:00:52. > :01:06.Very good morning under warm welcome to Aiguebelette for the 2014 rowing
:01:07. > :01:14.Championships. A fantastic return to the international stage here for
:01:15. > :01:22.Katherine Copeland, making it look, -- look very, very easy. Fabulous
:01:23. > :01:32.result for the British. They are competitive from start to finish.
:01:33. > :01:33.And on the line it will be a photo there. They are
:01:34. > :01:37.And on the line it will be a photo there. They are playing now, they
:01:38. > :01:45.are flying. Great Britain demolished the field here at the 2014 rowing
:01:46. > :01:52.championship. Hello, three weeks ago Great Britain's rowers had a week to
:01:53. > :01:55.remember in Belgrade when they won two Gold, four silver and three
:01:56. > :02:00.bronze medals but now the rest of the world are turning up and things
:02:01. > :02:09.are about to get more difficult. 21 British crews are in action in
:02:10. > :02:13.France, this is going to be a qualifying course for the Rio
:02:14. > :02:17.Olympic Games, and this is what we have in store for you. After years
:02:18. > :02:26.in Afghanistan, Olympic champion Heather Stanning is back. I want to
:02:27. > :02:31.be in a boat where there is world champions but like anyone in the
:02:32. > :02:36.team there is a whole squad of people who would love to be in
:02:37. > :02:41.there. A dog allergy mentor challenging winter for Pete Reed, he
:02:42. > :02:46.spoke about his plans to get back into the Great Britain top boat. I
:02:47. > :02:50.have to get back to my very best and I am perfectly happy with my
:02:51. > :02:56.position in the group with the other guys. I have a lot to offer my
:02:57. > :03:06.team-mates. After a bronze medal in Belgrade, can Kat Copeland continue
:03:07. > :03:11.her comeback? Let's start with the men's coxless four. Featuring an
:03:12. > :03:35.interesting quartet, two established figures, Alex Gregory and Andy
:03:36. > :03:38.Triggs Hodge. This is one of the hardest winters I have experienced.
:03:39. > :03:45.I had a few conversations with my wife, the what if stories. What if I
:03:46. > :03:55.cannot get back into the boat? You can listen to the doctors and say
:03:56. > :03:58.you will be fine, but to be so focused on single goals, they can
:03:59. > :04:06.fall away quite easily and let your mind run away with you. Across all
:04:07. > :04:12.sports you see athletes going through some really tough times.
:04:13. > :04:21.Tennis players, rugby players, they all have major injuries, they all
:04:22. > :04:27.have big life events, but the best athletes will come through. That's
:04:28. > :04:31.why I've come through narrow, I'm really proud, really privileged to
:04:32. > :04:39.be part of it, really proud to come through the winter I have. I always
:04:40. > :04:45.like going to Belgrade, it is a wonderful place, a superb venue. The
:04:46. > :04:51.people but on a great show. From the rowing side, yes, we certainly
:04:52. > :04:59.ticked the box we needed to. We worked hard to put it together, it
:05:00. > :05:02.has been a long winter, and to come out of those long sessions at
:05:03. > :05:05.Caversham and put a nice race like that together is what we aimed to
:05:06. > :05:15.do. Great Britain demolished the field here at the 2014 Rowing
:05:16. > :05:24.Championships and they made it look easy. It was great to be part of are
:05:25. > :05:30.very successful British team. The prospect of this four coming
:05:31. > :05:37.together has been a very exciting idea for some time now. When it
:05:38. > :05:43.finally happened, it was kind of, this is as good as I hoped it would
:05:44. > :05:48.be. I have always said that as long as I am improving, I will continue
:05:49. > :05:56.with the sport. What is fantastic is that this boat is part of that for
:05:57. > :06:01.me. It is a very new, very exciting new toy and I love being in this
:06:02. > :06:19.boat every day. It is a wonderful project to be part of. Squeezing
:06:20. > :06:26.away for the first time, the final of the men's coxless four. Germany,
:06:27. > :06:39.Canada, Great Britain in laying four. The USA in five. So much to
:06:40. > :06:42.talk about in this race. The first time we are seeing the USA this
:06:43. > :06:46.year, they were bronze medallists time we are seeing the USA this
:06:47. > :06:53.year, they were last year. The first time we are seeing Australia, in the
:06:54. > :07:06.middle of the picture there. But look, in lane number four already,
:07:07. > :07:15.Hodge leading the boat out. In lane six they will be going hard out. At
:07:16. > :07:20.the moment it is happening all this side of the lake and it is Australia
:07:21. > :07:27.if anything. That middle lane have dropped back, which is surprising at
:07:28. > :07:32.this point. Coming up towards the canvas, now half a length. The speed
:07:33. > :07:39.of the British group, Andy Hodge there. The training they have coming
:07:40. > :07:47.into regattas, they focus on the first 500, demolished the field. But
:07:48. > :07:55.it goes through 500, kicking into the second 500 and now they are just
:07:56. > :07:59.moving away. It is effortlessly done but they are concealing the power
:08:00. > :08:03.because the River man technique is awesome in this group. It is
:08:04. > :08:07.impressive to see. We knew they dominated the European three weeks
:08:08. > :08:13.ago but the biggest threat was always going to come from Australia
:08:14. > :08:19.and the USA. The British crew are showing them how it is done. Still
:08:20. > :08:27.hanging on, gripping by fingernails at the moment, the USA. They know
:08:28. > :08:30.they have two push. All of these boats will have to front-load their
:08:31. > :08:41.race if they are going to keep with the British crew. Great Britain to
:08:42. > :08:47.the right of your picture. We are getting USA, bronze medallists last
:08:48. > :09:07.year in a fight with Australia, silver medallists last year. Smooth
:09:08. > :09:13.rowing, and it looks so relaxed in that seat. They are not having it
:09:14. > :09:25.all their own way but they are still pretty impressive. Canada up there,
:09:26. > :09:32.Australia also. They haven't come into the same sort of pace into the
:09:33. > :09:41.second 500. George Nash in the three seat. We know they have changed the
:09:42. > :09:49.stroking around in training. Alex Gregory to the left of your picture
:09:50. > :09:54.has tried it out in the stroke seat but Jurgen never gives away too
:09:55. > :10:02.much. He knows he can always count on Andy Hodge and that is what he is
:10:03. > :10:08.doing. That is Great Britain two to the left of your picture. They have
:10:09. > :10:14.got to keep it steady in this third 500. USA a couple of feet over
:10:15. > :10:19.Australia. The USA bronze medallist last year, Australia silver
:10:20. > :10:26.medallists, returning with two of that crew. In the third 500 metres
:10:27. > :10:33.now, in open water. A little call from the British group, open water.
:10:34. > :10:39.USA, also pushing hard against Australia. Canada in laying two but
:10:40. > :10:44.the gap has been opened up and we are through the 1500, we have a
:10:45. > :10:49.length of clear water and that has been an absolutely phenomenal third
:10:50. > :10:58.500 metres from the British crew and still they are greedy, still they
:10:59. > :11:04.want more. You will see them push hard, they will want to lay down
:11:05. > :11:10.again, scaring everyone away, and this is awesome stuff, Katherine. I
:11:11. > :11:15.think the first 500 was closer than they felt comfortable. You can see
:11:16. > :11:19.Andy finally feeling the rhythm they wanted, then they just stretched the
:11:20. > :11:25.lead. They want to dominate this event. There is no such thing as too
:11:26. > :11:29.much gap between you and the rest of the opposition and they will keep
:11:30. > :11:34.going until they crush them. Australia, just moving again, and
:11:35. > :11:44.the USA seem to be pushing every ten jokes. The USA are losing to
:11:45. > :11:49.Australia. Australia might win the sprint for the silver but nobody is
:11:50. > :11:56.going to touch the British crew. That is domination. They are right
:11:57. > :12:00.on pace. The flow is just extraordinary, look at that. A
:12:01. > :12:05.masterclass as they look for the line. The last few strokes here.
