Poznan Rowing World Cup

Welcome to Henley women's regatta, one of the quintessential events of

the British rowing summer. This event was founded three decades ago,

ironically because no women were allowed to compete at Henley Royal

regatta at all. We will be watching the pictures coming back from the

World Cup in Poland, and if timing is your thing it is the British

women's team who are leading the charge. No sooner have we packed up

the gear from Rio, here we are going in a new season with lots of new

faces. It is a very good start for the women's pair of Great Britain.

Surely the British have done enough, just through into first place. The

Netherlands have taken out the crew from Great Britain, a major upset. A

nice way to cap a good weekend of racing, a World Cup victory. Welcome

to a beautiful day here for the 2017 World Rowing Championships. The

British crew are up to the line for bronze and that's a perfect start.

Karen Bennett and Holly Molton through for Great Britain. The men's

four has come through in fifth position. A very warm to pass, and

what do you make of this season so far? A mixed season, lots of medals

but very small entry. In the World Championship is a bigger entry but

only from European countries and surprisingly Great Britain did not

have a great regatta so no medals for any of the men's team. Only one

gold and that was from Vicki Thorn in the singles so probably not the

regatta they wanted but it wasn't the beginning of the end, just

changes are needed. And yet more changes, because the British team

are on the back foot, aren't we? Some changes are deliberate and some

have been forced because a lot of injuries hit the team so it's really

not an ideal time but sometimes those changes are catalyst for

something new, it feels like a fresh start for some crews. Some changes

have happened in the women's quad, this is Jess and Matilda who were

originally slated to race in Poland and here you are. What has gone

wrong? We have had two illnesses in the boat but an injury as well but

you can't go wrong with this weather! And would you have wanted

to race in another boat, if the quad wasn't available? Was that

possibility in Poland? It was an idea but we decided to stay home,

use different combinations, keep the project moving forward without a

full line-up and I think we have done that really well. Matilda, we

are looking at some happy pictures of you on the medal podium. On

reflection how do you feel about that performance? It's given us a

lot of confidence going forward. It has definitely come through with the

injury, just trust in different parts of its to link them together

so it's really good. There is a confidence that even with this break

you can keep it going through to the World Cup? Definitely, we have been

working in doubles and we went out the other day and a quad and

realised how that had stepped on even though we hadn't been out for a

while. A lot of the teams seem to have changed and haven't been able

to go, how does it feel within the team at the moment? It was really

hard when we all got on with it and very few boats weren't affected but

it's just one of those things that happens in the team and it's how we

can carry on and support each other. As a unit it has made us a stronger

team. But luck when you get back to racing. Let's turn our attention to

the women's lightweight double. They had a change before the European

Championship but that seems to have paid dividends. Emily Craig came in

last minute. There is a chance they can make the podium here. It will be

agonisingly close for Catherine Copeland and Emily Craig because

they are being chased hard and the British group will have to step on

and step on again. France have cooked the goose early and it is

coming off the boil. Poland coming up right in front of the commentary

position and Great Britain looked to be on the medal podium. They will

fight for the last couple of strokes up to the line for the bronze. It

was pretty savage! We knew there were six boats but they were coming

from everywhere so it was like using the people around us, and the last

bit was heads down and just do whatever we could so yes, it's

pretty good as a first regatta. That was the European Championships,

let's see what progress they have made in three more weeks together.

Garry Herbert and James Cracknell will be talking us through all of

today's racing. Great Britain moving into fourth

place. Great Britain have turned the screw and moved up into fourth,

which is OK, it is all right if in the third five it is time to step on

and move on. That is what tapped Copeland and Emily Craig need to do.

They were the European bronze medallist three weeks back again.

They came away with the confidence high and they cannot afford not to

be on the medal podium here. We are into the mid part, and we are

watching on the left-hand side for Great Britain. Solid for China. Both

China won and China two. The British girls in lane five are holding the

polls now so it looks like the Chinese team have come here in good

form but Copeland and Craig are starting to get an overlap on the

Poles. They could be in the hunt for a bronze medal here and this is not

good when the crews in the lanes are disappearing next to you like the

Chinese have. Hopefully the British girls can get on the podium in the

last 500 metres. Coming into the business end of the final of the

lightweight women's double sculls and Great Britain sitting in fourth

place. A big turn of the screw is required because China won go

through in first place, China two in second, Poland in three, then Kat

Copeland and Emily Craig. They have got themselves back into it but now

the platform has got to be solid enough to step on it. They are

chasing down Poland in lane number three. They are receiving rapturous

support from the grandstands as we move towards the closing stages.

