M8+, men's eights
I wonder if the crews know that either Canada or England will top the medal table, depending on what happens in this race. 500m gone and Australia lead by a canvas. England are level with Canada, half a length back. Canada are pushing hard in a scheduled push, and haved pulled ahead of England and are only a quarter length down on Australia. Comming up to halfway Australia are at 38, with half a length to spare over the Canadian lead. Actually it looks more like a third as they leave the halfway point. It's Australia in lane 2. England are over a length adrift in third position in lane 3, all three rating 38. Australia have one quarter of a length, but Canada push again coming past the 500m point. England are safe in bronze, well clear of NIR, well clear of Wales. Australia keep their lead, and come over the line three quarters of a length ahead of Canada with just over a length back to England. NIR were some way back and Wales were out of the back of this race.
Gold Australia, silver Canada, bronze England.
W8+, women's eights
England are just ahead of Canada, both at 41. Wales are half a length down with Scotland a further few feet back. England have a canvas on Canada rating 39, the rest are at 38. 500m gone, England keep their canvas lead on Canada who have a bit more on Wales. Scotland are a bit behind. Canada are pushing England. Scotland are half a length behind Wales and also trying to push. Canada are now level with England as they come up to halfway, and now lead by 3 feet no make that a quarter of a length. Wales are only a length back with Scotland half a length in arrears. It's Canada, England, Wales, Scotland. With 750m left Canada look strong at 35, England are at 36. Scotland are trying to push, and only a canvas of Wales. Canada have three quarters of a length on England who have the same on Wales being pushed by the Scots. A close race this with no-one either clear or dropped. Canada look set for Gold but the rest are up fro grabs. Scotland are really pushing on Wales now. It's Canada by a length from England, half a length ahead of Wales half a length ahead of Scotland.
Gold Canada, silver England, bronze Wales.
LW4x, lightweight women's quads
Another 3 boat event, with England in one, Northern Ireland in two and Wales in three. The Welsh stroke is McClelland-Brookes, who earlier on won the women's lightweight singles. They're off. England are just a length ahead of Wales, who have about the same on NIR. England at 37 have edged another quarter length off Wales who maintain a round length's lead over NIR. England are stretching a bit more ahead as they approach halfway. The positions and distances are unchanged as they enter the second half. Coming up to the last 500m England are almost 2 lengths up, but NIR have hung onto Wales and are pushing them. The lead is not quite 2 lengths, but well in control for England, with the same sort of distance between Wales and NIR.
Gold England, silver Wales, bronze Northern Ireland.
LM4-, lightweight men's coxless fours
This is a very spread out race, with South Africa, small in number, making up for it in quality here, leading home England by 6 lengths with even more back to NIR. Unfortunately the action such as it was in this race clearly happened much further back up the course, if indeed there was much actin, one suspects that South Africa were in the lead the whole way and that the excitement was over after the start. Meanwhile, the coxed four's medal ceremony has become a cox-throwing contest with New Zealand showing their gratitude for a foreign cox provided at this regatta by throwing Miss Quarrell in. She has knack for getting into some interesting places but may not appreciate lane 0 at Holme Pierrepont.
Gold South Africa, silver England, bronze Northern Ireland.
LM4x, lightweight men's quads
Oops missed that race.
Gold England, silver Wales, bronze Nothern Ireland.
The start has just been told off by the chief umpire for starting that race early, as it went unnoticed until the last 200m by even the official commentator. England were about a length clear, with a 16s gap back to NIR in bronze medal position.
W4x, women's quads
This race is being run before the men's coxed fours. Canada have a lead of 2 lengths of England in turn 1.5 lengths ahead of NIR. They have extended their lead to 3L, and in turn England have extended their advantage over NIR. Passing halfway Canada continue to dominate, well clear of the pursueing English crew. They are a good 3 lengths clear and England in turn are about the same ahead of NIR. Canada at 31 lead England at 37 by 6 lengths, with NIR a further 5 lengths adrift.
Gold Canada, silver England, bronze Nothern Ireland.
M4+, men's coxed fours
Scotland and New Zealand are doubling up, having done the coxless event yesterday, whereas Australia, England and Wales are fresh. Drama before they even get on the stakeboats though as Wales have somehow broken a blade, and return to the finish area for a replacement. Not sure how they broke it - will try to find out. This will delay the rest of the racing, and it's just been announced that the men's eight will now be at 18:45 ie delayed by 15 minutes. This is because the Australian four are half of their eight. The Scots and Kiwis seem destined not to have a straightforward event here bearing in mind yesterday. The sun has been obscured by the only dark cloud I can see, but at least now I can see the screen as I type! The water is calm over the whole course. Finally they're off after the women's quads race. This is a much closer race than that one. Coming away from the 500m point, England lead, with not much between the other 4 crews. Wales are out of the back but there isn't much between the rest. With 500m to go, England are just ahead of Scotland from Australia from New Zealand. Good race as Scotland push on the near side, England on the far side. England take it, Scotland second to avenge for yesterday, the race for bronze very close, on the line, we'll have to wait for the offical verdict there, I think Australia got it by a bow-ball. Wales were 5th. It's just been announced as New Zealand by 5 hundredths, I'd like to see the photo-finish photo for that one.
