Eton Dorney Rowing World Cup

memories. You do not need me to tell you what happened here on that

unforgettable week last summer. one week last summer, this was our

water. The final chapter of what has been a remarkable story. They were

our medals. We want them. If you want them, come and get them. The

British are coming. Blood, sweat, tears. Hours of preparation in the

gym. On the water. The crowd will lift you up. Our stories. Dreams do

come true. Our rowers. Our summer. We have done it, and we have done it

in style. The sporting can still never stops

turning. You're only as good as your next race. Some have jumped off and

some will carry on spinning till the next Olympics. This year, the

programme began with the World Cup regatta in Sydney and there was

British success there. Welcome to the first World Cup of

2013. It is a new start for all the screws. It is the long road to

really de Janeiro. From start to finish, it is almost perfection for

Great Britain. Fantastic stuff for 2013. Great

written get the gold. -- Great Britain.

With coats and scarves and flasks, the legacy of London 2012 has

written large with sell-out crowds all the way down the bank said Eton

Dorney. 324 days ago, Katherine Grainger won her gold medal here.

Not that she is counting. It is true, I am still happy. It is great,

on a smaller scale, to see so many people here. It has not been the

easiest conditions to be in the crowd but they are just as loud as

they have always been. I had a massive queue to get in. You

mentioned the conditions. There is a race coming down behind this at the

moment but the conditions will be material to deciding who wins the

races. It is very challenging. There have been crosswinds which could

mean that every lane will be different. And it plays havoc with

your hair. I wish I could shave at all. These are some of the people we

will be focusing on over the next couple of hours. After that first

gold medal 13 gigabytes last summer, we meet Helen Glover's new partner,

Polly Swann. This boat is well-established and we both have

one goal that we want to achieve. He is the gentle giant of the men's

want. Charles Cousins is making a" funny men's team. There is no reason

why we cannot deliver and live up to the expectation. And we will catch

up with some familiar faces, including this woman announced her

retirement from rowing earlier this week. The first gold medal last year

was obviously Helen Glover and Heather Stanning. Heather Stanning

is in Afghanistan on duty with the British Army. Helen has a new

partner in the boat, Polly Swann. She began her international career

in Sydney in emphatic style. It was great fun. The lake was beautiful. I

have never been to Australia. A fabulous job for Helen Glover and

Polly Swann. Over the line in first place. I did not expect to get a

gold medal in my first international event. It was a big shock. But

certainly an enjoyable one. I enjoy racing. That is why I do the sport.

I often feel relaxed on the start line. If you are well prepared, you

know what you're going to do. deliver every stroke, you will

hopefully lick halfway down the track and be ahead. We were, and it

was quite surprising. The good thing about rowing in this boat is that it

is well-established. The coach and my partner have taken me on. We are

moving forward. We are trying to develop this boat and we are seeing

what we can achieve. Helen Glover believes she can get better and

better which is ominous for the rest of the field. Polly Swann is sitting

in front of her. She has been really good. She has made it easy for me to

come into the boat. She is relaxed about it and also, I can learn a lot

from her. Recently we did a personality assessment to see what

we are like. We both came out really competitively. That is funny. We

both want to beat everyone all the time. We have to be mindful of

that. We have two match personalities to make sure that we

will perform at our highest. We need to take a step back sometimes make

sure that our processes are going well to make sure that the boat was

at the fastest pace possible. We cannot just chuck the kitchen thing

at every thing. -- kitchen sink. Our at every thing. -- kitchen sink. Our

commentators for this racer Jens commentators for this racer

The other way, it clean from Great Britain. We have three boats in this

six boat line-up. Helen Glover and Polly Swann inlay number six. It is

a bit of a slow start for them. No worries about that, they have

confidence in their own ability. They will just go through the race

plan. Yes, they may be slow off the start compare to the Germans, but

the Germans know that they will have to chase the Brits and the Kiwis.

The Brits have gone out faster than the other heat winners, New Zealand.

This German crew have been together for five years. They have never

challenged for the major medals at the world Championships are the

Olympic Games. Perhaps they are thinking that the next Olympics will

be their time. We are looking at the other Great Britain crew. They have

been talking about their chemistry. Erling Dorris, when they were put

together before the Sydney World Cup, they gelled quite nicely. They

knew they were getting on before they had to do anything else.

Everything said that the relationship would be successful.

They are talking about their personalities being very similar. I

would want to know how I read the end the few hours before the race.

Matthew Pinsent would motivate himself in a very different way from

me. When we spoke to each other before a race, we would leave each

other to get on with our preparation. China on inlay number

one. Weird in the last 100. They are stretching it out. They are finding

a rhythm. That is the mark of a class crew. They have gone into a

long, loose rhythm and that is seeing them through the second 500.

The German crew will be going hard, as will New Zealand. They are

looking nice and easy. They are doing that from the position of

being a length up with the boats in a line behind them. The other teams

will be in a battle and they can sit and watch that. Sadistic. Helen

Glover and Polly Swann. We are through the halfway mark. They have

the all important Clearwater. We would expect New Zealand to come

harder in the closing stages. Traditionally the smaller New

Zealand boats have that driving the last part of the sprint finish.

Helen Glover has all the experience on her shoulders. She needs to keep

an eye on the boat and Lane five. The New Zealand crew have a two-time

world champion. There is a lot of grudge matches going on in this.

real advantage for any New Zealand women's pair is that they get to

train with the New Zealand men's pair. That is the most dominant boat

in all of rowing. To learn from such a dominant pair will be very helpful

for them. The New Zealand pair will not be happy with the distance they

are behind the British boat. But if New Zealand can start to Clydebank,

you never know. The second British boat inlay number two. Both of these

crews will end up in the women's eight. There is no women's eight

event that this regatta. There were not enough entries. That is why we

will see two other British crews in this event. It is sad, but that is

the reality of the post-Olympic year. People may be taking a year.

The reef forming for a three-year into Brazil. The bigger boats are

harder to fill. That is not taking anything away from the British crew

who are really handing it to New Zealand. While you were talking, I

was just watching. Helen Glover and Polly Swann did not take any more

distance from New Zealand. New Zealand are starting to TrackBack on

the British crew. Perhaps it was confidence, knowing that they have

something in the bag. The British crowd are on their feet. They are

starting to see a bit of a race. Here come the Kiwis. The Kiwis are

coming, but especially for Helen, she has a record to maintain. She

does not want this to be her first trip back to where she won the gold

medal and to come home with the silver medal. It is still a decent

margin, but they want to be moving away. We are heading towards the

line. The right boats is firing on all cylinders, but look at the

difference between Great Britain and New Zealand. Great Britain are being

efficient with the power. They are pushing on through to the finish.

Every bit of power they are pushing on is moving the boat. As we come up

to the line, it will be a gold medal or Helen Glover -- it will be a gold

medal for Helen Glover and Polly Swann. No doubt about it on the

line. The British pair continue their winning ways. They are looking

as though they are coming together. as though they are coming together.

What was it being back? It has been amazing. I did not expect this much

of a crowd. It just feels like Eton Dorney is the place to be for

rowing. Britain is doing us proud in the way that they can do these

events. How hard the conditions? This morning we went for a paddle

and we thought, I do not what everyone is making a big deal about,

but actually, it is quite challenging. Topless through the

last 500 metres. We had a decent lead for a bit. The Kiwi girls were

doing everything they could then putting the whole kitchen sink in

there to try and fight back. To deal with the conditions, we had to stay

on top of it and not make any mistakes. We had to keep it

contained. We were both quite confident that we would be able to

deal with any charges that they were going to put us. It was good.

will speak to a lot of people over the next couple of hours he decided

that last year, enough was enough. When you have had a race like that,

do you think, that is why want to carry on? Yes, you often think, why

am I doing this? But when you cross the line, you think, that his wife.

The training is a lot of fun. The hard work you put in, if you can

back up the hard work with a victory it makes it satisfying. How much

contact the have with Afghanistan? A bit. Heather has been phoning me. It

was my birthday last week and she managed to phone me. I think she

missing rowing. Did she say, you think you have got a tough? It is a

bit of a reality check. We are complaining about the wind but she

is out in Afghanistan in the dangerous conditions there.