:12:06. > :12:11.They have demolished the park twice in a row now this year, comfortably
:12:12. > :12:17.dumb. Andy Hodge knows it is a job well done. On the line for the
:12:18. > :12:24.silver, Australia, USA getting the third, and Great Britain's second
:12:25. > :12:34.boat just coming over the line, out of the medals, but it was another
:12:35. > :12:37.impressive performance. That was an absolutely dominant
:12:38. > :12:42.performance. Yes, we had a good run today but it was good to do that
:12:43. > :12:47.because we had more competition, the Australians, USA, the Canadians, so
:12:48. > :12:52.we had to prove to ourselves but what we are doing is right. We have
:12:53. > :12:57.just got to keep on that way, there is still more to come. Not perfect
:12:58. > :13:01.yet but we are pretty pleased with today's's performance. The man on
:13:02. > :13:07.your left, you looked pretty smooth. How phased were you by the
:13:08. > :13:11.fact you have these opposition groups from Australia and the US
:13:12. > :13:20.coming into your event? I wouldn't save phased, I would say excited. It
:13:21. > :13:26.was really nice to have them here and see what would happen. A
:13:27. > :13:31.fantastic second half of the race, I will just ask George Nash to your
:13:32. > :13:36.left. George, you were flying in the second half of that race. The amount
:13:37. > :13:42.you were putting between yourself and the crews behind you. Yes, we
:13:43. > :13:49.had a bit of a game plan going into it to do some damage in the third
:13:50. > :13:57.500. When you do a bit of damage, what are you doing? Just laying it
:13:58. > :14:05.down? Just trying to not ruin it. No, you No, squeeze it on a little
:14:06. > :14:11.bit, keep it travelling, maybe notch the rate of a little bit.
:14:12. > :14:16.bit, keep it travelling, maybe notch the rate of a Andy, to your left, I
:14:17. > :14:22.saw the little finger, not, we won that, but it was a long time until
:14:23. > :14:28.the second group crossed the line. I wasn't watching the other crews.
:14:29. > :14:32.There is a lot of Great British support here, this event put
:14:33. > :14:37.together has been absolutely fantastic in preparation for next
:14:38. > :14:44.year's World Championships. Where we can step up is making sure we get
:14:45. > :14:53.the support in Lucerne next time, and make sure we dominate across the
:14:54. > :14:57.board at Amsterdam. Here in the studio we have Olympic medallists.
:14:58. > :15:04.We enjoy that enormously. Before we talk about the rowing, Mark, they
:15:05. > :15:08.seem a happy crew. It seems they are enjoying their rowing. If you
:15:09. > :15:13.enjoyed the people around, enjoy training. You can see the
:15:14. > :15:18.performance was breathtaking. To win against that field with that margin
:15:19. > :15:22.at this stage in the season, is dominating. It sends a strong
:15:23. > :15:29.message to the other nations they have a lot of work to do. The race
:15:30. > :15:34.was never in doubt. What we saw from them three weeks ago at the European
:15:35. > :15:41.Championships, there was a huge gap at the first 500. This time, it was
:15:42. > :15:47.closer at 500, but they lead over the next 1500 metres. In the end,
:15:48. > :15:51.two different races. There is competition for places, you would
:15:52. > :15:58.think, but when they produce such a performance, is there? Is the boat
:15:59. > :16:06.secure? With those performances it is hard to change a combination. I
:16:07. > :16:13.have not seen one row that economic leave for a long time. Are you going
:16:14. > :16:18.back to Sydney? It could be that long. That efficient. The way they
:16:19. > :16:25.move together. It is enjoyable to watch heavyweights rowing so
:16:26. > :16:28.efficiently. Andy Hodd was talking about a back injury and going
:16:29. > :16:35.through the winter, worrying about your body. People think it is a
:16:36. > :16:39.great cardio sport, but low impact. But there is internal impact. Your
:16:40. > :16:46.back is vulnerable by the nature of what you are doing. It is not like
:16:47. > :16:49.running with impact every moment, but you have huge forces coming
:16:50. > :16:55.through the legs, through the back and into the upper body. Everyone
:16:56. > :17:00.has had some injury along the way. There are days whether you -- when
:17:01. > :17:08.you question whether it will happen again. Andy is a bit older. The
:17:09. > :17:10.older you get, injuries speak up on you and you have to look after
:17:11. > :17:16.yourself in a different way than when you were younger because you do
:17:17. > :17:19.not bounce back from injuries as quickly. It gives you a chance to
:17:20. > :17:25.reflect on your shape and how to adapt and look after yourself. Is he
:17:26. > :17:32.still the driving force of that boat? He is definitely the lead
:17:33. > :17:41.role. He has done it so many times he is a driving force. We can move
:17:42. > :17:47.onto the top women's crew Heather Glover -- Helen Glover and Heather
:17:48. > :17:51.Stanning. Heather took time out to go back to her role with the Army in
:17:52. > :18:03.Afghanistan. Matthew Pinsent caught up with her.
:18:04. > :18:11.Seven minutes away from Olympic history. Helen Glover and Heather
:18:12. > :18:16.Stanning. The crowd are roaring. They are making history! Great
:18:17. > :18:40.Britain, into the record books. How do you sum up Bastian? Very
:18:41. > :18:46.dusty and hot. It has everything you need, people around. Was it scary,
:18:47. > :18:51.dangerous, I imagine everything is dangerous to a degree? You have to
:18:52. > :18:56.do remember you are in a war zone, but I did not feel threatened. We
:18:57. > :19:01.took body armour everyday and carried weapons, but I was doing an
:19:02. > :19:07.office job. I felt happy in the environment I was in. The last time
:19:08. > :19:13.I spoke to you properly was before you won the gold medal. I said to
:19:14. > :19:19.you that if you win, it is going to be a great story for the Army. They
:19:20. > :19:24.are not going to be bothered if you go to Afghanistan. That you said you
:19:25. > :19:28.wanted to do the tour. Having the opportunity to go on tour and do the
:19:29. > :19:32.job for real was important to me. If I am staying in the army, they
:19:33. > :19:39.cannot credit me just with my rowing, I have to prove myself as an
:19:40. > :19:46.officer. Do you enjoy them equally? Do you compare them like that? I
:19:47. > :19:50.love being an athlete and the opportunities I have had and I loved
:19:51. > :19:58.my time with the Army. I am not ready to give either up. The British
:19:59. > :20:04.rowing honours board. Howard does it feel to have your own London 2012
:20:05. > :20:11.section? The first time I saw it was today. It is impressive. When I
:20:12. > :20:20.first came in here, I thought, wow, look at those people. Great
:20:21. > :20:29.Britain's first gold medal of these Olympics. We were aware there had
:20:30. > :20:41.not been a gold medal. I can't -- car put things into compartments
:20:42. > :20:46.well. I thought about the race. There is an issue in the fact that
:20:47. > :20:53.there are three of you who want to, and expect to, row in the pair. I
:20:54. > :20:59.want to be in a boat with world champions. There is a squad of
:21:00. > :21:11.people who would like to be in the pair, or in one of the other boats.
:21:12. > :21:17.I have had a good year. I have less than three years until Rio, which is
:21:18. > :21:26.just around the corner. We are away for the first time, back together,
:21:27. > :21:30.Helen Glover and Heather Stanning since their magnificent gas in 2012
:21:31. > :21:41.of the London Olympics. China in one, USA, three and four. USA two
:21:42. > :21:44.and five. Great Britain against the United States of America. And five.
:21:45. > :21:54.Great Britain against the United States of America guys on Helen and
:21:55. > :22:11.Heather, first time together -- a lot of eyes. Catherine, although it
:22:12. > :22:19.is the Americans, if Britain set down a marker, they will be in the
:22:20. > :22:22.women's eight. A little pressure off Great Britain, but if they put in a
:22:23. > :22:29.brilliant performance it sets the benchmark. Helen has won everything
:22:30. > :22:36.since the Olympic Games. For Heather, it is the first time back
:22:37. > :22:40.since that moment at London. They will have pressure, to be reunited
:22:41. > :22:48.as a team. They are taking on four at the top American pairs. They will
:22:49. > :22:52.double up for the eight later, which will be the American priority.
