Belgrade Rowing World Cup

Well, to Trafford rowing club in the South of Manchester. Our hosts for

the coverage of the World Cup happening in Belgrade. Trafford is a

club which is being absolutely flooded at the moment with 100

junior members and 80 on the waiting list. The majority of them directly

inspired by the Team GB performance we saw in Rio nine months ago. Great

Britain are strong, just the last couple of strokes and it is Great

Britain who are the Olympic champions, and that has a fantastic

ring about it! Great Britain are going to go into the record books

with a medal and it is looking like it is going to be a silver. Gold!

They have absolutely done it. The British have come under pressure at

the halfway mark and they have responded, they are Olympic

champions, they have done it in style and that is what we expect

here. Granger... So powerful this season. Olympic silver medallists.

They are fearless, without equal, they are history makers, Great

Britain's lover and stunning win the Olympic title in such style! --

Glover and migratory. One team member who has retired after Rio is

Katherine Grainger. I would normally say was that a tough decision to

stop, I think you it was straightforward? Not as

straightforward as you would think. I thought I could walk away easier

but I have done it for 20 years and even with Rio, it is hard to walk

away from the spot, I love it and I miss it. I have stepped away and I

have time to do other things. A big new job is one of them. Yes, I

thought it was time I got a job, my parents are both pleased. I will

work part-time and also do other things. And you had an appointment

to see Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace. She drew the doors open to

many of the Olympians and Paralympian is which was wonderful.

I could collect my honour from her, which was an honour. Let's turn our

attention to Belgrade. Huge numbers of changes in the British team. Yes,

in my career, I have never seen such huge changes in personnel for the

men and the women. It has completely transformed the team we saw in Rio.

Which is a mix. It is exciting, the opportunity is great, to see this

new influx of potential athletes. The challenges, the expectations are

as high as ever. For the coaches, the team managers, the public

expectation, we all want to see huge success continuing. There have been

questions about the last 48 hours over the weather, the racing has

been moved by one hour. You've raced here and it was not pleasant ISDN.

The weather is very changeable. We had beautiful sunshine here and the

worse weather over the other side of Europe. From what we know, it might

not be a key role but it has affected timing, so time -- so some

changes to the athletes, but they know how to handle that. A lot to

come in the next races, this is what is coming up.

The first step on the road to Tokyo but some things do not change with a

new look crew on the men's four with a familiar Rio athlete returning.

Being the one survivor from Rio returning, I am starting fresh, but

I feel like a junior again. Step forward Holly Norton and Karen

Bennett in the women's pair, and they continued their recent winning

record in this event. It is the start of the Olympics and knowing

what you want in the back of your mind, that takes you forward. And we

will meet some of the new faces in the British team looking to continue

the success of their predecessors. So a lot of changes in all the

rowing teams from all round-the-world at the start of this

new Olympiad. 75% of the British team from Rio has moved on. But one

person who is not going anywhere is the head coach for the men who is

now starting his eighth British Olympic campaign. His parity has

historically been the men's four, the one athlete he has left from Rio

he was in his four is five -- is Mohamed Sbihi. Every four years, if

you like a superstar when you go to the limericks. The British under

pressure at the halfway mark, they have responded, they are the Olympic

champions. You go back to reality, it is wet and windy, you are not

fit. Being the one survivor from Rio, I am starting afresh but almost

feel like a junior again. Back again. Novelty for me, the same old

for you. You are now European and World Champion and Olympic champion.

How was that all feeling? Slightly surreal. It has not really sunk in.

I am hoping it is something that when I retire, I kind of really

appreciate. When you are not rowing and you have the time free after the

Olympics committee feel like you are analytic champion because you are

not training and the last thing he did was crossed the line first. But

in reality, it does not feel like you have a gold medal, that does not

get you anything, it does not make me faster on the water or stronger

in the gym. The challenge is to remember that I am of a standard of

an Olympic champion and also to be quite humble and honest and remember

I do not have a Tokyo gold medal, I have a Rio gold medal and that

distinction is something I am using quite a lot at the moment to get me

through training. How easy a decision was it to return? Alex and

George have left the team. Last man standing, did you have a big

conversation with yourself about whether you want to go back? I

thought I was fun to row with and they all retired. So definitely not!

I took it very personally! Going in, I always assumed I would carry on so

after I got the Bronze in London, my next four years were planned out

easily with motivation every year. I knew roughly what I wanted to

achieve and it seemed like a really short time, four years is very

manageable when you are a loser, as such. You get that gold medal and

almost instantly the next morning, I woke up and thought four years was a

long way way. When I got cold, I doubted whether I wanted to carry on

or not. What made you soon in the direction of coming back? A couple

of weeks of living the Olympic dream and partying, you get back and the

reality dawned on me very quickly that I am still quite competitive.

That competitive edge was still there and I missed the bus of

training and racing and beating the hell out of your team-mates at on

the German and in the water and the rest of the world when you get the

opportunity to go away for the World Cup -- good team-mates in the

gymnasium. That is my drive. My coach always assumed I was coming

back, but he was saying it by have not seen my best yet and that is a

good challenge to have. As long as those are the challenges, I still

will be quite motivated. What is the drive and motivation now, what more

is there to do? Good question, I kind of have everything to do in the

sport, to do it twice is impressive. If we lose every single race between

here and then, it would be horrible, but if I got another gold medal in

Tokyo, and would be very happy. What is the hope now this season? It is a

long year this year, the World Championships, still five months

away, that is the project and we want to get gold in Florida. This

first Royal Regatta will be very exciting because we do not know who

will turn up, what they will be like, what we are like. In the years

to come but and reading into it, you have a rough idea what everybody is

going to do. -- and leading into the Olympics. This year, nobody has a

clue. Yes, I am sure there will be mad things going on in the first

minutes of the race. So Mo Sbihi does not always strike me as an

athlete who wears his heart on his sleeve and he told as a lot. Yes, he

was in really good form and very honest about the chance of coming

back. It is obvious that he is the only remaining member of the four

from the Rio Olympics and he is the last man standing and he feels that

responsibility. He has transformed in his career and being one of the

younger athletes who rebelled against everything to being a bit of

a statesman now and he is aware of that in and out of the boat. You and

I have had that situation, I was very bad at it, what added pressure

is that when you are back to factor in Captain and leader? That is the

fun can you take that role on. It is a new role. There is a lot of pride

in that event and his performance, he is one of the best athletes in

the world. He wants to prove that again and he is doing it with new

guys which is a very different challenge and he is working closely

with Jurgen and they have a good relationship. This is the new look

four with the same old commentators, Gary Herbert and James Cracknell.