Congratulations. From two women in a boat today to two women in a boat

yesterday. It seems like yesterday to them that there is an and

Catherine winning here. The sun was shining but that must be from the

archives, but with us here, Katherine Grainger as part of our

commentary team and here is mum to be, Anna Watkins. How about that.

What a difference one year makes. have to be honest, I thought that

latency would be nothing compared to racing out here on this lake and I

have been brought back down to earth with a very literal Bob! Do you miss

it? On a day like today. # a very literal bump. It is in our blood and

you see two boats side bias I do, you want to do it for them. Knowing

that very realistic, I could be in a boat but I am enjoying being on the

other side of the fence. Have you been on a boat at all in the past

nine months or so? About five times, we have been sculling once

since the Olympic final, only six weeks until it will be one year on.

One year ago, I can't imagine not rolling. It is funny how time gets

filled! Have you chosen the godparents? No. I am not sure who we

are looking at here! That is ages away. During the course of the year

and the build-up to last year, you almost lived in each other's

pockets. How much time have you spent together since last year?

enough, I would say. We almost deliberately meet up now. We are

both so busy doing different things and we get together in coffee shops

and put the world to rights as if we have never been away and discuss

world issues and banal things. you talk about the race at all? Or

have you left it on said -- left it and said -- left it not talked

about. There will always be that stuff that we don't talk about and

the shared emotions that we now so well between us. But we are also

rowing geeks. If that is the case, can you foresee the day when you are

backing the competitively together? There is a leading question! For me,

I have to see how things are in the autumn and if I did get back in a

boat, I would like to be the one we were in because that is the best

boat have ever had the pleasure and privilege to be in. I am finding it

hard to see beyond September at the moment. That got Catherine out of

having to answer that question! Me everything the as easy as it can

possibly be over the next through three weeks. Back to the action, the

men's quadruple. They won for the first time in Sydney and the heart

of this boat is a giant and a gentle giant at that.

COMMENTATOR: the last ten strokes, we are coming towards the finishing

line, back in fifth place, Germany are the other big champions, holding

an two Croatia and Great Britain. A brave and valiant effort from our

British boys. I am proud of what I achieved. Making the final but maybe

not winning a gold has made me think that possibly loses train harder. I

do not think of myself as a loser but I have not achieved the goal I

set out so that has given me a burning desire with all the hard

hours I am putting in through the winter and they are all to try and

achieve that. I have set out to win gold. A stronger unit coming up to

be lying now, you will see the punch in the air, Great Britain over the

snow in March, it was chaos and over there, we had 30 degrees sunshine so

a brilliant trip, the rowing was also awesome and finishing with a

gold at the end of the regatta, that is a big step on for British crew

sculling. That is what we will be winter. I think my approach from

training has worked quite well. I stayed pretty calm and I have got

personal bests on the ergos. We have got two new guys in, Peter Lambert,

he's always in a good mood and some of us can get quite negative but you

will never see Pete angry or upset, he always gives eight cool head and

it is great having that in the boat. Graeme Thomas who is very confident

in his ability is, regardless of how things are going. He always believes

he can do well and that rubs off on the best of us and Sam Townsend is a

very established scholar in the British set up so he is a brilliant

guy to have in the middle of the boat. There is no reason why we

can't deliver and live up to that expectation that has been put on us.

I believe that we are getting more persistent in training and hopefully

we can show that when it comes to Australia, the Netherlands,

watch in this final. -- lanes five Australia in one, Netherlands and

then Croatia, and then the Olympic champions, Germany, in line five.

Autotest for great return as they go into the second World Cup of the 20

13th series. They are up against the other big champions. -- the 2013

series. A big test for Peter Lambert, Charles Cousins, Sam

Townsend and Graeme Thomas in the bow seat. Croatia in lane three as

well. James, four of the top five scholars, a big combination.

expectations by Great Britain have never won a medal at a World

Championships or Olympics in the quadruple sculls. We don't have a

great pedigree in it, the Germans do and the Croatians do have and also

lots to prove because they got a silver here in 2012 at the Olympics

and they felt they should have won and so they will want to show that.

And then we have got the best lane. Looking at Estonia in lane number

four, out in the middle of the course, the lanes were redrawn this

morning due to wind conditions which found great Germany and Great

Britain two of the fastest qualifiers for a final in lane five

and six at the angle is slightly deceptive but what is worrying is at

the moment is that Great Britain are significantly down on Germany. The

Olympic champions, the first time coming up against them in a World

Cup series. A big man now for the British crew to get back on terms in

the early stages. Look at the water. They are fighting conditions as well

as cruise. For the men's quadruple, it is the second fastest boat behind

the men's eight and you need to be in it to win it and they are being

shoved out the back door at the moment and they need to the deep

because the average speed of these boats is incredibly high. And the

Germans have done enough and you have to be in it at halfway. This is

looking horrible now for Great Britain in lane number six because

Croatia are inching just a couple of feet ahead of Germany in lane number

five, remember Germany are the other big champions, Croatia are the

Olympic silver medallists from this course last year. A big grudge match

out front in this final of the men's quadruple sculls.

Croatians won the World Cup in 2012 will stop this is the halfway mark,

two boat out clear at front, Germany and Croatia. Estonia are in amongst

it, Great Britain are back in fourth position. 5.38 seconds, that is the

time difference between Croatia going over the line and Germany at

the halfway mark. That is a big step and a big demand for Great Britain

on the front of it. Now Great Britain focusing on Estonia, getting

into the medal area. We want them on the podium and they must focus on

bronze at this stage. They need to image they way back and then you get

third, then second and first. The Croatians won the World Cup in 2012

but lost the Olympics. And although they came second in the Olympics, in

their heads, they are better than Germany and that is what they will

try to show today and take that through to the World Championships.

This is brutal out front now by Croatia in lane number three and

Germany in lane five, the Olympic champions being demolished here in

the middle 1000 metres. Croatia have just eased out, a big push from

them. Three quarters of a length on the Olympic champions and that is

worrying for Great Britain because it moves a bit more difference

between first and fourth place where Great Britain currently are. We are

now into the last quarter of this final by half a length, it is

Germany behind Croatia. Estonia in the third and Great Britain...

have alone. -- they have alone.They will not be on the podium and they

could be in danger of being of the podium -- off the podium. Either one

of them has blown up, totally run out of steam or they have caught a

crab which is where you lose control of your oar. That acts as a

handbrake on the boat but they are racing for pride at the moment

rather than a medal. Very worrying for Great Britain. Looking like

something has happened in the middle 1000 metres out of camera shot but

look at the Croatians, when the blade goes in, they are pounding

through the water, and they are fighting on every stroke. This is a

real revenge match between the Olympic silver medallists, Croatia,

over the Olympic champions, the Germans. They are about five strokes

out from the line now and an important victory here for Croatia,

coming up to get the gold medal over the Olympic champions. The Germans

know they are defeated, silver for Germany, and here comes Estonia

getting the bronze medal and Great Britain just out in fourth place,

into fifth place. It will be back to the drawing board for the great

written quadruple sculls team. And the rejoicing Croatians. That meant

a lot to Croatia because they won the course but they feel they lost

their title. For the Brits, the top sculling boat and there is a reason

we have not ever won a medal for that and they need to look at

themselves and address that before going to be World Championships.

Great Britain, lots to do as we head towards Lucerne.

COMMENTATOR: this is a race from earlier on the train the New Zealand

pair of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, unbeaten in the run up to London.

They won a gold medal for the games, emphatic winners as you can

see again. Do you guys ever get British crew in the event! Some

people have decided up the Olympics, it was time to move on with the rest

of their life and others have decided they want to keep rubbing.