:22:53. > :22:57.Already, they are showing what they do best and leading the race
:22:58. > :23:08.comfortably. They are glorious conditions as we go through 500
:23:09. > :23:13.metres. Great Britain are out to clear water. Catherine, you have
:23:14. > :23:19.been here, leading in the early stages. -- Katherine Grainger. The
:23:20. > :23:24.nerves can start to settle. You know you have speed, that is all right,
:23:25. > :23:32.but in the second 500, what will go through Heather's mind? It is a big
:23:33. > :23:36.day for her. It is a funny sport, you go backwards and watch the race
:23:37. > :23:42.unfold behind you. If you have a good start, you watch the race and
:23:43. > :23:48.can control it to an extent. They have a fast start, they do it in a
:23:49. > :23:53.rhythmic, longer way. They will put distance between them and the rest
:23:54. > :24:02.of the field. Heather and Helen are in a different race at the front.
:24:03. > :24:08.Great Britain easing out from the four boats that will end up in the
:24:09. > :24:13.USA women's eight. The benchmark, the Americans are world champions in
:24:14. > :24:17.the women's eight from the World Championships last year. We have two
:24:18. > :24:28.that our Olympic champions in the eighth. -- in the eight. They are
:24:29. > :24:32.doubling up in the regatta. This is about the British crew laying down a
:24:33. > :24:38.marker for the rest of the season. None of the USA crews are pairs
:24:39. > :24:54.specialists. Heather and Helen have made the pair of -- the pair their
:24:55. > :25:00.own. If the first 500 was good, the second 500 has been exceptional for
:25:01. > :25:03.Helen Glover and Heather Stanning. Back in the women's pair for the
:25:04. > :25:08.first time on the international scene of the two years, since they
:25:09. > :25:20.stormed home at London 2012. They are making it look easy. They have
:25:21. > :25:27.the gap, which is comfortable, what you do in the third 500, are you
:25:28. > :25:31.still racing on the edge? Hopefully they will settle into a rhythm they
:25:32. > :25:36.are comfortable with. The Americans will be competitive against each
:25:37. > :25:42.other. They will try to establish a ranking behind them stop the leading
:25:43. > :25:47.crew does not want a sprint finish suddenly from the crews racing for
:25:48. > :25:52.the silver medal and bronze medal. You can get caught up in that race
:25:53. > :25:57.if you are not careful. But these two are smart enough to know they
:25:58. > :26:02.will not be caught out. 34 strokes per minute or Great Britain, which
:26:03. > :26:15.is quite high, given that the race is under control. Heather Stanning,
:26:16. > :26:19.29, last two years out. She trained while she was away. Coming back into
:26:20. > :26:23.the team, it has been a long winter of the Heather, by her own
:26:24. > :26:28.admission. They are now seeing the fruits of that as they move towards
:26:29. > :26:35.the 1500 metres mark. Glorious conditions. This scene is set for
:26:36. > :26:41.the return of Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, the Olympic
:26:42. > :26:46.champions, eased out again over crews that are predominantly from
:26:47. > :26:53.the USA women's eight, who you will see later. They are world champions.
:26:54. > :27:03.We also have China, in Lane number one. Paul Thompson and Robin
:27:04. > :27:07.Williams, the coaches of this partnership. It was brave to take
:27:08. > :27:12.Heather out of the European Championships three weeks ago, but
:27:13. > :27:18.they know what they are doing. In training over what happened, Heather
:27:19. > :27:22.made a phenomenal comeback. She got back face fitness quickly. At the
:27:23. > :27:27.top end is what you struggle to recapture. In the fourth quarter is
:27:28. > :27:33.where she would come under pressure physically. They will not come under
:27:34. > :27:38.serious pressure here. They can bring it in. They will want the
:27:39. > :27:45.race, but they will not put in extra pressure that you would expect at
:27:46. > :27:49.this crucial part of the race. They are definitely keeping the rate
:27:50. > :28:01.high. They have another level to go if it was called upon. Heather
:28:02. > :28:11.Stanning, in the stroke seat, easing up in the closing stages. Pushing
:28:12. > :28:15.for the line. Still going hard. Helen is looking over her shoulder,
:28:16. > :28:21.looking for the line stop the gap is impressive. Helen Glover, Heather
:28:22. > :28:28.Stanning, they are back in style, comfortably done. Let's not forget,
:28:29. > :28:32.they are racing for pride. They are reigning Olympic champions. Back for
:28:33. > :28:42.the first time. Can they defend the title? And a fantastic job winning
:28:43. > :28:49.the Europe union championships. It was a big Dave Heather. At the
:28:50. > :28:55.regatta we had three good rowers rather than our final being good. It
:28:56. > :29:01.shows this level of competition and keeping it there. How much pressure
:29:02. > :29:06.did you feel coming into the regatta, after having time out
:29:07. > :29:09.injured? I had time away to concentrate on myself. There was
:29:10. > :29:15.pressure I put myself rather than anything else. It was lovely to get
:29:16. > :29:22.back racing internationally and show what I could do. How close is the
:29:23. > :29:28.boat to its best feeling? How did it feel compared to the Olympics? It
:29:29. > :29:32.feels different, but for a good reason. We knew there was more we
:29:33. > :29:36.could get from it. We have started on the journey of making
:29:37. > :29:42.improvements. This is the start and in the next couple of years we will
:29:43. > :29:45.see where we can get to. You have a big target. The rest of the world
:29:46. > :29:51.knows what they have to do to beat you, how will you stay in front? We
:29:52. > :29:58.never get complacent. There are targets on our backs and we are told
:29:59. > :30:10.that by the crews racing. We are top dogs at the moment. That will not
:30:11. > :30:14.last if we do not keep pressing. They are very much the pair for
:30:15. > :30:22.everybody else to come for, and they? Yes, we saw four Americans
:30:23. > :30:27.making the final pair and it is very unusual and it shows the strength
:30:28. > :30:31.and depth of the American crews but the British really have scared
:30:32. > :30:35.people away. Does that work on the basis that if you have a limited
:30:36. > :30:47.gene pool to pick from for your team, do you target events? Clearly
:30:48. > :30:53.Britain does. It almost opens up the way forward. That is the way a lot
:30:54. > :30:57.of nations will work because not everybody has a full team some
:30:58. > :31:00.nations will pick and choose what suits the athletes they have but
:31:01. > :31:06.when you have accrued dominating the event like that, you will look
:31:07. > :31:19.elsewhere to get medals. There is also a silent -- selection dilemma
:31:20. > :31:26.because Polly Swann it has done a fantastic job. Yes, I think from the
:31:27. > :31:30.beginning of this year Heather had proved enough to get herself back in
:31:31. > :31:34.the pair and it is only because she wasn't quite fit enough for the
:31:35. > :31:38.Europeans that Polly was brought back in so it was only right that
:31:39. > :31:46.Heather was given another chance to race. Just explain without getting
:31:47. > :31:51.too technical, what are the main factors that means one rower is
:31:52. > :31:56.better with another? What are the determining factors that mean Helen
:31:57. > :32:15.is paired with heather rather than Polly? Helen can work well with
:32:16. > :32:18.either of them so her seat is safe. It is a good thing for that
:32:19. > :32:22.combination because it will keep them on their toes, not just
:32:23. > :32:27.worrying about the rest of the world but keeping their seats. Let's move
:32:28. > :32:28.worrying about the rest of the world but keeping their seats. Let's on
:32:29. > :32:29.now to the lightweight double sculls and the
:32:30. > :32:36.but keeping their seats. Let's on now to the return of Kat Copeland,
:32:37. > :32:39.she was paired with Imogen Walsh at Belgrade and they had an interesting
:32:40. > :32:44.incident at the start of their race when they went into a metal post and
:32:45. > :32:52.had to re-rig the boat. Anyway everything was well after that.
:32:53. > :32:56.Let's see how they got on today. Italy are absent from this final,
:32:57. > :33:21.nevertheless it is a high-class field and Great Britain have done
:33:22. > :33:38.very well to get two boats will stop cat -- to get two boats. Katherine,
:33:39. > :33:43.Kat has done well to come back, hasn't she? Yes, and she is loving
:33:44. > :33:48.it. They had a problem with the boat in the warm up when they hit a sort
:33:49. > :33:53.of stick things so not ideal and they still put in a great
:33:54. > :33:57.performance to medals so I would like to see them even further up the
:33:58. > :34:02.podium today. So they were bronze medals on that occasion at the end
:34:03. > :34:07.of last month. Alongside them Germany got the silver medal so real
:34:08. > :34:22.fight here in the middle and at the three and four are starting to lag.