2013, the year after London Olympics, the coach focused on the

top boat as his the men's eight because he had gapless returning

from the previous year. Things are different this year by his own

admission, he has said it is the weakest post-Olympic team he has

dealt with and that is why they are focusing on the four. And today we

have a top four, and, with the British group looking to lay down a

massive marker. The only group returning from Neil elliptic Cup

Final last year. Netherlands in two, Russia into macro, Russia in three

and Spain on the side closest to us, five. James, Jurgen is back to the

boat he is most comfortable with. The four. Yes, he has got that since

he has been in Britain, the men's pair up he has had success with. But

the four has been the one consistent. The reality is since the

New Zealand pair retired were dominating for the last couple of

Olympics, the boat classes are all open. Here, in the four, it is the

market to see what we can do. Going through the first time in marker, a

quarter of the race down, no alarm. This is OK. Cannot remember if

Spanish four beating a British four ever. I hear you and I agree with

you. But in the context of this Royal Regatta, they have had a slow

first 500 throughout the Royal Regatta so far and they still need a

power application right in the first 500 because they know they have the

power and endurance and the speed in the middle thousands. But the

Russians also,, you have Netherlands in lane three and Russia in lane

two. It is still quite close. But you would expect them, you never

expect anything but... I expect the British four to give the Spanish

four a kicking in the first metres. And our boys have not. That is a

demonstration of raw boat speed and that is the success of the past,

they have not had pace in the middle but they have had raw boat speed and

that is what Jurgen is juggling with now. He has two the nominally gifted

athletes in Mo Sbihi at and Will Satch and it is about finding the

right combination. Great Britain's boat. Netherlands sitting in Lehman

Belgrade. What has happened in the second 500? Spain just slipping back

from the first 500 back to third in the Bronze medal position into the

third by the hundred. This Dutch second crew, they were fed at the

Olympic Games last year. Well off the pace of one of the most

outstanding British crews, with all due respect, in modern times, to my

friend on the right. That four was faster than any four by far, they

were a real class act. They were obviously Olympic champions, the

Netherlands with it. That crew is putting significant pressure against

the British group. It can see the bowel slicing through the water. You

have Russia on the far side and Spain closest. It is a long time

since Spain had been competitive in anything and now they are coming off

the pace. 37 for Great Britain so the Russians

are... Taking the high number of strokes minute at 38. James, in the

middle of the second 500 where would you expect this crew to be? Middle

of the third 500. I would expect them to have been sitting on the

bowels of the Dutch whereas they are just one man up on the Dutch coming

through. 500 metres to go. 50 strokes remaining of this men's

heavyweight four final. This is where the British team laid down

their marker, this is the flagship boat at the moment for the men's

heavyweight team. This is the boat that will lay it out for the rest of

the world. Will Austria, Italy, South Africa, Canada, United States,

will they be watching this and thinking, we can put something out

quicker and faster, given the British are finally starting to

move. It's taken 1500 metres. We've got William Satch sitting in the

seat, backed up by Sbihi, one of the strongest men out there. Tarrant

from Oxford Brookes. McBrierty subbing. I'm not going to make

excuses for the fact the Great Britain crew have a sub, such is the

standard across the whole team in terms of training, in terms of the

money that pours into this. These are all quality athletes. Any sub

who goes in will be quality. The Brits under pressure at 500 metres,

they have responded well, dominating the field. You made the comment,

what about South Africa, the Australians, the Italians, what will

they be thinking? They will think the Spanish have unearthed a gem,

discovered four amazing athletes, they will think, we can beat the

Spanish crew. They will think the British four isn't that strong.

Great Britain over the line by about half a length, Netherlands second,

Spain getting bronze today. Good result for Spain on bronze. All

focus on Great Britain. Was that good enough? Should it have been

more? A win is a win but when you put down the fact this is a flagship

boat, and Jurgen says he has inherited one of the weakest teams,

because there are people who haven't announced whether they are coming

back again, there is still much to be done. There were tweaks we had to

make to the strategy after the heat on Friday, it didn't go the way we

wanted it to. We executed a good enough race plan to do the job. We

found ourselves struggling through the second half last time, we left a

lot to make up in the last 500 metres. We try to give it more in

the first half, it paid off today. Olympic champion, Sbihi, it wasn't

the quality of the road that saw you win Olympic gold. No, definitely not

the quality, very scrappy. Very scrappy but you come away, go to the

first World Cup wanting to win, and you come away with job done. We've

got a long way to go before we start pumping out some very polished

performances. So if you can win on bad days like today, it's even more

sweet than what it is when you're humming along nicely. You go into

those races with confidence, thinking you can do it, it's not

nice when it's not perfect, but sometimes, like Mo said, on the day

when it isn't perfect, it means more. To come away with a wimp when

it wasn't the best role, I'm pretty happy with that. I suppose a win is

a win, is that enough to cover that race? If they stay in that

combination, everything can change in years to come, they will remember

being unbeaten if they continue. I don't think any of them will be

overly happy, they would have wanted it more their own way, to dominate

the race and continue where they left it last season. I think the

Spanish were surprisingly fast at the start. We haven't seen the

Spanish four for a long time, that is interesting for the event. You

don't get medals for the first 500, it is the 2000 metre full race. The

Dutch crew were not just given a hard time through the middle, they

never let the British group breakaway comfortably, they wanted

to stretch their lead, relax into the rhythm, move out, if anything

the Dutch were coming back towards the end. It will be in a comfortable

race, but it's a win. Working to tight timescales. Quite a lot of

moving parts already, even early in the season. Or Sbihi it has been a

few weeks since trial. Any of these bigger combinations, it's very early

in the season for them to feel settled. A very new combination for

the men's four. It's one of those races where you think it is a good

start, stop start, not the best start, but lots of time to get that

run. Turning to the lightweight men's double, represented by Will

Fletcher and Peter Chambers, who takes over from his brother Richard,

who has moved on to coaching with Cambridge. It's fair to say all eyes

on this field will be on the O'Donovan brothers from Ireland

Skibbereen. When they came back from Rio with silver medals, 15,000

people came to their homecoming. Let's see how both these doubles get

on. Fantastic conditions for the men's

lightweight double sculls. The crew average cannot exceed 70 kilograms

and we expect big competition. Spain in one, Netherlands two, Ireland,

Gary and Paul O'Donovan, the brothers, sitting in three. 24 years

of age, Gary, 23 Paul Quinn in the stroke seat. Going off like a

rocket. Peter Chambers and will Fletcher, new line-up in the men's

like double sculls, Great Britain city lane number four.