Did you go through that mental torture as well? -- keep rubbing. --

keep on doing the rowing. I guess we were quite lucky and we both have

made up our minds and we would carry on, it was a matter of trying to

work out exact what we are trying to achieve. Which is? That is still

what we are trying to work out. Rio on the horizon? We have the

World Cup series and then we have the World Championships every year

so there is a benchmark we can work towards and every few months you

have got something to work towards that that keeps it fresh and of

course and the back of your mind, there is so much that can happen

with water under the bridge and before that happens, cruise change,

people get injured and it is a lot of time but we just take it as it

comes, regatta by regatta and we try to keep on winning. They are an

extraordinary pair those two and apologies for moving them into the

squad when it should have been the coxless four. Want and Murray are so

dominant, they almost cast a shadow over the whole of that discipline.

Yes, it turns into two different races. The opposition is not making

any impact and then you have the race for silver medal which becomes

the big one. Other countries think and what is the point of putting our

best people against them and move them into another crew. It almost

leaves the way clear for as long as they want to keep competing. That is

one of the effects, if you dominate to that event, you scare people out

where the gold medals are available in other events. But on the other

hand it becomes the ultimate scalp to get. That is the influence that

you managed to exert in your discipline. For a while, you felt

that you have the psychological advantage to such an extent that

nobody else was coming up against you. We were inspired by Matthew

Pinsent and Steven Redgrave. If you put people off, and you have people

in the start line not knowing if they can beat you, if they come

behind you, they think that is what should happen and so they don't

challenge you in the same way. book is coming out in a few weeks'

time, but you have not finished it yet, you need to get a shift on!

have to choose some photos for it! It is pretty much there, it has been

a fun time going back down memory lane. And you have written it.I

have. It is quite hard. It was my choice, I insisted that it must be

my own hand and I have enjoyed it but it still seems strange seeing my

name on the shelves. I am sure it will be a bestseller. Let's go back

down to some of the events earlier on today because we have been racing

here for a couple of hours, this is the women's lightweight double

sculls. Look at the breeze bringing the water down. Sweden at online

for. Sweden are starting to take it on. This is the event at Sophie

Hosking one for Great Britain. They may have been a bit of a surprise

last year. They really tweak -- Mary Lee got it together in their

training camp, they came to the Olympics on fire. Different boats

will have gone off that different intensities. The second part is

wedded really starts to hurt. The third quarter of the race is

absolutely crucial. You will see the crews that have got their diet

right. These girls have two Wien. They will push on in the second

half. It is going to get very tight. How hard will it be for Sophie

Hosking's partner to come back into it after video? Physically it will

not be that hard if she keeps yourself in shape. The hardest thing

will be if one of these crews become successful. It is hard to force your

way back into a winning crew. your team is already winning, it is

hard to fight your way back in. Germany have a leader over a great

written. -- Germany have a leader over Great Britain. Porter Middle

1000 metres they have had. They have kept good form and composure.

Germany are looking long and relaxed. Great Britain are looking a

little bit scrappy. Sweden are pushing on hard. They are a little

scrappy, they have come back from Sweden. The Germans have responded.

They know that they have a lot to live up to on this course. It is

definitely one for Great Britain number one. It is about 250 until

the line. The Germans stay long. Great Britain are slightly shorter.

Stay long, girls. Keep the power going. 150 at it from the line. The

British girls are racing Sweden for second. Hopefully they will get the

Swedes and that will bring them up to the Germans. Ten strokes, you can

count them to the line. The Germans have done enough, driving to the

line. It is Germany over Great Britain. Great Britain have pushed

into silver medal position, but Germany are taking the gold medal.

Germany, Great Britain in the silver medal, and Sweden get the bronze

medal. That was a good effort, pitching in the last 200. They were

too far away from the Germans but they have plenty to build on as they

they have plenty to build on as they go to Lucerne.

Here are Richard and Peter Chambers in the main's lightweight double

sculls. The final is away. Great Britain in

the number six will be closest to us. Stop! They have stopped. What

has happened there? The seat has broken. They are turning around and

going back to the start. Great Britain are defending the Olympic

title, they are world champions. The title, they are world champions. The

British are not Mark Hunter is such a determined character. Now we are

coming into the closing stages. This will be about guts for Great

Britain. There are no too finer individuals than Zac Purchase and

Mark Hunter for adults. But look at Denmark. Denmark are pushing on

hard. Denmark's meeting ahead of Great Britain. Denmark for the

Olympic gold and Great Britain for the silver medal. We give it

everything, we tried everything. We wanted to win so badly. Sorry to

everyone we have let down. Emotions, when you know these people, and you

know them pretty well, it is pretty know them pretty well, it is pretty

hard being here. Memories. Mark Hunter, hello. Hello. Do not tell me

you have got that on a DVD and you watch it every week? It took me a

long time to watch it. I do not watch it all the time. The emotions

are still too raw from what happened. As you saw from the

footage, we give everything we had that day. We can be proud of the

race we put together but it is not what we went out to achieve. We will

see the brothers race in a second. But let's talk about it. You are, if

you like, at the scene of the crime. When you drove here today, where the

memories fresh in the mind? Mixed emotions. This is the first time I

have been zero when there has been an event on. You get the shivers

down your spine and you see the different flags up. The difference

nations, the different boats. It is nice to be doing the commentary and

having a bit of fun with it. When you look at the way that you reacted

at the end of that race, and I am sure people speak to about it the

whole, random people, they say, I was crying with you. The way that

you touch the nation, does that still shock you and surprise you?

Definitely. The drama of the finish. Asked being on -- and being on

camera in tears. It seems to have stuck in the memory. In our eyes, we

feel like we V went down. We still feel like that. But it is nice to

hear people say, it was great to see you do your best. You do have an

Olympic gold medal from Beijing, so you have got one in the bag, but

your place in the pantheon of sport is greater for having come second

and for having one. Maybe it is the power of television. It is bizarre.

The emotions that come out of the Olympics are quite unique and

special. You get that sense of excitement of seeing the flag being

raised. The athletes are going out to win and do not quite get there.

You see the devastation in their eyes. That is what people were

touched by. It meant a lot to us not to win a gold medal. We will let you

go back to five live and your commentary. We will now see today's

race featuring B Chambers brothers The Chambers brothers going lame

number four. There are three boats with brothers and them here. Watch

for lane five and Lane six. They are the crews that are really faster,

giving the qualification process through the regatta. We cannot

discount Peter and Richard Chambers. They are ready of quaking the first

100 metres. -- they are already very quick in the first 100 metres.

Richard Chambers and his brother are just taking it on. They are taking

on formidable racers. They are Olympic silver medallist from last

year. This is the top boats in the men's lightweight team going into

2013. Yes, they are a top boat. They feel that this course owes them.

They felt that they were in an unfair Lane at the last Olympics.

That cost them a gold medal. Because they did not win their semi-final,

they are in the third-best lanes here. But they are leading the World

Cup. Great Britain from Norway, over Germany. The British crew will

really want to think about stretching out, getting good rhythm.

They have the confidence to know that in a pressure situation, this

is the first time they have raised that World Cup level in the double

sculls. All going well. They can push it on in the second 500,

despite the tricky conditions. Norway are hounding them in Lane

five. They have not got cleared of Great Britain in Lane four. Norway

and Austria will be the crews that Britain have to watch. The

differences that they can watch Norway, but at the moment, Norway

cannot watch them. They are out of the peripheral vision. It is like

running round the track and sitting on someone's shoulder. The

Norwegians will be feeling the pressure. They can lean on them.

Every little bit of pain the Chambers brothers are feeling, the

Norwegians will be feeling more. Austrians were under 23 gold

medallists in this event last year. The Chambers brothers will expect

big things. This is the next big step up from the under 23 programme.

We are at the halfway mark in the final of the men's lightweight

double sculls. Britain have had a good first thousand metres. It is

all about consolidating. It is a real level playing field here so you

would expect the chasing crews to come up in this last 500. The third

one is the danger zone in this event. Yes, the third 500 is a

danger zone in any race. Anyone can go fast in the first half but in the

second half, that is when the big boys come out and the difference

between the heavyweight and the lightweight category is there are no

boys, they are all the same size. The same amount of power, pretty

much the same lung capacity. It is very close between Poland, Norway

and Austria but the brothers are just watching the race behind them.