:34:23. > :34:31.Four great scullers in the women's team for Great Britain. A great job
:34:32. > :34:38.Paul is doing. Yes, and it will be great to see this view for him. A
:34:39. > :34:44.quarter of the race down. China, Sweden, Great Britain two, and the
:34:45. > :34:50.first boat back in fifth place. That is OK, but they will now really
:34:51. > :34:56.think about moving into a good, powerful with them. You would expect
:34:57. > :35:01.that. Watch number four. It should start to ease back through, and
:35:02. > :35:09.three for that matter. Hopefully number three as well, I would like
:35:10. > :35:18.to see the British come through! Kat and Imogen will be disappointed with
:35:19. > :35:23.the start. In a way, when you are over in lane one, to some extent
:35:24. > :35:27.there is less pressure on you. You are not in the middle of the battle
:35:28. > :35:31.and sometimes people forget where you are and sometimes you can have
:35:32. > :35:39.an advantage sneaking up the sides. It shows the high level of
:35:40. > :35:43.competition, not much in it. They are very strict on the weight limit
:35:44. > :35:50.so the racing is coming closer together. Everyone has similar
:35:51. > :35:57.height, weight measurements and it makes for very tight racing. China,
:35:58. > :36:08.and in the bow seat they have a silver medallist from 2010. A lot of
:36:09. > :36:16.rivalry in the couple of years running into 2012 there. Tight
:36:17. > :36:22.racing, very tight. On the top, tailored just starting to ease
:36:23. > :36:29.back. So, coming through the halfway mark of this race. It is now Sweden,
:36:30. > :36:33.and Great Britain one, China in third position. Much better for
:36:34. > :36:38.Imogen and Katherine and that will give them the confidence. They know
:36:39. > :36:43.their speed is good and that gives them the platform to move on.
:36:44. > :36:49.Katherine has looked a little to the right, just checking where Sweden is
:36:50. > :36:54.in lane number six. Sweden fourth macro earlier this year, and ninth
:36:55. > :37:00.in the European Championships last year. I think this is where the
:37:01. > :37:05.experience and the standards come in. If you are sitting in this race
:37:06. > :37:10.expecting to be at the front, you don't sit in the middle of the field
:37:11. > :37:14.content with that result. They will not stop until they have moved back
:37:15. > :37:18.through the field and it is great because the Swedish port in a
:37:19. > :37:24.brilliant first half but they are dropping back now. They have almost
:37:25. > :37:35.everything they could and is for Kat and Imogen to hopefully now deliver.
:37:36. > :37:46.23 years of age from Tees rowing club, Kat Copland, Imogen Walsh in
:37:47. > :37:53.the bow seat. A steely look of determination there. Good technique,
:37:54. > :38:00.nice pick-up. You can see their race plan dictating, just unleashing
:38:01. > :38:07.there. Great Britain easing out one length. A great side shot, you can
:38:08. > :38:13.see how the boat flows along. We are through 1500 metres and that third
:38:14. > :38:17.500 again, another really good effort. Not necessarily fireworks
:38:18. > :38:24.require but just turning the notch a little bit, moving the speed, moving
:38:25. > :38:29.the boat. In a way that is what a classy crew can do. There is no
:38:30. > :38:36.moment of explosion in the race where you suddenly destroy the field
:38:37. > :38:40.but you can move out stroke by stroke and nobody sees it happening,
:38:41. > :38:50.no one witnesses the change but you have suddenly taken a length of the
:38:51. > :38:54.field and the top crews can do it. If they can just think about
:38:55. > :39:02.squeezing on, pushing, no pressure, they have nothing to lose here. If
:39:03. > :39:07.they can really push on in these closing stages, get themselves onto
:39:08. > :39:11.the medal podium, that will be a fantastic result. Out the front,
:39:12. > :39:19.leading comfortably now. Still right on it but their race plan has come
:39:20. > :39:25.together very nicely. Absolutely, and their coach has a very calm
:39:26. > :39:30.head, keeps it fun, keeps it relaxed. They should have the
:39:31. > :39:36.confidence, they should be able to think confidently in a race. They
:39:37. > :39:43.have that chunk of water, and closing down on them meanwhile is
:39:44. > :39:50.gigabits two. Piggott and Taylor for Great Britain, they could get onto
:39:51. > :39:55.the medal podium here. Out the front they have opened such a distance!
:39:56. > :40:07.Old for Great Britain and silver for Great Britain. What a fantastic move
:40:08. > :40:11.from the girls at the top! The middle thousand a little bit unsure
:40:12. > :40:22.for the second boat. But they came through. I hardly noticed them
:40:23. > :40:27.coming through. Ellie Piggott makes Kat Copland look old frankly! That
:40:28. > :40:33.is such an experienced level of racing. Ellie and Charlotte haven't
:40:34. > :40:37.had a huge amount of experience behind them and they made it to a
:40:38. > :40:41.silver medal podium behind an Olympic champion. That is not a bad
:40:42. > :40:45.day at the office. We were really pleased because we
:40:46. > :40:51.felt like we executed our race really well. It all sort of went the
:40:52. > :40:57.way we wanted it to go. So you thought you would be cool and calm
:40:58. > :41:00.in the first 1000 kilometres and lay it down in the third quarter? We
:41:01. > :41:07.don't intentionally want to be behind. It is a two kilometre race
:41:08. > :41:11.so we know that we have work to do and we keep trying to work on the
:41:12. > :41:16.first bit but we played to our strengths well and we were
:41:17. > :41:21.composed. Imogen, you have made a step up from the Europeans, you must
:41:22. > :41:26.be delighted with your performance in this regatta? Absolutely. We have
:41:27. > :41:30.made some technical changes since the Europeans and comment into this
:41:31. > :41:36.with more confidence and belief and that probably helped us earlier in
:41:37. > :41:41.the race when we weren't leading. And the lady behind you, Ellie
:41:42. > :41:45.Piggott, just how does it feel to have that silver medal round your
:41:46. > :41:51.neck and the World Cup regatta, what will they be saying back at home? It
:41:52. > :41:54.feels fantastic. We have had a short time to get together but the setting
:41:55. > :42:00.here is beautiful and we set out what we wanted to do, and we knew we
:42:01. > :42:04.were there or thereabouts all the way through the race so it was a
:42:05. > :42:08.case of heads down through the last bit and take it stroke by stroke.
:42:09. > :42:13.Not just first but second as well, that is a huge statement of intent
:42:14. > :42:36.across that discipline. I No, and it is a difficult event, the only
:42:37. > :42:39.Olympic lightweight women's event so there are only two seats in the
:42:40. > :42:41.country. To come first and second is exceptional for Great Britain. Great
:42:42. > :42:44.Britain two has no real international experience yet so that
:42:45. > :42:46.was a good start. Over the next two years, that is considerable
:42:47. > :42:50.competition, isn't it? Yes, but that is the sort of competition you want
:42:51. > :42:54.on a daily basis. Don't you want to say, this is my seat and I am fine?
:42:55. > :42:58.The system doesn't work like that. Everybody has an opportunity to put
:42:59. > :43:03.themselves forward. When you have got talent like that that have just
:43:04. > :43:08.rocked up after one year in the sport producing performances like
:43:09. > :43:13.that, they have so much to learn. Should there be more lightweight
:43:14. > :43:20.categories as Olympic disciplines? By and large, with respect, they do
:43:21. > :43:25.often produce better racers. Yes, because of the lightweight cut-off.
:43:26. > :43:32.It is like if you put heavyweight categories and put them in, it would
:43:33. > :43:38.make for tighter races. I think you could definitely argue the women in
:43:39. > :43:42.that event who will not make it to the Olympics, you could easily have
:43:43. > :43:48.made an Olympic place if there were more options available. Should there
:43:49. > :43:53.be? But then what do you take out? That is the debate, and that's when
:43:54. > :43:57.it gets quite nasty because we are used to a certain number of athletes
:43:58. > :44:02.and a certain class of category but maybe with the Olympic movement that
:44:03. > :44:04.might have to change in the future. It is something to be wary of as we
:44:05. > :44:07.go to Tokyo and beyond. might have to change in the future.