They have just over a minute to turn around a quarter of a length and I

think they can do it because the Chinese have broken a lot of energy

on the Polish boat. Both Chinese crews are coming and having a

ding-dong themselves. I think the Brits will get the European

champions who beat them a few weeks ago so it will be a productive few

weeks for Copeland and Craig and hopefully they will do it. We are

looking at Copeland and Craig closest to us, racing Poland in lane

number three. Look down the bottom right-hand side, so they are through

to the last 150 metres. This is desperate closing stages of this

final of the women's light double. It is China two from China won.

Poland are coming back on China won. -- China one. It is China two coming

through in first place. In the last 100 metres, it was too much for

Copeland and Craig, and as we mentioned earlier on, a little bit

laboured in the first 750 metres and it took them some time. They weren't

really in the race until it got through to the 1250 mark.

After a medal at the Europeans, that event is filling up quickly now.

This is the big change. In that event, the Olympic champions, the

Dutch, they have not appeared, South Africa and Canada still haven't

appeared in that event. It is always a tight, fierce event and the

Chinese crews look very impressive. As the year progresses the events

will get tougher. I think the British will be disappointed not to

make the podium. There are two crews from China and in the World

Championships everyone will only have one crew but there are still

nations to come. They have been progressing in training so I think

they will be disappointed not to make the podium this time but still

a long season. In the first World Cup was a tremendous drop-off in the

British crew in the last bit whereas they were competitive right the way

through to the line there, in the hunt, it's not as if they suddenly

lost the medal. No, they were close. The Chinese are very classy

athletes. They were close to some very good crews but unfortunately

just behind. For Kat Copeland winning her medal is now five years

ago, is it an asset mentally or is it beginning to turn into that was

then and this is now? That would be for her to answer. I hope it would

be a source of confidence, you don't win the Olympic Games by chance.