With the wind and the redraw of the lanes, Poland up in number three,

having the better second place here so they starting to push on to the

stern of the British crew. difference between lightweight and

heavyweight rowing is they all have to weigh in and unlike boxes the way

in the night before, they weigh in just two hours before the start of

the race. Dehydration affects them in a unique way. Into the last

quarter now, Great Britain, Poland and Norway, the surprise is that

Austria are languishing back in fourth position here. Looking at the

Austrian crew in lane number six. Of all the boats here, they would have

been the favoured crew. Poland pushing hard and Great Britain had

clear water coming into the last bit in the last 500, they had a big push

through the 1,000 and now they are starting to feel the pain, the

adrenaline in the legs, the lactic acid pulling up here and Poland are

tackling and yet they come. Poland have got a real pedigree, they have

been Olympic champions in the past because the wind is blowing down

because, it will be getting rough in the water as you get more tired and

that will lead to mistakes and mistakes will be big for those new

to the event and here come Poland. This is a desperate stage of the

race. On the far side, the crowd are really pushing them on. Poland will

get it. Norway in five, 100 out from the line, Poland will get it I

think. Once you start to fade, you can start to lose it and we could

lose second to Norway. The last five strokes, it is Poland who have taken

it from Great Britain, Poland over Great Britain and Norway take the

bronze medal. It was a desperate dash for the last 100, they were

holding an in the British crew but Poland in Lane number three drove

harder and harder and that is what they have got. Victory today for

Poland. Surprise for Chambers and the brothers who have their heads

down, breathing really hard. That shows you the immense pressure that

they were under in that closing JOHN INVERDALE: a different

competition but the same pictures of utter exhaustion, that was earlier

on today, and we will hear from Chambers. This is live on the water,

this is what Katherine one last as this early race develops. The

final of the women's double sculls and a real opportunity for Frances

Houghton to step up into Katherine Grainger's shoes. Disappointment at

the Olympics with silver medals and now she is the elder stateswoman in

the team if you will and this is perhaps her chance. She also has the

smaller medals which I got her satisfaction to this point but the

reality is, she has every tool in her locker to be on the podium in

Rio. She is a phenomenal athlete. She is six foot four, the same

height as most of the guys walking round and that... I stand well away

from her when I am talking to her! She has every tool in her locker but

it is the six inches between the ears where she needs to get it out

from and there is no doubt that the physical side is there, under

pressure, she needs to deliver the goods and they have gone up

strongly. Hopefully this. A good four years for her. Looking at the

crews coming up to the 500 marker, the stroke seat of the Finnish

couple of relative of another champion, a real David angle I

battle previously. A great pedigree in this crew. But they are off the

pace here. China in Lane number four, in amongst it all as well.

Watch out for the Chinese and you think about the Chinese crew, the

owl girl, she was silver medallist in the lightweight event last year #

the tail wind is blowing down the course, it will be to their

advantage. And the headwind will slow up the boats, it would be

harder for the smaller crew in that case but the good thing is that the

Brits are matching them for speed and significantly ahead of the

Germans at this point. This is where the Brits need to dig in and then

start showing the strength that they have in that boat. Ireland in Lane

number two, a new combination this year. Kennedy in the stroke seat of

the Irish crew, she was at the European Championships last year,

third in the eight represented Great Britain swapping over now to

Ireland. A good start for Great Britain in the first half of this

women's double sculls heavyweight final. China scurrying along in Lane

four. Let's see what happens as we get towards the halfway line. The

third quarter is when the crews will push on. Great Britain in second

place but they went through the line there, I think the caption is

wrong, they went through in first place, China in a much lighter boat

being pushed by the tailwind. We would expect Germany who are lagging

behind a bit to would have pretty good form here. Lots of form in the

German crew as well. They are very strong and you were right about the

fact that the Chinese are scurrying along, you cannot do that for two

kilometres. The Danish crew are looking long and relaxed that they

are in a worse Lane but they are really encouraging things for

Frances Houghton and Victoria, the interesting thing is that the

Germans looked like they are struggling. Some dynamism from the

British crew, and they know that if they get to the next timing mark,

then you are really laying it on and Great Britain are now poised and

started to move and you can see the rate coming up and they feel that

600 out from the line, they really now just have to take it on and take

it against China. Compared to China, they have got another gear. The

Brits are running low and it is up to them to shift an ant move into

fourth or fifth gear. At the moment, they looked more relaxed, they are

taking fewer strokes a minute but now in the last quarter is where

they need to kick on and they are half a second down but I think they

will eat that up. We are coming into the area where the crowd are on

their feet, it is like an additional person in the boat. It will not be

lost on Great Britain given that this is the home of the Olympic

Games from last year and Frances Houghton, disappointment last year,

she was sixth in the quadruple sculls here am trying to put things

right this time round but keeping it long and relaxed but unbelievable

the Chinese crew continue to lead out front here and Germany in Lane

number six really struggling. This is going to get to a brutal fight.

Great Britain have to keep the fight up. The wind is picking up and you

can see the water getting choppy. China have hit a buoy so that has

been gifted to Great Britain now, they have to keep it clean because

they are now slapping the water. is getting rough because the wind is

blowing with them. The more time on the rather it gets. The Chinese have

been put under pressure and the Danish are now putting the Brits

under pressure. Ten strokes here, long, clean strokes, that is what it

is about. Denmark in Lane number three are pushing back up to the

line. It will be Great Britain getting the gold medal. Great

Britain when from Denmark, half a length and China coming up to the

line now will get a bronze medal, such disappointment for the Chinese

crew who were really in amongst it but they were looking all the all

over the place. Victory for Frances Houghton and Vicky Meyer-Laker. It

could be a very good combination for the British team. When the Chinese

were looking over at the Danish group, they thought they will work

past the Brits and they looked over and then they hit a buoy and ended

up getting rowed out by a long way. Frances Houghton and Vicky

Meyer-Laker in this double sculls looking to step in to the issue is

perhaps of Katherine Grainger, they have done a good job of setting off

JOHN INVERDALE: interesting race, that. Not least because this is the

next generation but, Katherine, they are the successors to your crown. We

will talk about then soon because they will be coming in soon. For

those not experienced with the racing, explain what happened to the

oar does not come out of the water cleanly, it can catch the wave

again. It was the girl in the bow seat, happened and the speed you are

going, the blade gets stuck in the water and you get locked in and

can't move. I don't know if we can see this in super slow motion. The

blade has not come out clean, go straight back in the water and then

the person in front of you try to take the next row and you block it.

Our cameras can see, the impact that the wind is having on the water, it

is not exactly white horses but this is by no means flat, calm

conditions. So the potential... What is that, that is about of a foot

variation for the waves on the water, it is very easy for the blade

to catch the top of the water. this level of intensity of racing,

it brings in an extra variable. Rather than just worrying about the

crews around you, you have to be careful of your technique. If you

are suddenly watching other people, you might take your mind off your

own job. That is what was being alluded to in the commentary.

Glancing across, and you forget what your job is. And it is so tough. If

your boat stops dead like that, there is no coming back. I can see

that Frances Houghton is joining us she is almost the eldest stateswoman

of the team. What is your appreciation of her? She has been

through the past four Olympic Games, multiple World Championships, some

great titles behind her name and it has been a real constant presence

for over a decade and that gives a lot of confidence to people coming

in to race with her. Who has had a few injuries to deal with and

whatever sport it might be, that is often so hard because it is often

easy to say that you can't put up with it but she has battled through

it. And injuries can go a couple of ways, it can cause self-doubt and

questioning yourself and if you want to come back again, it can be tough

but on the other hand, it is sometimes getting an injury which

means you can change your training which can be ideal to vary what you

do, sometimes in rehab, people are better than they have ever been

because they have a chance to try variety in training. You had one

year on your own as a single sculler, but did that renew your

enthusiasm? Yes, after the disappointment of Beijing, it was

good to try something fresh and different and I missed my team-mates

and company and it was a very different personal challenge for me

and I learned loads from it. Like any of these girls will do. Francis

will be learning that as well, every different crewmate, you learn

constantly about the different skills you pick up and that is when

you put it together and cope with the conditions will stop I can see

that the girls are heading our way now. Katherine has offered a glowing

eulogy to your longevity. I will keep going as long as I enjoy it. I

really enjoy it. This is a bit shambolic. Just move over there.