:44:08. > :44:11.It is something to be wary of as It is a good discussion point, but
:44:12. > :44:16.let's stay with the lightweights, the men's lightweight four and with
:44:17. > :44:22.the chopping and changing in the British team, lots of familiar names
:44:23. > :44:34.but some unfamiliar ones here. Three of the four won silver in London.
:44:35. > :44:40.Chris Bartley leads his men of the start as he has done so many times
:44:41. > :44:48.before. Driving it up through the first ten strokes. Maximum speed.
:44:49. > :44:51.The final of the men's light coxless four. The world champions, there
:44:52. > :45:05.they are. So much going on here, an event that
:45:06. > :45:16.crew average cannot exceed 70 kilograms. That 250, you can see the
:45:17. > :45:21.level platform, still quite tight. It will never be boring, it is
:45:22. > :45:29.always tight. It is a sprint from start to finish. The Danish four,
:45:30. > :45:38.what an amazing record. They have a pride in that nation. It is the
:45:39. > :45:41.flagship event for them. Denmark, if you track the rate of the crews
:45:42. > :45:49.throughout the course, they will vary. They will be up and down.
:45:50. > :45:57.Denmark go to 38 and stay on 38. None of that nonsense, we know how
:45:58. > :46:04.to train, this is how we race! Great Britain, nicely done. Easing out.
:46:05. > :46:09.They can transition to the second five. Denmark will hunt them down.
:46:10. > :46:19.This is what is exciting. They are closely together. China in lane one.
:46:20. > :46:26.New Zealand in two, Denmark, three, France, four. USA in lane number
:46:27. > :46:32.six. New Zealand and Denmark, they were the crews who did the big
:46:33. > :46:40.battle last year. New Zealand will start moving through and make an
:46:41. > :46:51.impact soon. Just starting to take the race on in the black strip. The
:46:52. > :46:58.Chambers Brothers in the British crew, closest to us. There has been
:46:59. > :47:04.a change around. Peter Chambers has moved forward to two. A little
:47:05. > :47:11.switch, splitting up the brothers. So much timing and training and
:47:12. > :47:18.analysis done back at Caversham. They are looking left. Richard
:47:19. > :47:23.Chambers in the three seat. We headed towards the halfway mark. The
:47:24. > :47:34.final of the lightweight coxless four. New Zealand taking it through
:47:35. > :47:44.the timing Park. Not much in it. In the mix, Denmark, the European
:47:45. > :47:52.champions. The world champions. Look at that lovely picture. New Zealand,
:47:53. > :47:57.silver medallists last year and a good effort so far. They are
:47:58. > :48:03.fighting to keep ahead. If you look at Denmark, the same rhythm. The
:48:04. > :48:09.same rhythm all the way through. They know they have one geared to
:48:10. > :48:13.kick up on when it is called on. They do not need it now. Great
:48:14. > :48:19.Britain, just slipping back a little of New Zealand. France are
:48:20. > :48:24.disappointing, in fourth, they were one of the heat winners and went
:48:25. > :48:29.direct to the final. At the moment New Zealand are holding the half
:48:30. > :48:41.length which in lightweight men's four rowing is a comfortable margin.
:48:42. > :48:46.The third 500 is starting to stretch them out. They are on the edge. They
:48:47. > :48:52.have more than 50 strokes to go when it's called upon through the 1500
:48:53. > :49:02.metres. Curtis Rapley in the stroke seat. Stretched out a little bit in
:49:03. > :49:06.the last 100 up to that line. Less than 50 strokes remaining. New
:49:07. > :49:13.Zealand will go one more time. Can Denmark, the world and European
:49:14. > :49:18.champions, respond? They had that level platform through the middle
:49:19. > :49:23.1000. They will have to switch on. New Zealand seem to have something
:49:24. > :49:29.in reserve. Denmark have a big job on their hands. New Zealand do not
:49:30. > :49:33.look like they are struggling. They are giving everything, but they have
:49:34. > :49:42.a relaxed rhythm. Rowing like New Zealand can do. Denmark coming under
:49:43. > :49:48.pressure from Great Britain. Great Britain will have to watch France in
:49:49. > :49:55.lane four. Great Britain is starting to hunt down Denmark. Less than a
:49:56. > :50:03.third of the silver medal position. New Zealand, they will look like
:50:04. > :50:10.they will hold it on. Less than 100, up to the line, New Zealand, hats
:50:11. > :50:14.off to them. The way they raced that second 1000. The British crew led by
:50:15. > :50:22.Chris Bartley pushes for the final time. New Zealand get the gold,
:50:23. > :50:26.Denmark having to hold off, getting the silver. Britain through in
:50:27. > :50:32.bronze. It was close on the end between Denmark and Great Britain.
:50:33. > :50:40.Out front, easily done. New Zealand getting the gold.
:50:41. > :50:47.And a good performance. We will take a break from the action and talk
:50:48. > :50:59.about Mark. What do you do when you have hung up your oar? Mark has
:51:00. > :51:08.decided not to row, so he breeds the next generation of Mark Hunters.
:51:09. > :51:15.There are 19 of you and we will have four boats on the water and four
:51:16. > :51:21.people on the tag. You will have to push your legs in the right way.
:51:22. > :51:27.After finishing in London it is, what will I do now? I have been
:51:28. > :51:33.involved in a lot of things over the past 18 months. In February I was
:51:34. > :51:36.given the opportunity to work as a programme director for the youth
:51:37. > :51:43.programme. There has been made not going on but I am loving what I do.
:51:44. > :51:46.The role has many different parts. I work with the coaches, give them
:51:47. > :51:56.advice, get involved in coaching begins. It has been a knot of fun.
:51:57. > :52:02.-- a lotta fun. Some of the kids are at performance level, training up to
:52:03. > :52:08.twice a day. Others, it is their first or second time rowing. Enjoy
:52:09. > :52:13.being outside. You can see their personality developing. I am
:52:14. > :52:18.thoroughly enjoying it. There are many things I would like to see. A
:52:19. > :52:21.kid starting this programme now and in 12 years going to the Olympic
:52:22. > :52:27.Games, that would be the biggest thing. For me, it is giving them the
:52:28. > :52:33.opportunity to take their lives in a different direction they had not
:52:34. > :52:39.thought. Problems. He was the best? We are going to find out. It is open
:52:40. > :52:45.to anyone. You do not have to come from an elitist background. I came
:52:46. > :52:48.from the East End, a working-class family. There are opportunities for
:52:49. > :52:54.everyone to get involved in the sport. This was a nice challenge to
:52:55. > :52:58.come back where I started. I remember rowing as a kid when there
:52:59. > :53:05.was nothing around here, there were just warehouses. I want to say I did
:53:06. > :53:09.my bit and got involved to help rowing Grove the kids who might not
:53:10. > :53:15.normally have the opportunity to take part -- to help it grow. What
:53:16. > :53:19.is great is some of the kids had never thought about trying this
:53:20. > :53:25.sport. Now they have the opportunity to get on the water. Some of them
:53:26. > :53:29.will fall in love with it and some will not, but at least they have the
:53:30. > :53:36.chance to try. As long as they do not fall in! That
:53:37. > :53:40.is part of the BBC campaign. Everything on the website. That area
:53:41. > :53:47.must be unrecognisable from when you first started rowing. It has changed
:53:48. > :53:51.massively. It will keep developing over that side of London. To have
:53:52. > :53:57.the opportunity for schools in the local area to start rowing, it has
:53:58. > :54:00.been a lot of fun to see the kids start their journey. Hopefully they
:54:01. > :54:08.will go on to race at these regattas. That would be uplifting.
:54:09. > :54:15.One problem is you need water. If you have access to water, how easy
:54:16. > :54:19.is it to get into the sport? You do not need a special background or to
:54:20. > :54:24.come from a special place. Water helps, but a lot of people. On the
:54:25. > :54:28.rowing machine. They can bring them into any schools around the country
:54:29. > :54:36.and have a go. We talk about role models. These kids to have someone
:54:37. > :54:41.like Mark, who started in the East End like themselves, and became
:54:42. > :54:44.Olympic champion. When you know that is a potential opportunity, if one
:54:45. > :54:52.of them gets involved in sport because they had inspiration, it
:54:53. > :54:59.makes a huge difference. In sport you can tell, they have something
:55:00. > :55:08.about them. When somebody gets in a boat, can you CD with the water? --
:55:09. > :55:16.can you see the empathy with the water? You cannot tell straightaway.