Yes, every time we move forward that takes a step behind and she will

once more results to boost its so it's not a distant memory. But it

still shows what she is capable of so I hope it's a positive thing for

her. Let's turn to the men's four. A few changes from the European

line-up which have a pretty awful result a few weeks ago. Let's see if

they are in a positive mood for the World Cup. Has Jurgen Grobler

managed to turn it around since we saw Great Britain at the European

Championships when they finished in a disappointing fifth place? They

are quick, have Argentina in one. This will be the top boat for the

nation of Australia in the rowing event. They are in lane number four

and they were still... Albeit quick to 1000 metres across the two leads

so they too will be fast. France in five, the Czech Republic in lane

six. I know the British team thought I was harsh on my commentary last

time out, but that's because I have such high expectations and I know

the quality of the athletes in that boat. Fifth place was an

underperformance. They are better than fifth. They have got to produce

that against the Australians and they have taken the race by the

scruff of the neck at the moment. Australia are going for it but they

haven't gone clear. They are one length up on Australia Great

Britain. They will come back in the second five. What I don't like about

Australia is there is no rhythm now. Get out of 500, that's great, now I

want to see them coming down, lengthening and being efficient on

the speed. They are out to make a big mark here, out to lay it down

against Great Britain and the rest of the world here now but they don't

look, and it's being harsh, like Ruby is brilliant Australian fours

we have seen. -- like previous brilliant Australian fours. The

German four, which our British boys are just behind, the best eight

German athletes are in the eight, but these are not the best four

German athletes. Our crews will storm through these Germans any

minute now, then they have got to start pegging back the Australians

but the Australians are in the driving seat and can see our British

boys. The one thing Will Satch has done is shown he can stroke boat and

he has got to do it now. Great Britain have been ripped apart by

Australia in lane four. They have had a brilliant second 500, they

were out quick Australia and they continue to go. 2.49 is a quick

time. They may not look like the best Australian four but they are

rowing well. They look like pumped up lightweights and that's in a

complimentary way. They are neat and efficient. They are moving the boat

well. What our boat has is raw power and they have got rhythm now. You

can see they are starting to inch it back and they have three minutes to

do it. We want to see with and length, and

that will give them the confidence to put the power down, because

there's no doubt that the British crew are by far and away the most

powerful out there. They are definitely coming back. I am going

to keep confidence here. I want to see more length, though, from the

British crew. I want to see the boat running on. They're coming for an

overlap. As soon as they've got past the, bridge, they need to have an

overlap with 500 metres to go, otherwise they're going to run out

of water. Look at what they have done to the German boat, they have

gone from a quarter of a length Hinde to half about ahead. They're

having their best row of the season so far, notwithstanding they are

down on the Australians. 50 strokes to go here, we are at the business

end. The Australians had clear water by almost a length and a bit at the

halfway mark. The British have torn into that here. There's still clear

water. That's too much to do. They are matching the Aussies stroke for

stroke here. Heap it light and quick, it's about being quick with

the hands are being really efficient here. But the Australian crew,

Alexander Hill, 23 years of age, sitting in the strokes eat. Second

in this event at healing big game last year. So, plenty of experience

in the still the Australians are going. They know they cannot let

their foot off the gas for one second. If they do that, British

will have the overlap and then they will start coming right in. They are

still coming. They may not get the result they want, but I think the

result will be the other way round at the World Championships. They're

coming back hand over fist now. They're not going to get them today,

but... No, Wigan do this, James. Oh, just too much. Australia, half a

length over Great Britain. They will get the Australians at the World

Championships, no doubt about it. Yes, they will be disappointed, and

there will be a period of reflection, but this is their best

race of the season, they found a speed through the middle and at the

end which they did not have before and I have no doubt they will get

those Australians at the World Championships. The backdrop to this

race has been quite tough, you will have been disappointed with Prague,

are you happier now? Slightly happier. We've definitely improved

over the last three weeks. We've done a more consistent weekend than

what we did three weeks ago. We were disappointed not to get the win. The

Aussies took the bull by the horns in the first kilometre and it paid

dividends for them towards the end. If the race had been 2100 metres,

you would have got them? I like your optimism, I'm not social, I think

they were in a very strong position. I think calling the race plan, that

is how it felt. We were gaining and catching them, and then there was

about a ten or 15 script period when we did not gain much on them. It was

at that point that they put the final knife in. Games is absolutely

certain they're going to win, are you going to take him up on his pet?

He never sits on the fence, that man! I think he's got a very valid

point. I think it's fantastic for all of us to see the men's four not

necessarily back where we want them to see, but back competitive. They

were just over a second behind that Australian crew, who went off very

fast. Great Britain were closing, and then we saw the gap opening up.

It was a two boat race, and I think there is a lot more to come from

that British crew, but it's back where it needs to be. And it looks

like another four years of us against Australia. I wake up in a

cold sweat in the morning, hearing the strains of Advance Australia

Fair! I know, and you want a great adversary, that's easy to say! Not

Australia! So, it's going to be good for them, that motivation. I have

talked to some of the guys recently, and there is that, even if you're

winning, you want to train as if your second. Obviously, you don't

actually want to finish second, but that result today will show that

they're back on track. Let's turn now to the men's quad, as we go back

down to Gary and James. Great Britain in nine number three will be

leaved to have John Collins back in the three seat. He missed the

European Championships, when they came fourth.

Things have changed around a bit for the Germans.

The fastest qualifier was Great Britain, in lane number three,

slightly down at the moment. We have got France in five and the

Netherlands closest to us. The British quad over the last four or

five years have been the quickest starters but also have a fast second

half of the race. So to be in the mixed, head of Poland at this stage,

is a good sign. And they did start the last Olympiad off well, but they

had some injury problems in the last couple of seasons. They need a good,

consistent run of health. 500, a quarter down already. These races

are so, so quick, and the British are in amongst it here, currently in

the bronze medal position. That's OK. Now, length and with here from

Great Britain, led by Peter Lambert in the stroke seat, and with him,

John Collins, Jack Beamont and Jonathan Walton. They are getting

the power on here, and it is all about efficient application, and

then you want to get something back. Yeah, feel the speed - there it is.