Has become of the first 100 metres, the O'Donovan brothers losing speed

coming to the front in name four, Chambers and Fletcher. The O'Donovan

brothers have had a fantastic year last year, they've been working,

celebrating hard since then. Now it's all about a new system, new

season. At the moment in an event that is going to become more

competitive, if the men's light coxless four is removed from the

Olympic category, this event will step up and up as being the only

event for lightweight at the Olympics. It's already the only

sculling event, is Arthur two best lightweights in every country in the

world in this boat. It's already a great event to watch. Racing wise.

It's going to become even better when you've got six athletes going

for two spots. Great Britain by three or four feet. A quarter of the

race in this final. The crew start to transition into their rhythm,

relaxed period. Putting down the power. The gutter Lane number three,

had an atrocious start. Gary and Paul having to fight. Their tag line

is bull like a dog. That's what they did to get through the Olympic Games

last year. Right at the early stages of this year, they will have to dig

deep. They are doing that, they were dropped out in the first 150 metres

and have clawed their way back in amongst the pack, as we settle into

this final. The Midway part of the second 500 metres. They didn't when

their medal in Rio by leading from the front, a scrap at the end. They

came and never doubted themselves through the middle of the race,

toughed it out at the end. What is good for our boys, they are sitting

back looking at a medal. Three quarters of a length up on the

medallists from Rio. This is what you want to see in your first race

out. They showed good form in the early rounds of the regatta. It's

fine having a nice heat, nice semi, but the final is where you want to

show your form again. The event is so competitive, four boats in a

line. Luckily our one is half a length ahead, the perfect place to

be. You know you are in for a fight in the second half. France are the

Olympic champions in this event, Great Britain taking the role

leading. Great Britain from the Czech Republic and Poland. Ireland,

the O'Donovan brothers, Chambers and Fletcher for Great Britain. Poland,

they are in Lane number five. Right up amongst it. While the crews look

relaxed, they will be working. The one you can see are toughing it out,

fighting it out, Paul O'Donovan in the stroke seat, almost every other

strip looking over his shoulder, checking the bow of the Irish vote

against the stern of the British boat. Will Fletcher on the white

backed up by Peter Chambers. The closest to us. The Czech Republic on

the outside closest to us, starting to move. We're in the third 500

metres, the most exciting part, because the crew will have got

through their race plan and it's all about cat and mouse, do you do the

bushes as required, move it forward? It's jostling for position is as

weak towards the last 500 metre mark, which will be the all or

nothing sprint. The British boys have clean entry, accurate around

the front-end. Pushing the blade in the water. If you typed it right it

makes an efficient rowing stroke. It's almost their efficiency as

opposed to the raging progression of the Irish boys behind who were last

at 500, second at 1000. So far so good. 1500 down Great Britain lead.

They cannot let up. It is the most competitive lightweight men's event

out there in terms of quality when you get to the final. They'll know

the Irish won't roll over. Peter Chambers and Will Fletcher for Great

Britain in Lane for. They've opened it up a bit. The Irish in lane three

through the first 500. Poland on the right coming on hard, the Czech

Republic on the outside. The Czech Republic coming over, they have the

overlap, strong overlap from the Czech Republic. Remember, these guys

on a level playing field. The Czech Republic taking loads out of the

British double skull, up from the Czech Republic. Coming with them,

Poland. The O'Donovan brothers on the far side keeping their heads up.

There is going to be a fight to the line. Four boats for three places.

Looks like the O'Donovan brothers will miss out on the podium. With

four going for three the crew at the front is being hounded by three

other boats. From looking control than accurate the British boys will

have to dig deep and get their racing heads on. Inside the last 100

metres, desperate stuff. On your rights, the Czech Republic keep

pushing, surely the British have done enough. Just threw in first

place. It's Poland... We wait for the full confirmation, whether it's

Poland over Ireland. It shows how competitive this event is, all of

the crews concertina ring into the line. It's early doors here but what

an event we've seen. The men's lightweight double sculls. Two names

to look out for as we head towards the next Olympics is Peter Chambers

and Will Fletcher, race winners today. What was the look on your

face in the last ten strokes? It was Peter Chambers carrying the crossed

the line, that was, it was a really good start to the Olympiad and the

season, it really was. That was a pained face, that was, I'll admit

that. It means there is work to do. A good start. You were so strong

through the middle than hanging on in the last 250. We put the ground

working in the first 1500 then hung on, it's sometimes the way you have

to do it. We did a good job. A lot more pleased with that. We'll see

what another two weeks can do before the Europeans. One race at a time,

see if we can pick them off. I caught you saying something to Will

in the last part of the race, was it a word of encouragement? I'm not

sure I do remember. That was probably the last sensible word. It

was good, though, really good. Will reflect on that place in a moment,

but before we do let's catch up with the women's race. Two very familiar

faces in the lightweight women's double. Kat Copeland and Charlotte

Taylor, for them the Rio Olympics were a series of races they would

rather forget. Since then Charlotte Taylor has become Charlotte Booth

after marrying since Rio, and both of these women will be looking to

make up after the Olympic heartbreak. Another 23 women's

lightweight double. Over to Gary and James. Charlotte Booth in the stroke

suit from Putney town rowing club. In front of the Olympic champion

from 2012 Katherine Copeland. Formerly of the Tees rowing club.

Into the third 500 metres now, they were easing in the first 500. Into

second they consolidated their rhythm, it has taken them to the

first part going through the halfway mark, now they can think, this is

going well, the first five ticks, seven 500 tick. Confidence to go for

it a little bit more. Times in training will give reassurance they

can go through all of this. Now they sit to the right and they are

watching Poland, seventh in the Olympic games last year, against

their 14th. Great Britain were second at the World Championships

the year before. They were European champions.

But from a lot Asterix bought -- to restore and so far they are doing

that. But this too bad now, we do not want a repeat of the sprint into

with the men's double sculls where they got caught as the line

approached. If they can put the race to bed in this third quarter and

power away and enjoy the last 500 metres, that would be a really good

step back onto the international circuit for them. The nice technique

and length. Yes, they look very relaxed. If I was them, but every

metre they can draw out just puts them mentally in a much better space

ball when the likes of the Netherlands and the Canadians and

the Chinese and New Zealand and South Africa arrive. 1,500 metres

fast approaching, very good third 500 for Great Britain, three

quarters of a length up. In third place, Madeleine Arlett and Emily

Craig from Great Britain but, under 23 scull, 24 years of age, the

migratory is from Edinburgh University. They are starting to

push up and what a result. They have 500 metres to take out Poland who

were saddened at the Olympic Games and lay down their own market to

keep it competitive because what you're looking at in your screen

from Great Britain one and two, four sculls going for two places in this

highly competitive event. The crew on the right is a less experienced

in amongst it, Poland starting respond -- starting to respond and

Arlett and Craig pushing hard. Poland have taken half the distance

back on the British and is similar to the men's double sculls, dominant

at three quarters distance and now involved in a sprint finish. If

there is fragility in their mind off the back of Rio, this is where it

will come into play. The Copeland and Booth have just come through

with no response. Still long in the British crew but Poland shortened

the length, the rate went up and they went straight through. They

will be caught by the British number two because that will have hurt them

psychologically, they got rammed through like a truck going through a

wall, either polls. Taking a stroke. Diverted in the last 250 metres.