:55:17. > :55:20.Give them a chance to get involved and see if they have that side. The
:55:21. > :55:29.mental side is a big part of what we do. We can go on to be men's pair.
:55:30. > :55:40.The British crew up against the almost unbeatable New Zealand team,
:55:41. > :55:46.who have not lost for five years. Would today be the day?
:55:47. > :55:55.Away nice and clear. Easing off in the all-black strip of New Zealand
:55:56. > :56:03.in lane number three. Francine one, Britain in two. Argentina alongside
:56:04. > :56:11.New Zealand in four. Germany and five and Mexico in six. Hamish Bond
:56:12. > :56:17.driving this pair out. Going alongside them, Argentina in four.
:56:18. > :56:20.This Argentine pair raced the World Cup last year. They did not come
:56:21. > :56:30.through to the World Championships in this combination. They have World
:56:31. > :56:41.Cup experience. They know you have to go off quickly to rattle the New
:56:42. > :56:47.Zealand crew. Hamish Bond, Katherine, forget what he is doing
:56:48. > :56:54.in this pair 's race, he has beaten Drysdale, the Olympic and world
:56:55. > :56:58.champion, in the single scull. We know Hamish Bond is exceptional.
:56:59. > :57:05.They are down in the field at the moment. Germany came out fast.
:57:06. > :57:11.France in the far side in front of the home side will try to do
:57:12. > :57:18.something. New Zealand happy to sit in the pack and then wrote out
:57:19. > :57:25.relentlessly into the fields. The technique on the catch is exquisite.
:57:26. > :57:31.Argentina, in lane number four. Struggling with this pacesetter
:57:32. > :57:38.down. Look at the catch. How efficient, Hamish is picking up the
:57:39. > :57:42.boat and moving it on. It is a masterclass in how to race a pair.
:57:43. > :57:47.They are not content to hold the gap, they want more and more.
:57:48. > :57:53.Everybody is racing hard, but nobody can compete. Fantastic news that the
:57:54. > :57:57.British pair. If they get on the podium, it would be an impressive
:57:58. > :58:07.results. The French have not been shaken off completely, but from this
:58:08. > :58:12.angle, Great Britain looking good. Murray and Bond from New Zealand,
:58:13. > :58:21.they are hungry and greedy. They want more distance. They are getting
:58:22. > :58:26.it and they are not in Top Gear. New Zealand starting 2014 as they
:58:27. > :58:32.finished last year. Gold medal number 16 in a row. Look at the
:58:33. > :58:55.distance. Silver for Germany and a well fought bronze for Matt Gotrel
:58:56. > :59:03.and Bennett. Matt and Paul Bennett will be very happy with the bronze
:59:04. > :59:10.medal. The gap is huge. Well done to the British pair, but
:59:11. > :59:17.the Kiwis are good. We will look at the men's doubles. We have Jonathan
:59:18. > :59:21.Walton and John Collins in the second event. Two finals. A young
:59:22. > :59:36.combination. They are progressing well. The women, Frances Houghton.
:59:37. > :59:48.They thought they were both going well. The Australians won it with a
:59:49. > :59:56.convincing lead. Great Britain in lane six and also in the women's
:59:57. > :00:00.Quad. Germany dominant, again. We wanted to see the Great Britain
:00:01. > :00:03.women move up. They finished a disappointing fifth. The women's
:00:04. > :00:19.squad looks like they need to start again at the moment. We can move to
:00:20. > :00:24.the men's Quad. Lumbered in the stroke seat, leading them out. Now
:00:25. > :00:28.the men's Quad. Lumbered in the stroke seat, leading them out. they
:00:29. > :00:38.are up and running, two long strokes. Lehmann, the Czech
:00:39. > :00:48.Republic, China in two, Germany in three, Great Britain in four.
:00:49. > :00:56.For the next 200 metres they have got to establish a rhythm that
:00:57. > :01:00.dominates... Interesting, as we go to Andy Hodge and his recent
:01:01. > :01:06.addition to the family! Back onto this race. So Great Britain have
:01:07. > :01:11.really now got to think about establishing the rhythm to move them
:01:12. > :01:15.out here. Have that confidence because they know they have the
:01:16. > :01:24.speed. It is just combining all of that. Germany had a slightly faster
:01:25. > :01:41.start but it is early days. A quad start is almost as fast as an eight,
:01:42. > :01:46.very fast. It is all to play for. Germany through by half a length.
:01:47. > :01:50.Great Britain currently in the bronze medal position. That is the
:01:51. > :01:55.sprint part of the race finished so now we get into the transition and
:01:56. > :02:03.this will be vital for the British crew, confidence point of view. Get
:02:04. > :02:07.into a long, smooth rhythm allowing for the boat speed. This is a
:02:08. > :02:15.massive test for them because Germany now have a half lead and a
:02:16. > :02:22.good, solid rhythm. The Brits have to keep their heads and eat away at
:02:23. > :02:27.that lead, one stroke at a time. It will not happen in five or ten
:02:28. > :02:32.strokes but hopefully in about 500 metres. The German crew looked to be
:02:33. > :02:37.longer, look how long the blade is in the water to give them more
:02:38. > :02:42.leveraged off the Finnish there. Great Britain, when they come under
:02:43. > :02:50.pressure, the first thing you think about doing is shortening up and
:02:51. > :02:55.then the speed goes. If you can have that faster speed at the start, you
:02:56. > :03:01.can relax into your rhythm, your race plan, and dominate and dictate.
:03:02. > :03:06.If you are behind you are chasing and sometimes that throws you out of
:03:07. > :03:13.your natural comfort zone. It takes a cool head to stay with your plan
:03:14. > :03:18.and move up. The Olympic champions Germany leading Great Britain. They
:03:19. > :03:23.haven't managed to get away. The British on their left in lane three
:03:24. > :03:34.have Germany the Olympic champions on their right, Canada closest to us
:03:35. > :03:43.here in lane five. Peter Lambert in the stroke seat, just easing out.
:03:44. > :03:49.Now the crews will be... They are in the area where there is a big push
:03:50. > :03:56.coming on. This is where psychology plays its huge role because in the
:03:57. > :04:02.third 500 things are hurting, it is challenging and you can start to
:04:03. > :04:07.have doubts. If you are gaining momentum you start to feel you are
:04:08. > :04:11.closing down on them. We want to see Great Britain creating an overlap
:04:12. > :04:16.and that could make the change. Great Britain have put in a big
:04:17. > :04:21.push, they have kept the length going and the crew has found the
:04:22. > :04:26.speed they have often shown us in the second part of the race. They
:04:27. > :04:31.are coming back on the Olympic champions and that doesn't happen
:04:32. > :04:38.very often. It looks like they are drawing level as we speak. Coming up
:04:39. > :04:44.to 1500, 15 or so strokes remaining in this race and the British crew
:04:45. > :04:52.have found their form. They are in a platform, they have the platform to
:04:53. > :04:57.push through. Germany have led them for most of the race here, and now
:04:58. > :05:08.Great Britain, as they ease on every stroke, keep the length, boys.
:05:09. > :05:15.Lambert in the stroke seat, Graham Thomas in the bowels, and we now
:05:16. > :05:21.have two or three feet back from Germany as Britain go out to the
:05:22. > :05:25.canvas. Timed very well here. This is exactly the way to do it. If you
:05:26. > :05:33.find yourself down, take it one stroke at a time and with 500 metres
:05:34. > :05:39.to go you have to lay it down. The last push now for Great Britain. The
:05:40. > :05:47.Germans know that they have been beaten but Canada in lane five
:05:48. > :05:51.coming on hard. Germany could be rumbled by Canada in five, but
:05:52. > :05:58.outfront coming towards the line now, an impressive second 5000
:05:59. > :06:06.metres here, led by Peter Lambert, they can enjoy the last few strokes,
:06:07. > :06:15.job well done. A big statement here today, not just from the crews they
:06:16. > :06:21.look back on, but this group goes from strength to strength.