They're coming into second place now, coming through France in 95.

They are not having to really push, they've got their base pace now,

which is OK. -- France in lane five. I am a bit surprised the Dutch are

ahead, but I think there it is starting to slow down. What they

will be pleased with is the way they've dispensed of Poland at the

moment. And the British boys know they have got a quick second half of

the race. There was a push in that last couple of strokes, Great

Britain, with a bit more speed than everybody else. The Netherlands in

lane number six just caught the water, and the British crew will

have to capitalise on that. They have capitalised, the British crew

have gone. I think it was in the three seat, just caught his blade.

And this is Great Britain's house. The Dutch

may have the first half, but GB own the second half, and they deserve

it. Can they get up a length coverage when we talk about length

and rhythm, you can just see, on it, bang. You sit back, let the handle

coming to you, and that should give you the momentum, and enjoy. Good

stroke, we're onto next. And the speed of the boat takes you on to

the next catch. And that rhythm is what you want in the middle

thousands, and the British quad have really been great at that in the

last few years. Paul Stannard coaching this, doing a good job. So,

a great middle thousand for Great Britain. It has been textbook

execution they're a length ahead and going ahead and I hope they're

enjoying this. What is the same in the women's quad and the men's quad

is the rhythm. And the Brits had a very good with, from 300 metres

gone, they seemed to settle into a good pace. They've shown the

benefits of having that strong rhythm from early in the race. If

you're chasing it to halfway, you will end up paying for it. The Brits

have raced incredibly well. 25 strokes out, it just shows you how

much John Collins was missed at the European Championships, when Great

Britain finish fourth. Here, things have turned around. In the bow seat,

Jack Beamont has really cemented his place. And in the stroke seat, Peter

Lambert, who started off his season coming tenth in the single sculls

regatta. Job well done for the British crew. Gold medal in the

men's quadruple sculls. That will be a huge disappointment for the

Netherlands, who came second. Well done, superb result? Thank you very

much. We're happy with the result. We raced well, it has been a good

training block, so we're happy. And were you confident? Yeah, we did

well in the heat, we laid down the fastest time, and we thought we

could win it, we just needed to stay calm in the first thousand, when the

guys to our left went out pretty fast. And then we just executed what

we wanted to do in the third 500. It was a bit parents Karen? May be for

you! From my seat in the boat, I could see what was going on and I

could relay that to the guys. I had no doubt that these three were going

to do the business. Room stick John, next up, Henley? Yeah, looking

forward to that, we have only got the Kiwis there, so it's only going

to be a straight final. And you have got lucerne after that, it's going

to be there a chaotic period of training? It is but that is the

reason why we do the sport, for the racing. One of the top crews was not

there this weekend, so we are looking forward to laying down a

marker going forward. The British men's quad is one of the very few

crews that are sort of in their first line-up, I guess, and it

showed? Yeah. And they deserve to that so much. Not just to those four

guys, but the men's quad of the last few years has been beset by

challenge after challenge, with illness and injury. You want to see

them when they put out their best line-up, and that was still a good

field. The Polish crew who had won the other semifinal, that was a big,

fast, solid field, and the British crew absolutely dominated. You to

fool with, took the race on, very confident in letting the race

unfolded, with such dominant. Even from behind, they always looked like

they could come through and have that results. And after the slightly

downbeat results that we had coming back from the Europeans, from the

men's team, an enormous Philip for everyone? I know. And that's why

there was a sense after the Europeans, we had never seen such

bad results from the men's team, but you always know the calibre of

athletes, the strength of the coaching, Paul Stannard, the coach

of that men's quad, he does put out top-class crews. It was not like it

was game over, it was just things were not quite firing, and now you

see, they're back on track. They're absolutely going in the right

direction. The British development crew of Anastasia Chitty and Rebecca

Girling got a taste of what it was like to compete at the very highest

level in the women's pair. But it was the New Zealand pair who stole

the show in Poznan, breaking the world record of Helen Glover and

Heather Stanning. It was something like deja vu in the men's single

sculls final nursery Tom Barras lined up in a world-class field.