Talk about how hard it is getting a relationship on the what with a new

partner? It has been incredibly easy. We get on really well and it

has gelled really nicely. It is a project, the two of us. It is really

nice to have her freshness. Sometimes she says, I think you are

talking rubbish, and I right, I am talking rubbish. It is so rough out

there. I think it is quite a shock to the Chinese. It was a great

victory? Brilliant, write to the line. We had to keep our heads and

Steelers. We just pushed through, inch by inch. What is your take on

what they might achieve? I thought it was fantastic. In the Sydney

World Cup, you were leading for so long and you just lost it at the

end. It is experience, forming new partnerships and learning the

intensity of the full 2,000-metre course. This was really tight over

the whole distance. It is a brilliantly earning experience.

Having the confidence when they are there to stick at it and know your

own strengths. That is it. It must be reassuring having someone like

that sitting with you. It is a massive confidence boost. Many

congratulations. Great to have another British victory on this

lake. We will see you in the world Championships. Let's go back live to

four. It is a good line up here. Japan in one, Poland into. Great

Britain in four. Denmark and five and New Zealand and lane number six.

Attention. They're away cleanly, first time, in this event. The crew

average cannot exceed 70 kilograms. The board closest to us is New

Zealand. They were winners in Sydney back in March. This is a new

combination from Great Britain. Great Britain were Olympic silver

medallists on this course last summer. They were pipped by South

Africa under slightly controversial conditions from the British point of

view. It is a big day for the newly formed crew. This is always a great

event, because with the weight distribution, all the crews are the

same weight, but it is a fiercely competitive event. Yes, competitive,

is specially from a British point of view. There is one remaining member

from London. His memory of this course is not a good one. Next to

them is the Danish crew. It has such pedigree and experience in this

event. New Zealand rowing is going through a purple patch. There are

the leaders from the first World Cup and they will want to maintain that

form. It should be in a salute cracker, but Britain will want to

come away from here with something other than a minor medal. Not much

in it. 500 metres gone. A new combination from Japan. They have

been knocking around at various world cups and world Championships.

They have been in the B and C finals so we would not expect them to be

challenging at the top end of medals. The Polish crew were 13th at

the Olympic Games last year. Austria RMA number three. There are mixed

combination from different events. We're looking at New Zealand. They

are closest to us. There will be two races in this event. At the back of

the field will be Japan, Poland and Austria, the others will be at the

front. We looked like we could be stuck between the two races. It is

imperative in the middle part of this raise that they keep it clean.

The waves are uptight, they are getting choppy water. It is about

maintaining good technique. That will bode well as we come to the

closing stages. At the halfway stage, New Zealand, Denmark, Great

Britain. Then Austria. Not a lot between the four crews. Three of

this Danish crew were Olympic bronze medallist. Their traditional style

is to hit 38. There like a machine. They are picked again for the final

sprint. -- the increase it again for the final sprint. The worrying thing

for Britain is that they are slipping into Norman's gland.

Britain or in the middle of that. They do not want to slip out. If New

Zealand and the Danes are racing each other, Great Britain will fall

further and further back. Right now, they have no one in the peripheral

vision. You can secrets looking over his shoulder to see where the Danes

have gone. They are fair way ahead, unfortunately. That is a good view

as the crews can towards the 1500 metre mark. Three quarters of the

race down. It is New Zealand by half a length. Denmark have opened up

clear over Great Britain. Great Britain are one length up and

Austria in lane three. Great Britain have a tradition of really pushing

hard. They will need to do that. They will want to get back on terms

with Denmark in five. New Zealand are managing to hold the watcher

pretty well in lane six. The water is not looking good in this last

quarter. This is about quality rowing. The races faster because the

wind is with them. They have not got time to come back. New Zealand has a

big enough margin over Britain that are not going to get caught by the

Brits. But they do not have enough, the Danes, to totally relax. Look at

this, you can see the water coming off. We are the desperate part of

the race. 150, it is all about clean rowing. The Danes are sticking it

in. They are pushing hard. Locate the gap that is opening up. The

Danes are pushing hard. They are going to come through, perhaps not.

New Zealand are holding. Photo finish. It is so hard, on the line.

It looked to me as though New Zealand were just pipped on the

line. It was so desperate, keeping their heads in the boat. What a

race, it has lived up to the expectations. It was highly

competitive. Disappointment for Great Britain because they were not

in the final sprint. It was the middle part of the race were they

lost it. The middle 1000 metres. New Zealand and Denmark take time and

New Zealand held on. I think the Danes should have started a sprint

earlier and they could have got it. They held it together really well.

But that is not much use if you just feel. You may as well have lost by a

lot. It will be a long time before they come back here for a world

championship. All these races for a great written are about laying

ghosts to rest. Looked how close it at the World Cup so far. Dramatic

stuff. Tiny margins, the difference between victory and defeat. It might

be awhile before the crew come in. We keep saying, these are

transitional stages and things like that. That is a brand-new four that

have been put together. What is your take on how they perform? They will

take a lot from it, but they will be disappointed. You want to at least

in the race. Runs medal is fantastic in their first event. The men's

lightweight four is a competitive event. Traditionally, tiny margins

make the difference. Reminders what happened last year, Chris Bartley.

Last year, we had not quite as well conditions as this. There was

definitely variable wind conditions and the lanes were redrawn. This

event was one of the events that was affected by that. It was a very

tight finish. It was a brand-new event for a first -- for a fantastic

South African four that blew the runaway in the final sprint. The

South Africans the title. It is the nature of outdoor sport that it is

outdoors. The weather is always a factor. But for all the big regattas

that have been held here, the wind has been a key element, with lots of

races having to be rejoined, lots of finals having to be redrawn. It is a

fantastic course, beautifully set out, that with commend the support.

World Cup regattas do not normally get support like this, but is there

an intrinsic fault with the way the course has been laid out, that it is

always subject to cross winds. It is an outdoor sport. Everyone expects

different things. We have been unlucky in that the major events we

have held that Eton Dorney have been affected by the wind. If it is a

direct tailwind, which it was in 2006, it is not unfair, it just

makes for fast conditions. That makes it a good course in its own

right, records are broken. But when it comes from the side, it is the

last thing you want as an athlete. You do not want decisions made

depending on what lane you're in. I'm sure the organisers of the sport

will look at the crowds and say, irrespective of that, forgetting

people involved, for making an event at it, there are not many places

that can rival this. The crowds have been sensational. It is part of the

legacy of 2012. The warmup lake is separate from the racing late, the

whole set-up. It is fantastic. That is why it was the Olympic venue.

This is the first opportunity we have had from a rowing perspective

to speak about London's legacy. Do you get the impression that more

people are doing it, more people care about it? You do not just get

the impression, there are facts and figures. Every single rowing club I

have spoken to, they have waiting list that you cannot believe.

Getting people out on the water is hard. Everyone who has watched

rowing now wants to be part of it, which is great. We are joined by the

crew who came third. Alan Campbell is reeling to go at the far end of

the course, so excuse me for being brave. What is your take on that?

For our first final of the crew, I think it is a good starting block.

We will be able to take away stuff in the next three weeks. You're

still a bit out of breath, but the medal is a medal. Yes, we are

pleased to be on the podium. We had a good first thousand metres, but we

need the second thousand to get up with those crews. At what point in

the race did you realise that they had gone. It is difficult to say. We

were not focusing on them, we were trying to work on a perfect race. It

was not there today, but it is something to work on for Lucerne.

thought it was a pretty good effort. Chris is back from the Olympics and

he has had to take us down the course. We are new. I think a medal

is pretty good going. I hope we can do better in Lucerne. How did it

feel, coming back your? It was strange when we first building. But

after that, it is just Eton Dorney, we have been here 1000 times before.