Just when it Great Britain one thought they were comfortable, a

length up, Poland changed again and they came on hard and they took

Britain out of the picture. It looked as though Copeland and Booth

from Great Britain just allowed them to come through, there was no

obvious response to that. Poland one, Great Britain one in second

place, Arlett and Craig Bird, a good result but is still some way off the

British School number one. That much great and then unravelled

a bit. Yes, we were hoping to see the perfect start to the season,

they had quite a traumatic time in Rio and it is great to see them back

in a boat together and sculling better than we have seen them for a

long time. They were world medallists and they have had great

history but the shadow of Rio is very strong and disappointment for

that. For most of the race, they showed what they were capable of and

what they can be capable of the game. They will be disappointed to

be pushed away dramatically by Poland in the end, but they have put

a big chunk of race back in place and I do think it is very early in

the season with a lot to be done, and other great lightweight women in

the race. For them, hopefully it is the turn of a page. Let's go back to

the man, lecture and Chambers. A great win. Absolutely. I know a lot

of the events are not full at this event, but the men's is always Fast

and Furious, never easy to win. And a new British combination. And that

position we have been in before, you are in a medium position and the

sprint to the finish is relentless and brutal. Fabulous to be in the

middle of it. Anything can happen and to see the Irish medallists from

Rio missing outside completely in that first international race, a lot

is happening in that weight. With the proposal the lightweight four

gets dropped, the compression of talent across the country is, that

event will get harder and harder. Yes, when we saw six seats for the

lightweight rowing, both very competitive, if you go from six to

two, that will go off the scale. Thank you so much for having us at

Trafford Rowing Club in such beautiful weather, which is much

better than Belgrade today. Is it like this every day? Of course. You

are the captain, what is that involve. I look after the squads

overall. I have vice Captains who helped do that and that is split

between the men and the women and the recreational juniors. I have

covered everyone, I think. And I also make sure that we have got the

boat is allocated for the various squads. I make sure we have got

entries in our time, I do not do the entries but I chase people up. Are

you wanting to race? The biggest challenge of the job? Being

diplomatic! I have been here seven years. I learnt to row in Devon on

the sea and came up here to a canal, which is not very similar! How big

is the club and what is the make up? We have had a cast of thousands this

morning. The current junior numbers are about 101. And we currently have

a waiting list of at least 80 juniors wanting to learn to row as

well, so trying to go through those, and then it is placing them into the

various squads after that. Relying a lot and junior coaches and

volunteers to make sure everyone gets a chance to get out on the

water. We were talking about international racing today, how is

the international rowing world having an impact on numbers taking

part, is there a transfer? A huge peak during the Olympics. We do

really well. During the Olympics. And so we offered taster days during

the rowing in the last Olympics. And we were inundated. And we had a

really good turnout of people signing up to join another waiting

list for juniors and adults, waiting to go through our row start course

to join the club. So to the men's pair and for the first time since

2009, there are no big Kiwis on the circuit at all. Derek Murray has

retired and Hamish Bond has turned his hands to cycling, we look

forward to seeing how he will get on. For the British, a new

combination. It is Matt Rossiter and Jacob Dawson for Great Britain, this

is how they got on. New Zealand have dominated

everything that ever raced, 69 wins, beating 32 countries. And they have

racked up the records with that. It is open doors now because it one of

them has retired, Murray has retired. Bond is cycling and looking

to get into the New Zealand team for Tokyo. That has opened up

everything. This is what Great Britain, Dawson and Rossiter, are

doing. Slow to begin with. If you talk about the four and the eight,

the British pair is on the back foot in terms of ranking. Yes, the

experience comes from being in the final at the under 23 is, it is not

the two premier athletes in the team competing, it is part of the men's

squirt and Jurgen is shuffling his debt and seeing what is coming out.

They progressed well to the final, they are in the middle lane, not the

strongest field but you have to be competitive and race the people in

the team. Jurgen Grobler said it is the weakest team he has been in

charge of for a while, but the programme is good and you feel

people through that and in that programme, they are doing the work

to help get guys meddles in Rio and in Beijing but and there is no

reason to expect anything other than that it would improve as the season

and this race goes on. They will be strong in the third quarter than

most of the other crews. On home water through the first 500 from

Serbia, Nenad Bedik and Milos Vasic. The crew is now moving into the

second 500 metres. A good start from a Dawson and Rossiter in their

senior international career together, coached by the... Jurgen

Grobler's right-hand man. A lot of experience with these guys. They

finished second at the trials. The recent final trials. Actor Will

Satch and Mo Sbihi. They were allowed to stay in the pair. They

are in the mix. The British crew. The checking in the second 500 and

they have checked Serbia in the second 500. The British boys looking

in control. Serbia looks more racy. You would say that is a good thing

in the last 100m, but they are a long way from home. Great Britain

should not let them call out more inches and I think they will have

enough in attack but to put in a good sprint. Less strokes per minute

at the minutes, putting in more speed. The programme and was talking

about, the strength and depth and injuries, that will come to the fore

and I expect us to row them down. Great Britain taking 1/ less per

minute and Serbia which is a good position in the second five knowing

you have checked that. Going through the halfway mark in this final men's

pair in the first World Cup regatta, the British crew of Matt Rossiter

and Jacob Dawson is putting down a nice mark-up. We talked about easy

speed, nothing is a given, but she want efficient speed. In the second

500 coming you saw the British crew demonstrate that, they were taking

one at stroke less and getting better speed. Good length and nice

ribbon and relaxing. You have to turn it on, so you can do. The bow

is out to about a campus, just a bit more. The confidence is rising. So

the Serbian pair stretching out and pushing hard, but the race leaders

are clear water between these guys. It is looking like a home team

Serbia are being led by Great Britain. Yes, in the second 500,

Serbia racing could and our guys are in control and this is where they

will withdraw on the good winter's training. They have not got a real

hangover, they did not go to Rio and they want to go to Tokyo so the

hunger to get back in with the training was probably more than the

other guys who have returned from the Olympics and are still deciding

whether they will go to Tokyo. These guys said, I will stake my claim,

they did that at trials coming second and carrying on the pair

rather than going onto the eight which looks like a good decision at

the moment. Nenad Bedik and Milos Vasic. The Netherlands in that the

number one. The two crews outfront comfortably, Great Britain and

Serbia. The Czech Republic in that lane at number six, Jakub Podrazil,

very good in that third 500 metres. The British boys still looking in

control from the outside. You can see the grimace on the face. Rowing

backwards so the Serbs can't see the British boys are sticking it on. If

they got given a sniff they may well with the home crowd fancy their

chance in a sprint to the line but at the moment... It's not over,

James. I would wager the Brits are going to move away. They will have

it their own way. Still hanging on for dear life. That band is going to

get snapped, don't worry, they are going to disappear down the plug

hole, those Serbs. Pressure on the foot structure, powering those legs

down, they move away and say, not today thank you very much. Well

timed, well executed, step-by-step through this now.