:06:22. > :06:27.That was an absolutely fantastic job, you generally had your head
:06:28. > :06:32.down boat, didn't you? Yes, that's generally how it goes in quad
:06:33. > :06:39.races. That was a really quick start today but really exciting, we came
:06:40. > :06:44.through in the last 500 metres. Going to the big man, Charlie
:06:45. > :06:49.Cozens, you had to lay it down in the last quarter of that race, it
:06:50. > :06:52.looks like you were suffering. I have seen a few pictures and it
:06:53. > :06:58.looks pretty horrific but when you are in the race, in the zone, it
:06:59. > :07:08.doesn't hurt as much as it looks like. Really happy with the result.
:07:09. > :07:13.Sam Townsend, pleased? Yes, I thought we executed the plan. Early
:07:14. > :07:18.on in the race they obviously went out very strongly, the Germans, but
:07:19. > :07:24.I could hear a lot of noise that was frantic so I always felt good about
:07:25. > :07:29.our boat. We were very calm so as soon as we started edging I felt
:07:30. > :07:34.good about the race. Is it a gold you were expecting? Yes, that is
:07:35. > :07:39.when I predicted for the day and it has been great to see that crew
:07:40. > :07:45.developed over the last 18 months. They were able to come through and
:07:46. > :07:51.they knew what they had to lay on in the last 1000 metres. Talking about
:07:52. > :07:55.consistency of selection, when you row with somebody for a long time,
:07:56. > :08:01.is it that empathy that makes the difference between... I don't know
:08:02. > :08:05.how much difference it makes, one length, two lengths, because you
:08:06. > :08:10.know what everybody behind you is doing. Yes, communication is
:08:11. > :08:17.essential because you have no time out, no time to pause in a race, you
:08:18. > :08:22.are flat out the whole way. You can only see the back of someone and you
:08:23. > :08:28.have an very minimal communication. If the race isn't going to plan, you
:08:29. > :08:32.need to have absolute trust. One or two words will be set between the
:08:33. > :08:38.crew and that time together is showing, they are coming good. A
:08:39. > :08:42.couple of the other leading boats were not there and will be there in
:08:43. > :08:48.Lucerne but you still fancy them to win. Yes, the long-term goal is to
:08:49. > :08:51.win Rio but the dominance they are showing now with those sorts of
:08:52. > :08:58.performances, I don't think they fear anybody. They are enjoying what
:08:59. > :09:02.they are doing. Another combination that has fun around each other and
:09:03. > :09:17.every race they are progressing and moving on. We are moving
:09:18. > :09:29.The women's eight away. A little bit slow in the first couple of strokes
:09:30. > :09:36.just to get off the mark by the USA, they are in lane five. The Germans,
:09:37. > :09:38.current Olympic champions, two of that crew returning here and pretty
:09:39. > :09:43.much all but one of that crew returning here and pretty
:09:44. > :09:49.World Championships crew. The Canadians will be a crew to push
:09:50. > :09:53.hard against the Americans, but in amongst it all, lane four, just
:09:54. > :10:00.where they want to be, Great Britain. We have Polly Swann coming
:10:01. > :10:08.into this crew, she has moved into the eight to strengthen this boat so
:10:09. > :10:16.it will be interesting to see what she can do. Look at the Canadians go
:10:17. > :10:22.in lane three, already half a length. You have got to race to 500
:10:23. > :10:28.metres, get as much as you can, and from there it is about defending. In
:10:29. > :10:30.the history of men's racing anyway and more and more so in the women's
:10:31. > :10:47.boats you get and more and more so in the women's
:10:48. > :10:56.won her first gold medal back in 1992. They split the Canadians from
:10:57. > :11:02.the Olympic and defending world champions, good stuff here from
:11:03. > :11:07.Great Britain. And China now into the second 500 metres. They are
:11:08. > :11:13.showing some early pace but this is awesome stuff from the Canadians. We
:11:14. > :11:19.have never seen the USA being led a length by another crew. As you say,
:11:20. > :11:23.the coxing seat of that Canadian crew, she has had seven Olympic
:11:24. > :11:34.Games and she is the voice of experience. Big calls coming out of
:11:35. > :11:42.the American boat, Schneider in the coxing seat there. At the moment
:11:43. > :11:52.Great Britain are stock now. It is going to be very difficult, when you
:11:53. > :12:02.have one length in an, very hard. -- in an eight. It is maybe not a
:12:03. > :12:06.surprise we haven't seen a fast start from them considering all of
:12:07. > :12:11.them had a tough race only a couple of hours before. There are the
:12:12. > :12:17.British girls, they all have confidence from Belgrade a few weeks
:12:18. > :12:28.ago. A newly formed crew against Romania. The Canadians lead and the
:12:29. > :12:35.US going through. That market is wrong. There it is, corrected.
:12:36. > :12:43.Canada leading, US coming back, leading over Great Britain. Down the
:12:44. > :12:47.American boat, we would expect in the third 500 metres that the
:12:48. > :12:53.Canadians will just consolidate their lead. It will be a big ask
:12:54. > :12:58.from the Americans to overhaul the Canadians. If they do that from
:12:59. > :13:02.here, it will be some going. They are closing down the lead and let's
:13:03. > :13:09.not forget the American eight have all raised earlier on today. Yet
:13:10. > :13:14.they are making a dent on the Canadian lead. Great Britain being
:13:15. > :13:20.led on the far side will stop they are just up on China, so as the
:13:21. > :13:29.Americans just start to slip away from Great Britain, Britain have got
:13:30. > :13:32.to watch China in lane two. Germany out of it at the moment, not looking
:13:33. > :13:45.like they will be anywhere near this. OK, so big calls now from the
:13:46. > :13:51.American cox, Schneider, telling the crew they will be coming back seat
:13:52. > :13:57.by seat. Both crews away from Great Britain, 500 metres remaining and
:13:58. > :14:01.the Americans have taken clear water over Great Britain, currently in
:14:02. > :14:08.third place. They are in a battle with China for the bronze medal. The
:14:09. > :14:12.United States of America are hunting down the Canadians and this will be
:14:13. > :14:17.an exceptional sprints back from the Americans. It is USA against Canada
:14:18. > :14:20.and the Americans look like they have got the better of them at the
:14:21. > :14:23.moment. They have certainly got have got the better of them at the
:14:24. > :14:30.moment. momentum on their side at the moment.
:14:31. > :14:34.have got the better of them at the moment. momentum It is the Americans
:14:35. > :14:40.who are faster to finish and coming in with a canvas over Canada with a
:14:41. > :14:45.line fast approaching. They are on full whack now but they will have
:14:46. > :14:51.two have another call. The Canadians are three or four feet down, it is a
:14:52. > :14:56.matter of whether or not there is enough course on this. They are
:14:57. > :15:15.through! That is a phenomenal second half from the American group. The
:15:16. > :15:21.Americans have taken the race by the scruff of the neck. It has been
:15:22. > :15:26.phenomenal. The second 1000. That is why the Americans are world and
:15:27. > :15:31.Olympic champions. And here for the bronze, just, Great Britain, from an
:15:32. > :15:33.unknown Chinese crew. Full Great Britain,
:15:34. > :15:36.bronze, just, Great Britain, from an unknown Chinese crew. Full the gap
:15:37. > :15:42.between them, the Americans and Canadians is just too far today.
:15:43. > :15:52.That was a fantastic race. Polly Swann, she would prefer to be in the
:15:53. > :15:59.pair. What can she do? Look at me, look at me. You do not want to do
:16:00. > :16:06.that. Anything you go into it, any crew, you make it go as fast as you
:16:07. > :16:13.can. Tim Foster did it in 1999. People who have come from other
:16:14. > :16:17.boats. From the inside, you have to make the boat workers much as you
:16:18. > :16:23.can. She has made it work and made it work faster. The only way to get
:16:24. > :16:28.attention is as part of that eight. For the first time in eight years,
:16:29. > :16:32.he is not a member of the top vote in the men's eight. But he is
:16:33. > :16:38.determined to get back their -- boat.