It is good familiarity. Sorry for being so brief. We will head to the

far end of the course. Alan Campbell has been a stalwart of British

in lane number three, top-class medallist last year and Marcel

Hacker, one time world champion in this event, he was sixth last year

in the other big games so a good quality field here. Alan Campbell

sees this comeback as the first 44 years, he was fifth in 2008 and

third last year, a new coach, John West. Is he the guy to take him from

third up to the first place over the next four years? It is good he has

changed coach because his previous one, will Barry, had taken him from

starting rowing through to Olympic bronze medal and it is a bit like a

track of the old coach who coaches you from so young, you might need a

change of emphasis to move on. Alan took a fair bit of time off, he lost

the British trials for the first time in a long while and he is

getting back into form. He has still got his winter warmer so he has...

He is carrying a little bit? He has a little friend down his Lycra and

you don't want to carry anything extra because it is just one man in

the boat and every bit of extra weight you have to drag down the

course. And Ondrej Synek is a quality rower. And Marcel Hacker can

be incredibly good at all so incredibly ropey. If you can get

onto the second place all top on the podium, he will be doing very well.

The Bulgarian rower showing how difficult the conditions are here.

They are quite spread out here. Alan Campbell sitting in the middle of

your picture in Lane number three but up the top, the Norwegian rower

having a good start but the favoured lanes are five and six on this side.

Ondrej Synek, the Olympic silver medallist and one time world

champion. And my he tries to still hasn't shown his colours. -- at the

halfway mark, you have got Great Britain and Ondrej Synek from the

Czech Republic quite interesting that he is struggling. He had a

pretty good semi-final but he seems to be struggling now with the

conditions. Parties Alan Campbell, 30 years of age and phenomenal

belief in himself. But you need to have that as a single sculler.

Having won the British trial, not this year but having won it for a

few years, he can choose which one of the sculling boat he went in and

it is a difficult event because only one person from each country is

generally the best sculler so he is going into the toughest event but it

is against tough people and sitting there, looking very relaxed, he

backs himself and he is confident, it does not matter that he goes

through halfway in third place, he thinks he can get it but Alan has

moved on really well and he has got a traditional fast start and finish.

Right now, the change of coach to John West seems to be proving a

benefit in this difficult third quarter. Marcel Hacker, the German,

is having one of his worst days. Marcel Hacker is completely out of

the picture but this now, the pressure coming from the Bulgarian.

And Ondrej Synek who is like a shark, he comes along in the middle

1,000, biding his time. Now we will see some fireworks because we are

coming to the 1500 metres mark. Three quarters of the way through

this race. We just watch Ondrej Synek who has really come through

the pack here and all these guys will know. He is very relaxed. And

the difference between Campbell and Ondrej Synek is that he upped his

pace, Ondrej Synek. Whereas Campbell has a turn of speed. If Alan can

keep a level with him and to the last 200 metres, Alan will win but

if Ondrej Synek can get ahead of him, he will win. Alan Campbell will

be using the enthusiasm from the crowd but Ondrej Synek, the Olympic

silver medallist is now right level, they are eyeball to eyeball. A

little look... I think Ondrej Synek has got this. There the market, 25

structure maiming and Ondrej Synek is now going to sit up -- 25 strokes

remaining. A phenomenal season so far, this is good from Alan Campbell

though. Let's not knocking here, a silver medal in a high-quality event

in the single sculls. It just shows you how difficult, keep your calm,

keep your composure, Alan, you cannot lose the silver. 100 to go. A

little over ten strokes. Ondrej Synek but the Bulgarian has not

rolled over because he could sense and smell Alan Campbell... Marcel

Hacker is coming back as well and he could come back to second place.

the line, Ondrej Synek will be closed for second, Alan Campbell and

the Bulgarian gets the third and bronze medal and from out of

nowhere, Marcel Hacker who was languishing at the back of the field

had a blistering 250 metres into fourth place. That is how tough this

event is. A good solid performance from Alan who has kept himself out

of the team in the early part of this season but Ondrej Synek

continues to become the class sculler. From halfway, I thought he

might win it, Alan Campbell. He raced well. He produced a good,

steady performers but he has got enough minor medals, that will not

mean too much for him. Marcel Hacker needs a big kick up the bomb from

his coach because he should not be that fast in the last 500 metres.

You are down in the fertile, and then sometimes does not make the

final, you need to be consistent. is consistently inconsistent! A

finish. I think Alan Campbell will finish. I think Alan Campbell will

took some time off after the Olympics and came back a few steps

behind where he would usually be at the start and a tight finish to hold

this all the medal, not far behind Ondrej Synek, he will be pleased.

saw Alan almost catch a crowd there, and for somebody who is as

experienced as him, that does amplify how difficult the conditions

are. It is a reminder of how tough things are and the key thing in

these conditions is to try to stay as relaxed and smooth as possible.

Things become tense when the pressure is an ad it is the mental

side, can you keep it together when everything is coming under full

Russia? And barely 100 metres to go -- when you are coming under

pressure. Because the tailwind is happening, it will get rougher down

the course. And you are getting more tired. Hopefully we'll talk to Alan

Campbell in a moment but we showed you the men's lightweight double

sculls earlier on when the British crew and the Chambers Brothers

finished in second position and this is what Richard Chambers made of it

afterwards. How tough was that? Really hard work. We put ourselves

out there from the first stroke. We kept going and then as it got

choppy, in the last 250, we fell apart and then came through, the

muscles started cramping. Better than our semi-final yesterday, we

put ourselves out there to a decent lead. The last 250 metres is

something we can work on, we know we have got that speed until that

point. How hard is it when you see another crew inexorably going past

you when there is almost nothing you can do about it? Head in, heads

down, go, go, go, that is all you can do. We did not realise what

Holland and Norway had done, we knew it would be tight on the finish but

I didn't think we had won it but I didn't know what the result was. We

totally concentrated on it to keep here because I will just extricate

myself with this piece of cable here. Coming down to chat with Alan

because however many months it is on from the Olympics, Mr Campbell is

exhausted after all the energy is being put into it. Don't make me

cry! I do not have to sing the anthem for you. The conditions are

quick and you need to go for it. I got tied up at the end, I hit a bad

wave which upset my rhythm and I was coming in for a gold sprint. It

upset me a bit. -- for a good old sprint. These guys are good and big

and strong and it is life in the fast lane. Tiny margins as ever.

Yes, it is a tough event. Two Olympic medallists here, three on

the final from the Olympics. The Azerbaijan rower going over to the

other evident. Great to see you back in action, I am sure you will be

vertical again soon! Great to talk to you. Let's go back to another and

it going on earlier on today, the COMMENTATOR: through the 1500 metre

mark, 500 remaining of the final of the men's four, China out of the

picture, Romania in lane number three struggle at that position.

Australia looking pretty dominant in lane above five, the Olympics or the

medallists, two returning from that boat. Great Britain led by Nathan

Reilly in lane number six, and the crowd are starting to rise up, the

Eton Dorney raw going for Great Britain. The closing stages. They

are putting into second position, can they use the crowd to get the

overlap on the own Australian zoo they are chasing hard?

Australians will not want the overlap because they have something

to prove to themselves on this course as well as the British. You

don't want any British crew to get any confidence and although it is a

new British crew, their average age is higher than the Australian s' .

Australia and Great Britain coming down to this race for the line.

Great Britain firing everything, they are throwing everything at

Australia and Australia are hanging on, they now know they are just

stretching it out. It will be gold for Australia, running the boat up

to the line, silver for Great Britain and heroic class 500 metres

for Great Britain there and Romania in bronze, they will also be

delighted as they are with arms punching the air. Great Britain will

no that they left it perhaps a little bit late to start their

charge, they have got the overlap with plenty to build on now for

loose and as we head towards that in the middle of July. Winners again

for the second race in a row, crew, -- one of the members, Matt,

who is not solely responsible but has had a major impact on having

such fantastic crowds here for all three days of this regatta at Eton

Dorney. The gestation of this idea was what? On Friday I was really

keen to get school groups coming along, I had experienced being able

to see lots of sports in the north-east, I had fantastic family

and school support, going to Gateshead, my sister is there, she

is 11 and looking forward to seeing Mo Farah. Live on BBC television!