Rossiter, Dawson, clear from Serbia. Czech Republic getting the bronze

medal, everybody else assigned to another time, another Dave.

Jacob, what an introduction to international rowing for you. Thank

you, definitely an experience, special moment to break the dumpling

if you will. Big celebrations for you at the finish. Seven years or

something since your first international race, animating stat.

So I did the British age group stuff then had a bad back injury and

worked really hard to get back to this level. It means the absolute

world to me, I've had good support from the University of London and

the club really helped me on my way. It means so much, that's probably

why celebrations were over the top. You can enjoy when you win. Now the

Kiwi pair have retired there is a gap. But to say we will fill that,

but nice to get the win today. You are back from the US system into the

British system, smooth transition. It took a little while to get used

to the different kind of psyche of University rowing compared to

full-time training, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I love

rowing, again, it's a great time. The men's pair another win, what did

you make of that? Fantastic, two new guys in the team. Maturity. They

were leading from the start, halfway they started to move through then

had the confidence, that length of rhythm to move through the whole

thing. Serbia had a challenge, they want to make an impact in front of

the home crowd, the Brits held them off. A lot of potential. It's where

the British team is now, very new, inexperienced people, winning World

Cup straightaway. The women's quad is new. Stroked by Jess Leyden, the

only British woman to have won and international schools championship.

Let's find out more. I first started rowing at a rowing

club, a project they ran cold project or some, it was run through

a high school, so the school would put on a minibus every week and

either go down and I got the bug from there and kept going through

the summer. I love turning up every day, we've

got new sessions, new challenges, I just love the hard graft.

I don't know, sorry, can I think about this? The weather, yeah.

My first national win and my single, my coach went out and said, do the

best you can, we had no idea where I would come, and I managed to win it,

so it gave me the bug for national racing and it led on from there,

really. I would really love a go at boxing,

but if I wasn't a row for my career, I would really want to be an

engineer when I grow up. I don't keep any talented and, they

are few and far between, but hobbies, I'm doing an open

University engineering degree at the moment and I really enjoy that.

It's the one thing I'm putting everything I have into, and yeah,

just care about it a lot. Another event with just three crews

entered today, so over to Gary and James to talk through the closing

stages of this race. We're at the halfway mark and the second 500 for

Great Britain's Leyden, Nixon, Bethany Brydon, Matilda

Hodgkins-Byrne, they were into the second five with their powers inched

ahead of the Netherlands in Lane number one. The Olympic silver

medallists, two returning from that crew. Outfront consolidating what

they had at the 500 metres, Poland opened up Clearwater. You would

expect a strong third 500. The rain has continue to come down here at

the lake in Belgrade, it's keeping the wind away, keeping the water

flat. We seems good technique out this Olympic bronze medal crew. --

we've seen some good technique. It's easy to look relaxed when you are

over a length up. The polls look to have got a taste for the medals from

Rio. They can claw back on the Germans who were the Olympic

champions, who are not here. -- the Poles. Already a length up on the

silver medallists from last year, so they've had a good winter. Many

crews deciding whether to carry on or not for the four years to Tokyo.

The Poles think, let's make sure we are a step higher next time around.

They started off this Olympiad really well, the Dutch as ever

consistent in the second half. The Brits in danger of being

disconnected. Into the third timing mark. What you can see, Netherlands

in Lane number one probably had the better of the three crews across the

time. They've inched back on Poland. Netherlands, the Olympic silver

medallists, two returning from that crew.

Pushing on for the Netherlands in one. Your race leaders, Poland,

there is an Olympic bronze medallist from last year, two of the crew

returning. They have a 21-year-old stepping up

from the under 23 is over the last couple of years. They look to the

left. They are focused on the bowels of the Netherlands in one, putting

them down. Still Clearwater but enough pressure being put on. As the

camera comes out we see the bowels of the crew in third, Great Britain.

James, you would have hoped, the British would have hoped to be

closer, in amongst the mix in this opening regatta. It's difficult when

you have crew number two and three in the world from last year and no

other crew. If they bring six, they might have found themselves fourth

or fifth. Right now, they are a long way at the back, it'll be a lonely

place to be. Poland over the line by one length, Great Britain coming

third. Will reflect on the women's result in a minute but turn our

attention to the men's quadruple skull, they looked so good in 2014

and 2015 but injury and illness put paid to their chances in the

Olympics in Rio where they finished fifth. This is a new combination for

a new Olympiad. Over to Gary and James. Great Britain won from

Lithuania, Poland, Great Britain two. The Netherlands and Estonia. A

lot of progress here. You mentioned the strength through the Olympiad.

They didn't seal a medal in Rio, in 2013 they were the first British

club to get a medal, and backed it up the next year. They were still in

the Olympic final, which hasn't happened regularly at all. The

hangover from that is a good one in that not many of the guys have

dropped out. Unlike the rowing team of blister rated by retirement as

the scholars feel they haven't finished the deal. -- obliterated by

retirement. They have more experience within the squad and the

rowing team it's a case of getting the right blend into the quad. They

need to start off by showing the Poles a good race. Stannard

responsible for coaching the British number one quad. The Poles came

fourth in Rio. The perfect place for them to see their true speed. The

Estonians on the podium last year, the Poles in the final, have been

consistently, this is where they can find out. Halfway mark. Three boats

neck to neck. Great Britain just ahead of claim four, Lithuania.

Poland from Great Britain and Lithuania, all those boats class

boat in an event that will get stronger and stronger. The speed of

these things, the technique. Upon moving, stylish with them here.

Coming out from John Collins in the stroke seat, backed up by Walton.

Discord were in a final, they've good strength in depth. The Poles

have been strong historically. Our boys right in the mix with the key

players in this field. Within a metre of each other with 1200 metres

gone. It's going to be exciting and painful. Lithuania coming right in

their on the that pair were part of the ninth

place quadruple skull from the Olympic Games.