This time it was New Zealand's Robert Manson who smashed the world

record by three seconds, a record previously held by Mark Hager right

there. So, racing is fast and furious at', just as it is here in

Henley, where the women's Regatta is continuing apace. I am joined by

some former Olympians now. You are coaching one of the crews which is

competing at the moment? Yes. Can you tell us a bit about it? It is a

huge regatta, started 30 years ago. We had one day of racing then, and

now we have three days of racing. And weighs into malt and as a

competitor to come, just? -- why it is important as a competitor to

come? Henley is a exciting place to come. My girls are pretty good,

quite feisty, and I'm passing on some of my traits to them, helping

them get down that course as fast as possible. And how important is it to

pass on that to future generations? For me, I really wanted to give

something back to the sport. I have a family, so being a coach is very

full-time. I hadn't qualified as an umpire so this was a way I could put

my skills organisation into it and helping. I didn't realise it would

take up quite as much time. Any regrets? Yes, I'm looking for a

successor, are you busy? Very! How do you feel as a coach, that there's

not much you can do when the crew goes out there? It is so

nerve-racking. It is letting them go out on the water and do their thing,

I have no control over them once I get there. But get on the start

line, having Sir Matthew Pinsent line them up, it is really

heart-warming. I love being part of the sport and it's a great way to

stay connected with the grass roots level of rowing. In the women's

rowing is going from strength to strength, both internationally and

domestically. Yes, and what we have seen in this regatta is huge growth

in junior women's rowing. The third of our entry actually comes from the

junior sector, and we have some great US crews here as well for them

to race. They are really bringing strong competition for the junior

women so the junior women's side is massive stocks have also seen a lot

more universities being competitive and our most competitive event is

the academic eights. Quite often we will see photo finishes on the line

so we are seeing a massive rise in numbers but also a huge rise in

standard. Thank you both, please keep up the good work and let's see

what's happening back in Poznan. This is the women's eight and they

are away. Out quick in lane number two is China one. Going with them is

Great Britain in lane four. These crews now go out at full speed and

the British crew in lane number four strengthened somewhat with Karen

Bennett sitting in the seven seat, but looking to take it on whether

British crew left with a sensational silver medal at the Olympic Games

last year. Out fast, they were so disappointed to be off the medal

podium a few weeks back, they are looking to make amends this time

out. Taking you down the boat, McMurtry, Warren, Douglas, Bennett,

and Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne coming in this time round.

-- Mathilda Horn. The United States of America surprisingly down but

this will be a much weaker boat than we have hitherto been treated to.

The Americans have dominated this event all the way through to the

Olympic Games. That looks good, James. Exactly what I was thinking.