And ticket packages being put on four families or special days and it

is easy fit that in when you have got such a lot of sport. It was rare

that we had an event like this in the UK and when it came along, I

thought I would put something on where I would back a class and I was

happy with one class coming along but I put the word out and said I

was doing this and other athletes wanted to help out including visits

and things like that before the event to see if businesses wanted to

support and match my pledge to get a class here and it has been fantastic

support. Words also does -- loads of support and we have 44 different

donors from big companies to small one-man bands. A fantastic

atmosphere and great attitude and it was really good. A career running

for you in the national governing body? Steady on, I'm only 25! That

is what they need, they need some vitality. Come much elation is on

that. We look forward to seeing you in the next regatta. Let's go to the

men's double sculls. Great Britain, Bill Lucas and Matt Langridge, are

in lane three. New Zealand are the Olympic champions. They are

brand-new combination this year. They have pretty much taking the

lead from the 500-metre mark. Britain have gone by Azerbaijan

already. Langridge is a strong sprinter. He will empty the tank. A

bit of a wobble from Great Britain, but they have 300 metres, plenty of

water to drive on. They will go through the German crew. They have

gone through Estonia. They are looking to see where the attack is

coming from. Great Britain are fighting hard, using the crowd for

the silver medal position. The Kiwis are not as dominant over the

Germans. The Germans are being chased down by the Brits. It is

making the gap smaller as everyone comes up. 100 died from the line, a

little over ten strokes. Great Britain is piling it on. Azerbaijan

are starting to push. New Zealand will hold on for the gold medal.

Gold for New Zealand, silver for Germany, and great writ and hang on

for the bronze medal. Azerbaijan are still pushing through the line,

thinking they are going to take it. Very well deserved bronze for Great

Britain. This is the third of the cruise in the mend's sculling

group. It is a strong start for this group. It is a strong start for this

new combination. How hard was that? It was very difficult. I have been

enjoying myself after the Olympics. Although it was great at the time,

it was not great in the race. My bodies may be asking me some

questions, why not as fit as I should be. How long did you actually

take out from rowing? Not long enough, I think. I did not do

anything until January. I definitely enjoyed myself, but I am paying the

price just now. Did you put on weight, how did your body shape

change? When you are not need to eat as much. I actually lost weight.

Generally, where are you in the progression towards the World

Championships? We are probably slightly behind where we would be

normally. My partner had a long break. I did not have quite as long

but I was slowly getting back into training. We are expecting a

slightly steeper series of games from here. We have some thickness

work to come. But there is a good understanding there, the boat

naturally clicks. It got tested in that rough stuff, but we are not too

far away. Having taken a few months to just see the world and have a

good time, do you appreciate competing more, do you find it

harder? I appreciated less. Once you have seen the other side of it, you

wonder why you come back and do it. Obviously racing is what we love

doing and that is why we do it. do feel rusty and it takes time to

get back into it, but it is good to be racing. I am new to sculling. I

am not as fit as I would be normally, so we know that we will

progress quite rapidly from here. This was about getting here, seeing

where we are, and moving on. He is someone who has decided that getting

back in a boat is not for her any more. Sophie Hosking, why have you

decided no more? IT timeout after the Olympics and I wanted to work

out if my motivation was at the same level. As time went on, I had an

overwhelming feeling of completeness. Not that I have won

everything that I could win in rowing, but I feel like I have put

everything I can do into the sport. I feel like I can walk away and be

really pleased with what I did achieve and the journey that I had

in the sport. Was there a blinding flash of inspiration when you

thought, that is it, or did you sit down with ten on paper and write out

the pros and cons. How did you work out the decision? Deep down, I

knew. I wanted to make sure that all the hysteria around the Olympics

campaign and that is these way that I still felt. I had to understand

what I was feeling. I had to come to terms with it as well, before

finally announcing officially. Did you have lots of people seeing,

argue sure? Yes. A lot of people probably think that I might change

my mind in some ways, but I am always someone that if I make my

mind up about something, I am quite firm with it. The people closest to

me understand the decision and that is what is most important to me.

Having made the decision to walk away at the highest level, when you

come to an event like this, how does that make you feel. I feel very

distant from it in terms of being a competitor. I feel the excitement

that the competitors feel. It is nice to be able to support my

friends. When you are the athlete, and getting all the support, to be

and getting all the support, to be on the other side and give the

support back is great. And you can go to the pub afterwards. That is

always handy! The wind has not abated at Eton Dorney today since we

started a couple of hours ago. We are battling the elements doing the

programme. Guys, you're not competing today. What is wrong with

you? Hopefully I have recovered now, but two weeks ago I had a virus, so

I had to have time out of the boat. I am recovered now, and I am back

into training. Hopefully I will be training tomorrow morning. George,

what state are you in? I am all right. I have been finishing off my

degree in Cambridge. It has been quite demanding. I could not be down

with the guys for the last few months. You had the boat race, so

how much work have you been doing, honestly? It has been pretty flat

out in the library, it to ten hours every day. I have been trying to do

as much as I can. How is the discipline of education, learning,

how would you compare that to the requirements of being out on the

water, and being in the gym and the regimentation of King Aurora -- of

being a rower? It is basically the same. The more you put in, the more

you get out of it. The problem is that you're trying to do rowing as

well, and they too might compete with each other for time. We are

going to the far end of the course where the mend's eight is about to

get underway. They did not have a great race a couple of days ago.

What are your thoughts on this? They did not have a good race on Friday.

At the beginning of the racing season, any disruption in the boat

can have an effect. I feel guilty about that. Two weeks ago, I was

about that. Two weeks ago, I was taken out. I am they will turn it

around today. I think they will pull back on France and Poland to beat

them the other day. We will get your take on what actually happens. This

is the last race live of this World Cup regatta. This will produce some

spectacular action. Let's go back to James Cracknell and Garry Herbert.

Paul and sitting in lane number four. Five boats are lining up with

the Czech Republic in one. Great Britain two in lane two. Great

Britain two are in lane three. Poland in lane four. France and lane

five. The two favoured lanes are four and five. Poland in four and

France in five. Great Britain in lane number three, Great Britain two

in lane number two. This is a big race. There are lots of big egos in

this race. Jurgen Grobler has put all his eggs in one basket. It is

unfortunately a basket where we do not frighten the opposition. We do

not have a big history in this event. People are not as scared of

us as they are in a four. Hodge and Reid have come from the mend's peer.

They will have been hurt by what happened to them in the heat. If I

am honest, the conditions probably do not favour them. The polls and

the French may prove -- the Polish team and the French may prove

slightly more difficult than on Friday. Poland are using the

tailwind. This is an important 500 for Great Britain. We're looking at

the Czech Republic in number one. Poland on at 38 strokes per minute.

That is quite high. They are getting good boat speed. Combination lies,

have they got the right people in the right seat? They have got the

best two rowers in the stroke and seventh seed. I would like to see

the more powerful men in the middle of the boat, and I would like to see

two guys that have rowed together and appear and in a four split up.