They have plenty of experience. Lithuania taking it on as the crew

step out from the third 500 into the last quarter where they start to

unleash the power, the speed will go up, the rate, they will start

raising really hard, all or nothing in the last 500 metres. Lithuania

went slightly ahead of the 1500 metre line, bringing Poland with

them. We will see whether Great Britain are going to react. In about

100, 150 metres, coming into it out of the 1500 metre mark, Lithuania

jumped away from Great Britain. Going with them was Poland. The

British have to respond. The Lithuanians have led their cards on

the table, this is what we've got. They've gone early and take in the

race by the scruff of the neck. If they'd gone too early it'll only be

found out if the crew pressurises them. If they crack the other crew,

the Lithuanians have gone, but if the polls think they've gone early,

we can get them, they have a chance to see if they really did go too

early. The Lithuanians right now they're brave move seems to be

paying off. Australia are the Olympic silver medallists, watching

all of this, very important whoever wins today. You've got to win

this... You know they are lurking out there. You want a big statement,

that is what Lithuania have done, they have opened up Clearwater in

the opening stages. Lithuania from Poland and Great Britain. All right

for the British, the quadruple skull, it is new, they know they've

got people coming back in, it can be strengthened, it'll go faster. Do

you feel they are roughly the same? Hard to compare. There were only

three boat in the women's event, then to get the bronze medal. Such a

hard medal to win because you know you came last but you still get a

medal. What you need to take with that women's event is the gold and

silver medallists on the podium, 50% of both crews were medallists at the

rear Olympics. The British crew, very new, young, inexperienced on

that level of competition... They were down on the finish line but

there were moments in that race where they showed they had

potential, class, what it takes. If you are looking at the long term.

Bronze medal... Any medal is wonderful, to win by coming last in

your event is hard. It's a first step for them, so it's great. The

men were very competitive in the middle of their race. The men... The

crew is new, Johnny and John, the stern pair, they came fifth in the

men's doubles in Rio, used to being in the smaller doubles boat. It'll

be a priority event of the men's team, the quad. They showed some

really great sculling in the middle of it. They might be disappointed to

finish in bronze, but the Lithuanians looked very classy

today. Again, it's a first step. There have been two names in the

last eight years with women's growing, that is claw-back and

stunning. In Rio, they were dominant, winning their second gold

medal at the Olympic Games. Since then, Heather has called it a day,

returning to the Army, and Helen has taken a break. But two new names are

in the women's pair, Holly Norton has made her senior debut in 2015

and she is joined by Olympic Silver Medallist Karen Bennett. We went to

meet them. These are the moments we live for, the crowd is willing them

on, Great Britain will go into the record books with a medal! BAFTA

Rio, incredible success, your first Olympics, silver medal. It is

looking like a silver. Hang on, they have done it! What are your thoughts

in a few months later? It is still settling in, does that sound weird?

I am not sure. I still cannot quite believe I do have a silver medal and

I had been to the Olympics. Sometimes I will be chilling at home

on the sofa with my jogging pants on and I will see the Olympics and I

will say, those are my jogging pants! As you do! The memories, I

will always have them with me and take them with me. That he was such

a great team. The high of Rio was so immense and fully enjoyed. Did you

have a come down? I struggled in the winter time. Mostly January and

December. The course I was very unfit. Because at had a great time

after Rio. -- because I was very unfit and I had a great time after

Rio. It was cold and getting up early was not great. It is the start

of the Olympiad and you look forward and you think, I have another four

gears of this. But knowing what you want in your mind takes you forward.

That is what keeps you motivated and what you want to do every day. It

was tough, but what is easy in life? If it was easy, why would you do it?

Leading up to the Olympics in Rio, you are relatively new on the scene

and now within six months, Iwata one of the most experienced, one of the

people of the other athletes look up to -- you are one a quick change in

a short space of time. Yes, a big change and everybody says, you are

experienced attack -- experienced one, and I say, hold on, I am not.

It is nice and I am here if everybody wants to chat, like you

were when I came into the team, I like to think I can have that same

job. Does it feel like you're starting again building on what

happened in Rio? I feel like it is building on happened in Rio,

individually. But as a team, it feels like starting from zero. From

day one. Not in a bad way, in a good way, because it is such a different

team. What coach will you be in this season? I am not sure, I am in a

pair with Holly Norton for the first World Cup and European

Championships, that is going forward for that. After that, I am not sure.

What is your ambition for the year? I want to go to the World

Championships and get a medal, that is my aim and my dream. It is a bit

addictive, that winning thing! I know, it really is! Just three crews

today so over to Gary and James for the closing stages of the race.

But in a bit of washing now over the Netherlands in the one who are being

pushed on by Netherlands two in lane three. Three boats in this final but

for Great Britain's Bennett and Norton, it is establishing their

place and this is the fastest women's pair in Great Britain, a won

the trials and for them, it is setting down a big market in this

event that has been dominated by Glover and stunning over the last

Olympiad. Glover taking time out to think about what she is doing and

Heather Stanning has announced her retirement. So it has opened up.

This is a boat that Bennett and Norton can make their own. 35

strokes a minute, looking good in the first 1,000. Out quick, a

consolidated in the middle and in the third five, they have to make

sure everything they have done sets them up for any charge from Lies

Rustenburg. Karen Bennett is amongst the British crew that came second.

The Dutch just digging now. They will also send a message out not to

the opposition, but the British coaches to leave them in the boat

they have chosen to row in and dominate the field. They were

inching away nicely and the Dutch have moved back a metre and a metre

and a half. Over the last minutes of this race, my aim would be to get a

length ahead. It has been a bit sticky for Karen Bennett and Holly

Norton in the last 200m. 1,500 metres in the first World Cup

regatta in Belgrade. Just needing to inch out. Every stroke, take a

couple of inches without having to fight for it. Because the Dutch have

had the better in terms of timing and movement in the third 500

metres. The British girls just starting to stop their movement as

they came through. I think they will get to a length by the finish. If

they want to stay in this boat, they need to and that is a do -- big

difference between three quarters of a length. If you are a length up,

you have got more in the tank. This length, you still danger zone. 2-1

up in a football match, it can all change. The Dutch have pushed on

hard but Bennett and Norton inside the last 200m coming towards the

line. They have to respond because it is just about positioning and

putting down a marker and that is what Bennett and Norton have done. A

win is a win. Just hold fire and keep your heads up and keep your

length so everything Rustenburg and van Veen push at them, this

experienced cohesion from Great Britain. We are opening up towards

the line. It is a very good start for the women's pair of Karen

Bennett and Holly Norton, an event rate Britain have dominated over the

last two Olympics. Half an event on the day, that is OK and just enough

to give them a slight edge of disappointment that we would have

wanted a little bit more, more to work on next time out.