It's amazing not just how they are rowing, but how quickly we have

become used to the women's eight being at the sharp end of the field

and that is a real testament to the coaching system in place and the

belief these athletes have. None of them were in Rio, they have learnt

and half the level of expectation raised by the performances of the

women's eight last year and they are carrying on from where the Olympics

left off and it's brilliant. James Harris is the coach responsible for

this and he will be watching this hopefully pleased with the opening

first half. So we are just going across to New Zealand and you

compare, New Zealand rating slightly higher, not Masaru chasing it. They

are having to work for it but the rhythm looks better. Long and strong

from Rebecca, backed up by Karen Bennett at seven. The women's eight

have taken this by the scruff of the neck. They didn't go out as fast as

China one but they have consolidated the -- the position. New Zealand

have definitely come back onto it. They are still a third of a length

down, but they were further down before. This is where the British

eight last year showed the guts in the second half of the race and they

need to do that now. New Zealand taking two strokes per minute more

than the British crew, so at some point the black boat at the top of

your picture is New Zealand and the light blue on the right of your

picture shows the boat has been two strokes below. It's all very well

leading, but when you are being attacked as they are by New Zealand,

the change has got to come because New Zealand will go right through

them in the next two or three strokes. If there isn't a change

from the British crew, New Zealand will be through. You are right, but

inching through, not blasting through. The psychological damage

being done is America, having been clear water down, they won't get

them but they are inching back. This is where the belief in the British

crew will be tested. They need to keep long. They were rowing nice and

long. Rebecca was running incredibly long in the first 1000 metres. They

need to set the length to lay the power-down. The third 500 now, the

New Zealanders continue to move and they look angry. They look like we

have settled long but we will keep the length going. They are at 36

now, Great Britain, but at one point they were at 35 strokes per minute

and you cannot be that low. They looked brilliant, Great Britain

looked fantastic in the first 500 metres. This middle files and has

all been about New Zealand, and New Zealand were fought that the Olympic

Games last year. Four of that crew are returning here and they also

have some Bosworth in the cox seat, the first time a guy will be coxing

in the women's eight. They have hit the ground running. They are showing

they are race ready. Great Britain now having to fight off the USA, who

won't catch Great Britain but the British have to come back again on

to New Zealand. It has been outstanding. They will take the gold

medal, New Zealand, who took it from Great Britain who were almost

nothing. The silver medal, Karen, which I

would have thought is a pretty good results, isn't it? Yes, I think we

all did a really good job. It is an awesome result for the eighth. And

when you beat the USA in the women's eight know you are doing something

right. Yes, and we got an especially fast time which has given us a lot

of confidence moving forward. It was bittersweet because the Kiwis beat

us but then we beat the Americans so awesome. Fast conditions, optimal

tailwind and Stillwater, it was a fast race. Definitely, APB for us

which was nice, and a nice simple race that we did so that's good. And

you are regressing in the right direction? Definitely, we are still

quite a new crew and each session we go out we are progressing and

learning more. We are putting more and more of our practice in the

performance. Without silver medal in the women's eight, that is another

British boat doing brilliantly. Absolutely, and it is back on the

podium. The New Zealand crew is the interesting one in that event. They

have been in under 22 crew in previous years. They have been

building, at the Olympic games last year they came for, not quite making

the podium, and now we have seen them take a step on and the first

time this year we have seen the Zealanders come in. Often they come

over, obviously it is a long travelling distance from New Zealand

and they don't always start up the fastest but they did here. And the

women's pair for New Zealand have just smashed the record. For the

rowing geeks, an American aid should always win but that's the first time

they have been back in the pack. That would be five years since we

have seen an American women's aid back that far. Yes, since 2012 it

has been the American women's aid all the way and there haven't been

many British women who have been ahead of them on the finish line so

they will take that away with them. It is a new view for them so that's

another thing for the British women's eight. Yes, the Americans

are reforming but so are the British reforming. To go out there and beta

crew that is also inexperienced with a lot of learning to do from the

American side but still with the calibre, the American crew should

have the confidence of being Olympic champions going back now couple of

Olympics so for the British to be ahead of them is a good step.

The performance of the European Championships from a Jewish point of

view was Vicky Thornley in the women's single but it did come down

to the wire. -- from a British point of view.

Laying three still hunting, Vicky Thornley with long strokes as you

would expect. This is the first time in her career at a single scull

major championships. The German starting to move back again, she's

got an overlap. We are about 200 out here and it is not done yet for

Vicky Thornley. The warhorses coming back to the party! Bursting through

in lane six, looking over to her right to see what's happening and

Vicky Thornley will have to hang on. Vicky Thornley, European champion. I

didn't come back into full-time training until January so I'm still

building up to my best fitness. And please, I haven't been a

champion of anything since eight years ago so European champion is

cool. So victory and a European title - can she continue her success

on the world stage? Over to Gary and James to find out.

Halfway, 1000 metres in this final and Vicky Thornley is currently in

second or third-place going through the halfway mark. The German sculler

was the Olympic champion in the quadruple scull. It is very fine for

Thornley but she will want to start turning the screw now and she's

starting to pick up the rate. 31 strokes. She has gone up to 31 and

will crank it up again as we go through 1500 metres mark. She will

know she has the power. But you cannot write off the Chinese

competitor in lane three. She's used to winning as well and she has won

big races in the past so she will be difficult to roam down.

