. > :22:01.a chance to make a statement. That was a statement that was underlined
:22:01. > :22:06.by that crew? Very much so. That's the first time they've been able to
:22:06. > :22:10.line up this year in the selected format. They've been carrying a few
:22:10. > :22:13.injuries. They came third last year which they were very, very
:22:13. > :22:18.disappointed with, because they were world champions from the year
:22:18. > :22:22.before and to win that in that sort of depth of field as the
:22:22. > :22:26.Lightweight fours are, by as much as that is hugely impressive.
:22:26. > :22:31.have been used to that race being a blanket finish over and over again.
:22:31. > :22:36.That was almost like any other race. You had a blanket finish apart from
:22:36. > :22:41.one crew and to this close to the Games in that event, that will
:22:41. > :22:45.boost their confidence no end. That's put a very big smile on my
:22:45. > :22:50.face. Sure has. Let's hope the Men's Eight with do that. Live to
:22:50. > :22:55.Munich in a moment for that, but before that, the climax of the
:22:55. > :22:59.before that, the climax of the Women's Eight's race.
:22:59. > :23:07.Coming into the last quarter, 5070, 50 strokes. All the Coxs will be
:23:07. > :23:10.making the calls. Canada, Romania, Great Britain. Final stages.
:23:10. > :23:17.They'll have marked it down, they'll have worked the number of
:23:17. > :23:21.strokes they need to be. Usually ten, 15, then go again. Canada now
:23:21. > :23:24.looking to the right, looking to the left. The main challenge coming
:23:24. > :23:28.from Netherlands in one. Coming from Romania in lane four. The
:23:28. > :23:32.British still hanging on to the coat tails of the Romanian crew.
:23:32. > :23:36.This is going to be over in the blink of an eye. Really thinking
:23:36. > :23:44.about sprinting here now. It's all about speed. They are going to be
:23:44. > :23:48.right up on the top of their game. There goes Romania. Pushing on into
:23:48. > :23:50.second place. Moving faster than Canada. Canada have got it really.
:23:50. > :23:55.Great Britain trying to get there level with Australia but it's not
:23:55. > :24:01.going to quite work. But it's a very good second half from Great
:24:01. > :24:05.Britain. One last push from Great Britain may well see them sneak a
:24:05. > :24:10.bronze and Caroline O'Connor in the driving seat in the Cox seat urges
:24:10. > :24:14.her women on here. There's a bronze on here for Great Britain as they
:24:15. > :24:19.push harder against the Romanian crew. Canada now in first place
:24:19. > :24:22.stretching out. Romania in second and the British have come in to
:24:22. > :24:27.third position. We are looking right to the line. There it is now.
:24:27. > :24:32.Canada can hold on for the gold. Romania come through in silver and
:24:32. > :24:37.as the crews come charging to the line, it will be bronze for Great
:24:37. > :24:42.Britain and a valiant effort in that last 50 metres. Well earned
:24:42. > :24:48.Great Britain. A good step as they head towards the Olympic Games.
:24:48. > :24:51.What a great confidence booster there. That last 600, 700 metres,
:24:51. > :24:56.they really flew. They flew back from fifth to third. Get a bronze
:24:56. > :25:01.there, we've got the US to come back into this mix but that puts
:25:01. > :25:05.Great Britain really in the hunt for a podium finish in London.
:25:05. > :25:15.Great effort. Well done the whole crew for pulling that together
:25:15. > :25:21.
:25:21. > :25:31.A great bronze medal there for Great Britain. That certainly was a
:25:31. > :25:35.
:25:35. > :25:42.good race. In the double scull final we head two macro crews in
:25:42. > :25:52.final we head two macro crews in this. The race was actually won by
:25:52. > :25:56.
:25:56. > :26:02.New Zealand, one of the powerhouse nations in rowing. Katherine
:26:02. > :26:10.Copeland and Sophie Hosking coming in in 4th position. And
:26:10. > :26:13.confirmation there of New Zealand's victory. The British crews came 4th
:26:14. > :26:18.victory. The British crews came 4th and 6th in that race. What is your
:26:18. > :26:26.overall take on the way the British teams have performed overall?
:26:26. > :26:31.think a little more positive than three weeks ago in Lucerne. I came
:26:32. > :26:41.away from the results they're quite disappointed. Some of the boats
:26:42. > :26:42.
:26:42. > :26:45.have not really take bridge down from the event three weeks ago. The
:26:46. > :26:50.lightweight men's double, they have some serious thinking to do about
:26:50. > :26:58.how to turn around their performance. And Alan Campbell has
:26:58. > :27:04.to look at his performance as well. He needs to get back to where he
:27:04. > :27:14.was before. But then the strong bones, the Women's Pair, the
:27:14. > :27:20.women's double, looking really very strong. Across all three regattas,
:27:20. > :27:30.it is a pretty good base working towards the Olympic Games.
:27:30. > :27:34.
:27:34. > :27:44.Definitely. Not all the countries are there, so it is the next ones
:27:44. > :27:45.
:27:45. > :27:49.that are really important. The last one, of Munich this year, is really
:27:49. > :27:57.the Test and where every country that is there is really testing
:27:57. > :28:07.themselves. So it is a whole series of good events. And the Men's Eight
:28:07. > :28:10.
:28:10. > :28:16.still to come. The women's doubles, doing really well. You want to add
:28:16. > :28:21.some gold medals there. That is what they will want. It definitely.
:28:21. > :28:26.These are just stepping stones to the big ones. When I became Olympic
:28:26. > :28:28.champion the first time I was told, you're world champion for a one-
:28:28. > :28:38.year but you are the Olympic champion for life and that sums it
:28:38. > :28:39.
:28:39. > :28:49.up. Let's go back 20 years, fired long Olympic Games ago. The
:28:49. > :29:00.
:29:00. > :29:05.brothers are standing proudly on top of the podium.
:29:05. > :29:10.The Searles have youth and vigour and a steely determination.