It was good to get out and see what was happening and win the race,

which is great. World Cup leader at this stage and it will be very

interesting, the Olympic champions Heather Stanning and Helen Glover

not in it any more, looking towards the World Championships after that

medal success? We are just taking it one race at a time, it is a long

season and still early days and without thinking about the first

World Cup and now we will focus on European Championships and take it

that stage, we do not want to get too ahead of ourselves. That is the

ultimate goal, to hopefully follow in their footsteps and heads to a

World Championships is. But it is just one race at a time. In the

commentary booth, they said the two British had big shoes to fill, is

there a sense you have got that act to follow from Helen Glover and

Heather Stanning? Definitely, but the great thing about Ben is that

they are British. And also, we trained with them and we know, their

scores, we know that if we can touch on what they have done, that is

something special. And I think it is really good we have got that as a

reference. We both still talk to them now and they are really

supportive and we can always go up to them if we want any advice. Thank

you very much. How old are you? 13. I have been growing two years. Why

on Earth did you get started in this crazy sport? I have always loved

sport but I have never found mine and this was another trial and I

loved it. What made you come here? My brother started before me so it

was just trying it. Do you have ambitions, do you do it because you

love it? I do want to get higher up in sport because I have always loved

competing. See how it pans out in the future. How much time do you

spend at the club? I come down twice in the week and either day at the

weekend. Do you watch rowing on the television would you not have time

to do that? Definitely, it is the bond to see you racing. I queued you

up for that! A fan of the Olympics? Definitely, in all sports, not just

rowing. We will keep to rowing forever? Probably. Will we see you

at the Olympic aims one day? Hopefully! That I will see you

there! An athlete Katherine Grainger knows well, Vicky Thornley going for

Great Britain. Do you get the sense that throughout your time with her

she is hankering to do the single? No, I hope not! I had not thought of

that! The double was our focus and that was great. She had been racing

in the single and I knew that she was going to continue longer term.

And to be honest, it is eight boat you really need to want to do, it is

quite different from everything else in rowing and there is a different

mentality. If you have a great coach and a great combination, you can do

amazing things and she really wants to crack it. We have never really

had a British woman to crack it before. You did quite well! I did it

for one year and made it to the World Championships which was

wonderful. I loved it, it was one of the bigger challenges in rowing. It

is difficult to compete in, exciting and dramatic and you have complete

control. I did miss the team element of people around me to motivate and

to motivate me. For Vicky, that is almost exactly why she wants to do

it, to do it on her own. Vicky but out a bloodthirsty picture on the

back of her hand sculling. Taking chunks out of her right hand. Sorry

if it has put you off is your cup of tea! That is the self-mutilation in

sculling. She is obviously a very successful Olympian and that still

happens. She has been it in the boat a while and she came back into the

team in January so it is a short space of time to set up, but blood,

sweat and tears is crucial. So a special shout out to Ekaterina

Karsten who is starting a sixth international season. At first was

brought the Soviet Union. Great Britain tucked away, Vicky

Thornley Elaine four and in position, that is OK, that is all

right. You expect the scholars to stretch out. Really bright and

lively start from the Magdalena Lobnig, of Austria. The Norton just

a little bit lower in the second 500 metres. When she has done the single

previously, she has been, the weaker section has been the third quarter

which she is in now. She is in fourth place now. It would be a

great results to get on the podium. If she is going to do that, she

needs to go now and just not get dropped by eight the Karsten, in

third. -- dropped by Karsten. Gorgeous conditions, this is the

conditions they relish. And Ekaterina Karsten, her traditional

long and easy in stroke, and the power that goes down, you never see

a massive change in rate. She puts the power down and squeezes, minimal

changes in the rate, she is procompetitive, in layman two. The

two time former Olympic champion, Ekaterina Karsten, from Belarus.

Four. The race leader Magdalena Lobnig. This is where Vicky needs to

go now, halfway through. Sensational scull at the 1,000 metres up for

Austria's Magdalena Lobnig and she has opened up Clearwater. To

Switzerland, Austria, Belarus and rate Britain. This is where it Vicky

has struggled in the past, this 500 metres, this is where she needs to

move on. Switzerland is a long way ahead but she is in the mix for

silver. The Jeannine Gmelin has had a sensational second 500 and she

kicks on from a Magdalena Lobnig. This is like a psychological battle.

She is taking it on, sprinting out and taking on the marathon and

trying to break Habberfield and to have done enough so when they come

back as they will do towards the end, you have done enough in

distance to hold onto York position. This is a lesson, from being at the

sharp end of the field in Rio. They went into the doubles event at the

Olympics not sure where they were, first they had to make the final,

then the podium. It will have given them a huge amount of confidence

leading into this race. If she can get a medal, a silver medal, it

would be a great way to start off before the likes of Australia and

New Zealand come into the mix. 6'3" tall, long strokes. She's got the

power, got the Lethbridge, she knows that. We haven't had a push. You can

see the boughs, the crowd responding. The British supporters

responding to lane five, Vicky Thornley moving up into second

position. Way out front, the Swiss taking on three quarters of the race

gone. About 50 strokes remaining. A sensational position so far. The

Swiss has taken it on and said, if you want to do something here, you

have to go with me. Hard to see how she'll be caught from that. What

Ricky has in her locker if she is taking a couple of strokes a minute

less than both Austria and Belarus. She has room to get the extra speed

from the extra strokes. And she can fight Gmelin on another day. She

took a fair bit of time off after Rio. Bit of nip and tuck from blame

number four. Not letting Thornley have the silver medal on a plate.

The rate has come up from the Austrian sculler, Lobnig. Lobnig

back into silver medal position. Not much in it. We need to see dynamic

change of speed from Vicky Thornley for the Great Britain sculler. She's

responding. Up comes the rate, squeezing the power, she knows she

is the experience, the confidence, little look left ear. Vicky Thornley

for Great Britain out front. Gmelin from Switzerland has made the race

her own. The sculler is going up to the line, finally more speed, more

rate coming from Vicky Thornley. She'll have to do it because Lobnig

from Austria is making it hard. The fight is on to the line. Out front,

Gmelin opens 2017 in fine form and the silver medal goes to Vicky

Thornley, holding off Lobnig on the line. Great start to 2007 four Vicky

Thornley. Destiny in her hands. If she wants to stay in the women's

singles skull, to challenge for medals, it's down to her and her

coach, Paul Reed. So far it's been a brilliant start. Really good start

the season, happy with that. What was the best part of that race for

you? I had more of a sprint than I thought. I put the hard work in in

the first 500. I knew people would still keep having a go no matter how

much I put into the third. I was happy how I control is how I wanted

to move and when. You looked magnificent through there. Your

coach was saying he didn't think you could get the rate up but you proved

him wrong in that sprint for the line. He says don't worry about the

rhythm, try to get up the side as quick as possible, so I took that on

board. More to come in the middle I'm rating low. The single middle

field is open. I'm looking forward to going home and putting some

things in place, see how the Europeans go in three weeks. A good

start for me, I'm really happy. Vicky Thornley there. A tough field,

her first event, a medal. That is what sculling can be like, everyone

talks about it being a gladiatorial event. The reactions and changes are

so fast in a boat on your own, you are the only one who has to react.