At the moment, they are dominating the crew too much. They are

dominating the French at the moment, but are being led slightly by

Poland. There is a long way to go yet. At the halfway mark, Poland

continued to lead. France were superb on Friday. France beat all

these guys and they did not qualify for the last Olympic Games. The

French are focusing on this as their big project. We are starting to see

the British eight comeback. They have the experience, the power and

the rhythm to go through Poland. In the World Cup, the Polish crews

always have a turn of speed. They do, but the Brits have shown that

the last quarter is where there are strong. That is where Jurgen

Grobler's fitness programme will pay. You keep going all the way

through the 2000 metres. What they are showing is not just about the

seat, it is about the final. One swallow does not make a summer. The

French had a very good seat, but that is no use in the final. Enter

the last quarter, 500 metres to go. This is a dogfight now because Great

Britain threw everything at the Polish crew and still the Poles are

withstanding it, this is rude. . Germany, the elliptic champions are

still to come in all of this so from a reputational point of view, Great

Britain want to put down a big market here but right now, they are

dogfighting with Poland. It is great stuff from the Poles but those words

will hurt the Brits because they don't want to hear they are in a

dogfight with Poland, they are used to raising Australia, America,

Germany. Poland is not a traditional powerhouse in the eights. It is

better than their heat. This is what the crowd on the side have come to

see. Come on, boys!Phelan Hill in the coxing seat has called it and

the British crew have responded, they are throwing everything at

Poland and they cannot respond. think the angle of the camera is

making it look less close. Great Britain from Poland, it was

desperate at the end, it is still going on through the lines to make

sure they are there and the heads from Poland go down in disbelief.

Some celebration from Great Britain here and the relief that they have

won, they are relieved to beat Poland but they have turned it

around. That is the most important thing here, but there are bigger

trials ahead for this crew. Yes, the best of the world are not here and

again, the British crew would not have wanted to hear you say "they

are relieved to have beaten Poland" . That is like Manchester United

being relieved to have beaten Swansea in the opening game next

season, it will not be a relief, it is a big they should do. Pole said

to us once, you are racing Denmark, I should be ever to wake you up at

midnight and you can beat them. We thought that about Poland before

this regatta, at any time, these boys go out and raise, they should

be able to beat a crew like Poland and they have just done it by a foot

and the ten twos led the race for 1900 metres of that race. That

scared the Germans, the Olympic champions, they were undefeated

throughout the last Olympiad, the World Cup, World Championships and

come the Olympic Games, do you think that will scare them? Germany RE

building, do you think they will be quivering watching that?

Germans, the Australians, the Canadians, watching that, I do not

think they will be scared that they know that the Brits got spanked in

the heats and they have come back through and later they have one.

Showing what it means. And looking at Satch there, the relief, they

will realise that when the adrenaline calms down and they are

away on training camp, lots more to be done. There is the confirmation.

Winning just over Poland but the racing will get wet and better

towards the World Championships in South Korea in August.

JOHN INVERDALE: Alex Gregory watching that with interest, you

were never in doubt, were you? have got plenty of time to improve

on that in the World Championships but they did a good job today.

you can see from Andy Hodge's reaction, how much it went to them.

You only go out to win on home water. This is where we raced up the

Olympics, an important venue for us and it means a lot. You can only

race who is here and to cross the line in the lead was a great result

and a relief, yes, but pleasurable as well. Get well soon, it seemed

you back in the boat soon. Sir David Tanner is here as well, performance

director of great but is rolling. Apologies to all be Swansea city

fans watching this morning as well with the commentary there! David,

what is your take on the occasion? It has been wonderful, following the

Olympics, it was always going to be tough for the venue but the crowds

have been great every single day in the event has really stood up. We

have been challenged by the weather but with the wind, it has been

tricky but a great legacy from the wonderful time we had last year.

a funny way, it is great for the sport, it hasn't been British winner

of the British win because it gives people a false impression about the

nature of the sport so it shows how competitive it is. Well said, thank

you for saying that goes we are in a building year. They are all after as

anyway but it is 3.5 years time that we will be trying to deliver again

and it is tough. We have had some great racing. I am very pleased with

the day. I will bring Katherine Grainger in as well, somebody

involved in the sport for over a decade, we always spoke about you

being the first generation of people that were the legacy of Steve

Redgrave, we are one decade on from your first Faure into the sport. How

much stronger is the sport now than it was then? When I was coming on

the scene in the late 90s, the start of the new century, it was still the

big boys that were leading the charge and being consistent with

medals. The women's team started developing on the first Olympics of

this new season and in the lightweights have come through

strongly in the last four years or so. Definitely the strongest field

are cross lightweight and heavyweight, we have strong success.

What are your priorities? To develop some new rowers. You have seen them

today, the two women's boats that won gold, some interesting

youngsters around and that is our first priority. The second one is to

lay down a good new season so that we have got a base for seeing the

shape of our Rio team next year. Those our two main priorities.

couple more people before we leave the stage, a very familiar face of

many years in British rowing, Hodge and Peter Reed. Your expression at

the end they're meant a lot to you. We did not bring thousands of people

down here to race badly, we have dug deep over the past couple of days to

turn things round and that is the beauty of racing. Rowing in those

competitions and those conditions, to be them across the line,

brilliant, that is what it is all about. Interesting talking to people

here. Lots of people through the course of the programme, lots of

people have decided to hang up their oars, some carry on but lots of

people missing that competitive moment of winning or losing and you

can see how much it to you today. has in a competitive few days, we

had to dig very deep and we really worked hard. Out there on the water,

that was less than six minutes today, but that was a very classy

well calculated, aggressive but slick race and very bonding six

minutes for us. I loved it. Thank you to the crowds who came down, it

feels like a World Championships for us because it is a home

international and we will not get another one in our careers. People

wonder what the cox does but I think you earn your money in the last

100! Because for the first 1900 metres, you were second. It changed

on the last stretch. Their play to the people in front of me, they

responded so well. We were level with the Poles and I said that that

point, this is where I need you the most, and they responded marvellous.

All of a sudden, I could see we were inching through the Poles and we

kept the mentality going. The last word to the spokesperson for the

entire team, what is it like to be here with crowds on this scale and

the atmosphere? This is the biggest crowd I have ever had in a rowing

event, it is fantastic. Everybody here wants us to win. You can hear

the crowd roaring. It is like the Olympics, I missed out on it so this

is the closest I could get. Great to finish on a victorious note and

congratulations to one and all. Today we have the rowing and the

athletics, more on that in a moment but tonight on BBC One... No, before

that, our next running is the World Cup from Lucerne which is coming up

on the 14th of July and you can see highlights on the Monday afternoon

that the whole regatta live on Sunday on the red button. And I was

getting ahead of myself there because I was so excited about

Wimbledon starting tomorrow and wouldn't we all love it if this man

won it? The worst thing that could happen to Andy Murray is he gets his

teeth veneered and starts behaving like a superstar. They are really

good in the house and then we take them out, they disgraced

themselves! He is actually a joy to be around, hilarious. So few people

see that side of him. To come so close, he made me root for him.

is nice to see the evolution of someone you have seen for a long

time. The turning point was winning the gold medal in the Olympics.

Basher is part of the business, he is proving himself time and again.

Having won the cap macro open, the press in Britain will be focusing on

Wimbledon and pinky has to win that. -- thinking he has to win that.

coverage begins tomorrow at 1130. James Cracknell is here popping over

from the other side of the water, the use women across? I jogged

around! I saw Jurgen on the way around and I said well done to him,

and he said I was looking slow. He hasn't changed much. Did you enjoy

doing the commentary? I would rather be racing but you can only racing if

you are doing it all year. You were forthright in your opinions and lots

of people you are commenting on people you know extremely well, it

is sometimes difficult to be as honest as you would like to be.

try to take the opinion that whether I am writing or commentating, if I

am prepared to say it to their face, I am prepared to say it on camera.

You want to give a real insight to people watching who may not

understand rowing in the same way they would football, rugby or

cricket, what it is like. And the British guys in that boat would not

have wanted to lose to Poland or France, they are better than that

and the best crews in the world, the Australians and the Germans would

have watched it on Friday and thought the eggs were all in one

basket and it is not working. impression of the last three days

and specifically today, Katherine Grainger? I would have liked but the

weather, we would all have liked that. There is some brilliant stuff

in it, not enough gold medals for the British team but it is early in

the season and the Olympiad and the fact that lots of people were

second, third, fourth is a good sign. A huge amount of time to go

and that is where they will get it. A huge wave and they cheer behind us

as for the men's hate holding the union flag aloft after their victory

in the last race -- the men's eight. Thank you very much to both of you,

it has been great to be back here at Eton Dorney to relive memories with