Dwan will be the one form they can lean on. They could come back but it

will be a tight finish between Austria, Britain and China. Germany

has gone. Vicky Thornley has had the better of

Magdalena Lobnig this season already. She will have that in her

locker, when the chips are up against it. Look at the bows, still

hunting, still rising Highbridge is the most important thing. She's high

and the boat speed is still good. There's a long way to go. Vicky

Thornley, the European champion from Great Britain. In this final of the

women's single sculls in Poznan, here in World Rowing Cup II. But now

shimmer under a huge test, it's the first time she is coming up against

the Olympic bronze medallist Jingli Duan. And Jingli Duan is so hard,

she right on it here, she will never give up one stroke to Vicky

Thornley. Jingli Duan on her right, as she looks, and on the other side,

Magdalena Lobnig, who's doing a sterling job. The big disappointment

will be not necessarily losing to Jingli Duan, it's that it would be

the first time since she has been back in the single that she will

have lost to someone she has previously beaten. Everything has

been an upward step, right now, it looks like being a backward one,

because Magdalena Lobnig is some way ahead. Vicky has got to keep a long

stroke here, keeping the weight and the power. 26-year-old Magdalena

Lobnig from Austria has kept her rate up, and now it's a length, as

they come towards the closing stages. Now, Vicky Thornley has

finally brushed off Jingli Duan. She cannot afford, though, to let her

go. She has got to keep focused here on Magdalena Lobnig, as they come

slowly towards the line. She's not going to get Magdalena Lobnig. It's

a silver medal for Vicky Thornley. And she will at the back of her mind

be a little bit disappointed, because she has already beaten

Magdalena Lobnig earlier in the year. One thing is for sure, this

event is going to get tougher as we go through to the World

Championships. Initially I was a bit disappointed. But now, I'm like, I

did my best time by a long way and I felt like I've rowed pretty well.

Magdalena Lobnig was just a bit quicker today stop you are in a

great run of form, having won the Europeans three weeks ago? Yeah, so,

it's going well. These races are great to be in, they are tight and

tough, and that's what it's all about. Single sculling never looks

easy, but at least you don't have to haul Katherine Grainger down the

course now! No, I miss her a lot! Not having her here is a big thing.

It is nice to see her every now and again as well. Busy times coming up

for you? Yeah. Hopefully Henley, we will have to reassess after this

regatta, and obviously, lucerne. But then a long break before the World

Championships to get some really good training in. We've been saying

all day that actually, there's probably more of the British rowing

team on the tow path here in Henley than there is out in Poznan. Another

one is Tom Ransley - tennis first of all why you are not racing? So, last

week I had an emergency appendix removal, not in my plans at all!

Should have been in Poznan. Let's have a quick look. The old form of

appendicitis... Yeah. Actually... Very good keyhole, obviously! Yeah,

so it should help a speedy recovery. I am already on my feet and looking

forward to getting back training as soon as possible. I should be ready

to race in the worlds in Sarasota. Before we talk about the men's

eight, let's just reflect on Vicky Thornley's performance, another

great result? That's three times we have seen her internationally this

summer, and three podium finishes, which we have never seen from a

single scull British athlete in this country, ever. There will mixed

feelings for her trainer the very, very positive bit is, back on the

podium and finishing ahead of the bronze Olympic medallist from China.

She would have taken that at the start of the regatta. The

disappointing thing is finishing behind the Austrian, whom she had

beaten. What you want to do is to slowly pick off people in your

event. To beat people and then have them come back and beat you is

frustrating. But we have all been there. Every Regatta in the season

is a moment of learning, and she will learn so much from each race

she's doing. Frustration with the Austrian, but she will loan from

that and come back better. Tom, have you noticed the difference with

Vicky from one season to the next, going from a combined boat into now

in control of her own future in a single scull? Well, certainly, she's

always been really concentrated on her training, very focused. And I

think she's obviously seeing the results in the single, able to keep

that level of discipline, even without a crew motivating you. I'm

sure she will come back stronger off the back of this. We are all eager

to see how this men's eight will be getting on. Tom's place has been

taken by Callum McBrierty. Let's meet him. I first started rolling in

2004, forced into it by my parents, because they did not like the idea

of me playing rugby. I was pretty useless, actually, so, might as well

try another sport! Ended up getting the bug for rowing and ended up

training hard. The best thing about it for me is pushing your body to

the limit, and finding out exactly what you can do and what you can't

do sometimes. I would probably quite like to be a golfer, if I'm being

honest, lots of money in that sport! Would I be good enough to be a

golfer, that's the thing?! My ideal weekend would be a weekend back up

in Scotland in the Highlands, doing some country walking, relaxing up

there. Might be bitterly cold, but nowhere better to relax and unwind.