:16:39. > :16:47.It has been a tough six months, very dark in places. I started
:16:48. > :16:50.underperforming and started asking questions about why. That process
:16:51. > :16:58.took a long time with medical things. I found out I am allergic to
:16:59. > :17:02.dogs. We keep two dogs. It only affects me when I am right at the
:17:03. > :17:11.top of my sport. When I am hurtling down the track, my lungs are tight
:17:12. > :17:17.and the airways are closed up. I cannot breathe enough. I do not like
:17:18. > :17:20.underperforming and this season I was beaten by guys in the team I
:17:21. > :17:27.know I could beat so that was tough. The truth is they are outstanding
:17:28. > :17:32.athletes. If you look to the four, especially. If I was in charge of
:17:33. > :17:37.selection there is no way I would put me in the boat with a clear
:17:38. > :17:42.conscience. There is no weakness in there and so I have to get back to
:17:43. > :17:45.my best. I am happy with my position in the crew, with the other guys,
:17:46. > :18:01.and I have an -- a lot to offer. in the crew, with the other guys,
:18:02. > :18:04.and I have an -- a lot to offer. In Belgrade at the European
:18:05. > :18:11.Championships, it was not a bronze medal winning crew. We went through
:18:12. > :18:19.hell and high water and got the most out of ourselves. Great Britain
:18:20. > :18:21.pushing hard. Here comes rush, through-macro. On the line, a photo
:18:22. > :18:37.for the bronze medal. We stole the bronze from the Poland
:18:38. > :18:42.team. I was delighted. The feelings I had when I started rowing. They
:18:43. > :18:49.made me hungry again for the sport. That can only be a good thing. I am
:18:50. > :18:51.sure as my strength and physiology comes back, I think it will be
:18:52. > :19:05.beneficial for Rio. From the silence of the raw, the
:19:06. > :19:12.men's eights. China in one, Poland in two, Belarus in three. USA in
:19:13. > :19:23.four. Great Britain in five. So much to prove. France in six. It could go
:19:24. > :19:26.anywhere. Very tight racing the whole way down. Good to see Matt
:19:27. > :19:38.Langridge in the British crew, back in. Poland coming through. Henry
:19:39. > :19:40.Fieldman is the cox today. in. Poland coming through. Henry
:19:41. > :19:46.Fieldman is Great Britain are in lane number five. British crew were
:19:47. > :19:56.third three weeks ago at the European Championships. A different
:19:57. > :20:01.line-up this time around. The Americans, bronze medallist at the
:20:02. > :20:07.World Championships. Not the whole crew back this time. Big and strong,
:20:08. > :20:15.though. Renowned for the putting out big boats. Do not usually see them
:20:16. > :20:23.at other regatta prior to Lucerne. A lot of noise coming from the US
:20:24. > :20:36.driving seat. 500 down, Great Britain in third. The USA men's
:20:37. > :20:42.eight has not been as dominant as the women's, but it is seen as their
:20:43. > :20:47.flagship event. And they are at leading as they would want to be.
:20:48. > :20:52.The British crew are in the thick of it, where we want to see them. They
:20:53. > :20:59.were behind USA in the heat and behind Poland in the repechage. The
:21:00. > :21:11.transitional period, 600 metres, out to 750. The British have the second
:21:12. > :21:16.of those boat speeds. The British keep the length, driving on. Poland
:21:17. > :21:26.will be quick. They won the repechage to get through.
:21:27. > :21:37.The United States and Belarus qualified. We have the men's pair
:21:38. > :21:43.from the Europeans. O'Donnell has come in from the men's pair. They
:21:44. > :21:53.did well, moving up. Seeing if they can strengthen it even more. Alan
:21:54. > :21:57.Sinclair adding to the eight. The British line-up has changed since
:21:58. > :22:18.three weeks ago. Will Satch has moved into the stroke seat. John
:22:19. > :22:26.third, a brilliant rower -- Foad. Will Satch has risen to the occasion
:22:27. > :22:30.before but Great Britain, long and loose. They will have to keep their
:22:31. > :22:39.foot down. The Americans will be ruthless. The Polish are always
:22:40. > :22:47.quick in the third 500. USA are moving out at the moment. The
:22:48. > :22:55.British are pushing them hard. They seem to have a slight advantage over
:22:56. > :23:08.Poland. Henry Fieldman given the call for the cox of the crew this
:23:09. > :23:15.time around. The Americans. They are taking 37 strokes a minute, that is
:23:16. > :23:22.quick. The next timing mark, three quarters of a length, the Americans,
:23:23. > :23:26.over Great Britain. Danger zone to Great Britain over Poland. Poland
:23:27. > :23:31.could move from that, in lane number three. The British crew in lane
:23:32. > :23:37.number five. The last desperate structures. They are inside 50
:23:38. > :23:44.strokes. The Americans holding on. Scott Durant, 26 is, in the bow seat
:23:45. > :23:48.of the British crew. Matt Langridge amongst it all, one of the most
:23:49. > :23:53.outstanding athletes, alongside Pete Reed, two-time Olympic champion. The
:23:54. > :24:02.power from the middle of the boat will be called upon. It is hard to
:24:03. > :24:07.tell from the overhead angle. The USA still have the lead they need.
:24:08. > :24:23.Great Britain slipping back to third. They are pushing hard. We are
:24:24. > :24:36.in the dying stages. The Americans are going to do it. , coming harder
:24:37. > :24:42.against Great Britain. One last push. Great Britain pushing for
:24:43. > :24:46.silver. USA get the gold. Belarus get the bronze. Well done for the
:24:47. > :24:53.British in the closing stages. Belarus came storming up, but the
:24:54. > :25:03.United States on the day. You were right in it. We were in our
:25:04. > :25:10.own bubble. We said before the race we would do our own thing. We
:25:11. > :25:15.focused on one stroke at a time. I was not aware of what was going on,
:25:16. > :25:19.we stuck to our guns and got the result we were happy with. What
:25:20. > :25:27.about Lucerne, what are you looking for? Gold. Hopefully, I will not be
:25:28. > :25:34.burned, factor 50 next time! A brilliant result. A lot of gold
:25:35. > :25:45.medals, as you can see from the table.
:25:46. > :26:03.Next up, Lucerne, in three weeks, when World Cup rowing III takes
:26:04. > :26:09.place. And tomorrow, Wimbledon. Andy Murray, defending his Wimbledon
:26:10. > :26:14.crown. The first word about the men's eight. Great to hear Will
:26:15. > :26:21.Satch speaking about that. Fantastic. They will definitely move
:26:22. > :26:26.on. They were classy, they should aim for the top. It was great to
:26:27. > :26:32.hear he wants gold. I thought it was a good performance from the team
:26:33. > :26:37.overall. New people coming through, new combinations, showing they are
:26:38. > :26:42.at the forefront, things are looking good this season and next year and
:26:43. > :26:46.obviously in Rio. For ever the perfectionist, you alluded to
:26:47. > :26:52.elements in the women's side that need addressing, like what? It is
:26:53. > :26:59.fantastic. Helen and Heather are looking fantastic. There is a
:27:00. > :27:02.women's British pair that will dominate. It is great to see the
:27:03. > :27:10.women's eight the time on the podium. We know Romania will come
:27:11. > :27:15.back in, who did beat them. Women's sculling is not what you are seeing
:27:16. > :27:19.on the podium and for a long time we have seen repeated finishes on the
:27:20. > :27:25.podium. It is these events we want Britain to move up in. Is question
:27:26. > :27:30.of picking the right people, or is the talent perhaps not quite there?
:27:31. > :27:36.We have fantastic athletes. The British team has never been better
:27:37. > :27:42.supported. We have amazing work on the coaching side. We have great
:27:43. > :27:46.athletes. They have got medals at World Championships and Olympic
:27:47. > :27:49.Games. Something is not firing. I know they are doing better in
:27:50. > :28:04.training and racing, which is a problem at the moment. And you. The
:28:05. > :28:07.men's coxless four were immense. If they go like that I cannot see
:28:08. > :28:14.anybody touching them at the moment. And as long as they are having fun.
:28:15. > :28:18.They make it enjoyable to be around. Great to have you here this
:28:19. > :28:24.afternoon. We shall reassemble in three weeks for the final rowing
:28:25. > :28:29.World Cup in Lucerne, which is the same day as the football World Cup
:28:30. > :28:33.final in Rio. The only certainty is that there will be at least some
:28:34. > :29:09.British involvement in the rowing. Goodbye.
:29:10. > :29:12.So much pressure, so much expectation.
:29:13. > :29:17.It's the title that all the players want to win.