Gold England, silver Scotland, bronze New Zealand.
W4-, women's coxless fours
A three boat final this son the question is who gets which colour medal. Canada have lane 1, New Zealand lane 2 and England are in 3. This race has been restarted after an equipment failure within the first 100m. New Zealand have inched into a slight lead over Canada with a few feet over England. New Zealand pushing on at 43 with Canada at 40, England are now half a length adrift. At 500 England are now a length back, with New Zealand three quarters of a length up. Canada are edging back and are barely half a length behind, these two drawing away a bit. New Zealand have responded to re-establish their lead, and coming up to half way are in a commanding position. Canada are at 34, New Zealand at 36 and a length up. England now dropping "a little way behind" as the commentator puts it. New Zealand are being warned now, but are a length up. With 600m left the lead is a length and a quarter over Canada, who have clear water over England. With 350m left New Zealand look safe in front, having led from the start. They are still rowing with spirit though.
Gold New Zealand, silver Canada, bronze England.
LW2-, lightweight women's coxless pairs
Looks like there has been a false start in this one, the first of the weekend. With 250m it's Wales from Zimbabwe from Scotland. Not a lot in it though at this early stage. Appraching 500m, England and Wales are level. Wales are at 37, with Scotland ahead of Zimbabwe but clear water has opened up ahead of them. England are only a few feet up on Wales, with Zimbabwe actually closing up, making this a very good race. England continue to lead by just over a canvas, b ut Zimbabwe have hauled themselves uop to a few feet behind Wales. Coming up to halfway England are at 32 with Zimbabwe and Wales at 34, with Zimbabwe coming through Wales. Scotland are about 2 lengths behind this pack of 3 so not out of it either. Englasnd continue to lead by a few feet but now it's from Zimbabwe, rating 33 to England's 34. At 750m left Wales are going backwards and Scotland are closing in on them. Zimbabwe put in another push and take the lead. Coming into the last 500 Zimbabwe have clear water. Wales are a length back on England, but Scotland are pushing at 36 and are only half a length behind. Now they're level coming away from the 500m marker. Gold and silver look safe entering the last 250 but bronze is still up for grabs. Scotland push again and have edged past Wales with 200m left to greast shouting fro the kilted supporters. In the end they get it "comfortably" by a length and three-quarters, but the race was a lot closer than that verdict suggests.
Gold Zimbabwe, silver England, bronze Scotland.
M4x, Men's quad sculls
Australia lead England by 2/3 of a length with NIR third at 250m. At 500 Australia at 38 lead England at 37, then Wales then NIR half a length back.
Australia have now settled to 35 as have England, who are holding onto 2nd but coming under pressure from Wales over in lane 4 at halfway. The lead is nearly 4 lengths so the gold medals look safe. England lead Wales by just under a length with NIR just overlapping. With 500 to go England push and get clear water over Wales for the first time in the race. England up to 36 and drawing a bit clear of Wales at 35, who are clear of NIR. Australia are comfortable for gold, England established for silver, and Wales should get bronze. Australia win by a good 3 or 4 lengths from England, a length up on Wales, with NIR a further length back in 4th.
Gold Australia, silver England, bronze Wales.
LM8+, lightweight men's eights
England in lane 2 lead Wales with NIR slighly behind. England at 38 have crept out to 1.5 lengths ahead of the Welsh, with NIR just under a length behind. The chasing crews are increasing their rate and trying to come back. Wales at 35 with NIR at 37.5 only half a length back. NIR are really having a go at the Welsh, and England can watch from in front. NIR have come through the Welsh in the last 250m, and cross the line half a length to the good. England are very pleased with that, the Welsh heads are down after being rowed down in the last 500m.
Gold England, silver NIR, bronze Wales.
LM1x, lightweight men's single sculls
Karrasch of Australia has gone off like he means business, rating in the forties. He has a 2 length lead at 500m over Shaw of Scotland. In the time it's taken to type that it is 3 lengths. Shaw is barely 3/4 length up on Wildr in a close race for the minor medals. Shaw at 31, Wilder at 34, with Stephenson of ENgland a length back. At 750 Karrasch has a very decent lead with some swans milling about. Shaw and Wilder are both moving on, but not troubling the Australian in gold. Shaw is rowing long, Stephenson looks short and stabby. Wilder still looks strong and at 34. No mention for the Antipodean, sitting cmfortabe at 33. He's going to win this no question. Wales pushing but going to bowside, at 31. Karrasch 12s ahead with 500 lft, but a second between 2nd and 3rd. Karrasch still going strong, no other race today. Shaw runs out 2 lengths up on Wilder, adding to the bronze collection. The Guernsey sculler is a full 50s off the pace, but gets a sporting clap home by the crowd.
Gold Australia, silver Scotland, bronze Wales.
LW1x, lightweight women's single sculls
Finally, Wales looks like getting its first gold medal of the championships, British squad lightweight single sculler Kirsten McLelland-Brooks having built up a substantial lead by halfway. In this three-boat final, it's Helen Mangan of Northern Ireland in second, and a few more lengths back from her, Lara Hampton from England. Some good sculling, although it is to be hoped the next few races offer the spectators a bit more to watch. Northern Ireland Rowing also gets itself on the medals table, good stuff.
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