The boat speed is such you can change very quickly. The single

skull moves around more. She's gone through the field, into silver, she

was never going to challenge for gold today. So the silver was back

under threat, that is when you are on your own, no one else can make

the call, push you further. She fought to the end, that is what

you'll walk away with, she won that battle. Not the fact she got silver

behind goal, she won the battle for silver and bronze, it'll give her so

much going forward. Not enough entries for a women's eights event

in Belgrade, so we finish coverage with the men's race. The GB eight

yet again had a new combination. One man left standing from the

gold-medal crew in Rio. Tom Ransley. Over to Gary and James. The way for

the men's eight blue ribbon event, four entries. There will still be a

good benchmark for Great Britain to lay down. A new line-up from the

Olympic eight that won in spectacular fashion last year. The

Netherlands in one, Poland in a number two, Russia in Lane number

four. Already quick starts. Top, the Dutch. It's a University crew

selected. The first time it's been done since the 70s. There is the

British crew. Tom Ransley sitting in the middle of that, in the five seat

Olympic champion from last year. The British crew have to stretch out

now. Good start, lovely, look at the beautiful water. Stunning. Four

cruise weaving along. Lane but, Netherlands. The Polish

will always be quick. Not much in it here as we go through the first time

in 1:20 one. Good, quick time. The crews will start to stretch out. Let

me take you through the British crew. Amstrad well, Tim Clark,

Samuel are not. Cameron Brannagan, Tom Ransley, add a meal, James

Rudkin at seven, Tom Ford. Leading the crew down the course is Henry

Fieldman, very experienced. Age 20 eight. In the shadow of Phelan Hill

in the last Olympiad. He's retired. The Dutch crew, the crew from the

university, they will have been well drilled together but the ultimate

undoing will be a lack of strength so as the race goes on they may get

out of it and the Poles are a good unit, but not exceptional. The

British, it may be closer than it has been in previous years, but I

would favour them. Especially from 1250 metres to 1750, halfway coming

up any minute. Just shy of quarter of a length over the Netherlands,

Great Britain leading. Very respectable for this young crew,

combination of under 23s. They can still be strengthened. Still class

athletes to come back into this. Whether they come in this year, a

lot recovering from injury, illness, surgery, Lee Cook out there

completing his studies. Good start so far from a crew that can be

strengthened as we go through the year, as we go through the Olympiad,

early stages. This is where they need... They've got canvas over the

Dutch in lane one. You want to just be another couple of meters ahead so

you don't get involved in a ding-dong sprint for the line. It is

a new formation, as soon as you start pressing the throttle too

much, it'll become ragged. We want to have a little in hand as the

combination. This is where they can take it out of the Dutch, they are

university students, not full-time athletes. Watch the boat, the Dutch

boat, flying. For University College crew here, they are well within

contention here. With all due respect to the British crew. The

first 500 from a speed perspective, Netherlands in their number one, a

College crew, have not let Great Britain go. 50 strokes remain. This

is where you will see the Netherlands really start... If they

want to have a go at this they have to throw everything, keep their

composure. The boat running nicely. Better length in the British crew.

Long and right up to it. I seem to have my rose tinted spectacles on

when it comes to the depth and strength we have in the team. I was

disappointed they didn't move further away. We have a race on.

Lane number one. The first female cox here, and an international level

woman coxing a men's crew, driving on. The Dutch crew from the

Netherlands taking on the Great Britain crew in their number three,

in amongst it, Poland to the right. Russia out of the picture. Strength

and determination is going to be Britain's thing they rely on. Let's

see what's happening. The Dutch crew, the College crew representing

the Netherlands in one. Netherlands going up, Great Britain going up,

and the Netherlands have beaten the College crew from the Netherlands

have taken out in such spectacular form the crew from Great Britain.

That is a major, major upset. A good race, hard race. I think we went off

with the intent we wanted. We learned a lot out there. Confident

there will be more to come. Still very early in this project, so... A

different feel for you from the eight in Rio to this crew. What was

it like in the middle of the race? Struck that and perhaps you would

expect from such early part of the season. It's a new eight. Last time

it was a four year project, as the underlit, polished. On a sharp

learning curve. I thought we did well. Plenty we can take home an

improved for the next race. Such an exciting race, you must have thought

you had it in the bag with 500 metres to go, than that tremendous

Dutch charge. I would never let myself think it's over. I thought we

were going well through the 500, as we went through the gears we were

going well but we didn't have enough on the day. We'll go home, lick our

wounds, analyse more. You're looking forward to the Europeans. What is

the potential for this crew? There is a huge amount of potential. We're

fortunate to have such a big base of athletes. We're really well

supported from the national lottery. There is so much expertise in the

coaches and stuff, I'm sure over the next few weeks we're going to step

on and the Europeans hard. That it from the racing in Belgrade. The

training sessions have come to an end here in Trafford as well. We're

back in three weeks with coverage of the European rowing Championships

from the Czech Republic. That is Sunday 28th of May on BBC Two from

330. Don't forget there are highlights from the opening Diamond

League athletics event of the season in Qatar. That's tomorrow afternoon

from 1pm. Before we finish, let's have a little chat about the men's

eight, what did you make of it? Amazing race, take away the bias.

Very exciting race, what it should be. Hugely disappointing for the

British team, I know they are new, she said, only Tom still in there

from the Rio boat. We can't have huge expectations, they will still

want to win. Overall from the British team? I could be wrong, in

my card I made 11 votes. The 11th was fourth place. Positive results

wise. With the caveat some of the big nations are missing. USA,

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany to come in. You race or is

there. We both know you take on the opposition that is there. Some

exciting performances already I think work well for the future and

this is the first learning step. Team GB will leave with a lot of

medals but knowing where to go next. It's crucial looking forward. You

can see exactly where we're going next. A special thank you to

Trafford rowing club for all their hospitality today. I think we've run

them out of tea bags. Until the European Championships in three

weeks, it's goodbye. Surely the British have done just enough. Very

good start for the women's pair of Great Britain. The Netherlands have

taken out the crew from Great Britain. A really nice way to get

your first World Cup victory. Three reasons we love Eurovision -

the costumes. Ah, yes!

Who could forget the milkmaids? The passion.

We are unstoppable.