Being a Scotsman, you've got to say Andy Murray. He's come through a lot

in his career, some high points and low points, but he seems to produce

the results. Big fan of his. Third 500 metres now, Germany will move on

again. The British crew have got to hang on, keep the speed, keep

moving, it is all about being driven by Henry Fieldman. They will know

all about the Germans. The New Zealanders are coming at them. New

Zealand, five returning from the crew which finish sixth at the

Olympic final last year. So, starting to stretch out now.

Wonderful position from Germany there. Just looking a little bit

laboured from the British. Furious from New Zealand, New Zealand

looking the slightly better of the two crews? They get out and take

onto that catch. 5.19 is the 2000 metres time, as Germany go through.

And New Zealand have half a length over Great Britain, so a Great

Britain are in the bronze medal position. I was not expect in them

to come third, off the speed they have shown so far. So I think they

have raced well. Yes, the Germans are dominating them, but considering

they have changed in the last minute this week, that is a par

performance, I would say. So, coming down the German boat, including

Martin Sauer. New Zealand now almost a length ahead of Great Britain now.

Themselves chasing down Germany. They will not get on terms with

Germany but they will be looking to get clear of Great Britain. The

Germany are on 41. They're going after a world record, I reckon. They

will have heard what has been going on at this regatta. They're at 41

strokes per minute, and they're coming to the line. Oh! That's going

to because! We're not quite sure whether that will be a world record

a lot. Great Britain clear of Australia, with the home nation

Poland coming through in fifth place. That is all from us at the

Henley women's Regatta, and from Poznan today. We will be back with

the final World Cup of the season, which is happening in Lucerne. Red

button coverage starts at 9.15 on Sunday the 9th of July, with

highlights later in the day on BBC Two. Stand by for some time and

league athletics from Stockholm. And our summer tennis starts tomorrow,

from Queen's Club on BBC at one o'clock. Tom can join us to look

back on that men's eight days. A medal, but some big gaps involved?

Can be we have seen a world record low there. But there are definitely

positives for our British team. We had a turbulent run into that event,

and we still managed to get onto the podium. And I think we actually

closed a small amount on the distance between us and the Germans

from the Europeans. So, there's a lot to be positive about. I think

you can move on and get stronger from there. And no mistaking the

tactics in that race? From the Germans?! And from the Brits to try

and stick with them so they were too good today? Of course. The Germans

were the standout crew of that regatta, in that event, certainly,

at the moment. So you see how close you can get to them, see if you can

throw them off there again, in any way, and see how long you can hold

them. All you can do is show a bit of speed and how close you can get,

and build on that. The next time you're going to race the Germans

will be here on that bit of water in a couple of weeks at Henley - that

is going to be big? Yeah, Henley is an awesome event. I don't know if I

will be in it personally, but it's going to be good, if I am not in it,

I will be watching, for sure. Catherine, how do you reflect on the

World Cup, from a British point of view? On the whole team, there was a

very turbulent run into the regatta, some of the crew did not even make

it like the women's quad. And the ones that did have a lot of changes,

not many crews were lined up according to Plan A. Considering

that, it is a much stronger result than it was a couple of weeks ago at

the Europeans. It shows that the tactics are right from the coaches,

and there will be ups and downs I'm sure in the weeks to come. But

ultimately, everybody knows it is the World Championships at the end

of the year which everybody is aiming for. And Tom, for you

personally, on the injured list at the moment, is the feeling, we can

start climbing back out of the European situation? Yeah. I would

echo that. And technically, it shows what we've done through the winter

is to try and make a common style, so that when injuries do occur, you

can mix and match and still hold a high standard. So, I think we are on

the way to improving those results. As nice as it is being to see you

here, we look forward to seeing you out there on the water again.

Likewise. Good stuff. That is it from Henley women's Regatta. We will

be back in three weeks' time for the World Cup, and for the British team,

it's onwards and upwards. You'll favour me by never setting

foot on Trenwith land.