Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham, 19th-21st July 2002
Earlier races below - click here for the later live commentary.
Race 570: Men's junior coxless fours final
They're rushing races on again, after that little delay earlier, and the
men's fours are on the course before the women's doubles finish. It's
Bedford in lane 4 looking good, with Canford not far behind, and in lane 1
Emanuel/Tiffin also in contention. 250 to go, Bedford probably have
enough to cope with the massive pushes going on behind them, Emanuel
currently second, third are Yarm School, coming bursting through in the
final stages. Still no photofinishes yet today - if they happen, we have
been promised the pictures.
Race 569: Women's lightweight double sculls final
Sorry - server discontinuity. With 500 to go, very tight between NCRA 'A'
and Tradesmen, the latter being internationals Simpson and
Lancaster. Coming up to last 250, both pairs pushing, Marlow/Wallingford
having surged back, Tradesmen going through them, swapping all the time,
County second behind Tradesmen with Marlow/W'ford third, close on all
three at the line, Tradesmen just pulling out a little, NCRA second by
half a length, Marlow/Wford third by a smidgeon, though not quite
photofinish material.
Race 568: Men's lightweight coxless fours final
First 500 mark, NCRA 'A' in the lead, Nottingham BC second and the Welsh
third. Halfway, NRCA still hold the edge by two seconds from a powerful
Furnivall Scullers in second, and NRCA 'B' coming through hard. My
co-commentator describes the two NCRA crews as taking on the race, with
Furnivall as "the meat in the sandwich". The 'A' crew rating 37, but I
think they're being overhauled by NCRA 'B' and Furnivall. Another push
from the County 'A' crew, 200 to go, still County 'A', impossible to
tell who has silver out of County 'B' and Furnivall, only half a length
separates all the three crews. NCRA 'A' hold on for gold, probably NCRA
'B' for silver, wait for the official verdict. Notts BC, having shot
their bolt after the fast start, trail in last. Later - we
discover that Furnivall did get silver (at least that's the colour of
medal they've just picked up below our vantage point in the tower).
Race 567: Women's junior eights final
There are reports of a dead goose in the water at the 1250 mark, and the
safety boat boys are off to investigate. Not that British rowing needs
more geese upsetting things at the moment... Noticeable that the loudest
claps are coming for the junior prize-givings - just how uninterested and
dispassionate can the adults look? Bit of a delay before the next race -
I can't even see anyone on the start at the moment, though Steve assures
me they're on the stakeboats. This morning they had a lot of trouble
aligning, but then again it could be the goose-alert holding them
back. Right, they've just started. The trusty binocs tell us it's lane 2
in the lead - King's Worcester - while Haberdasher's Monmouth are lying in
second. Headington won at National Schools, and won HWR, while King's
were third at Nat Schools. Coming to 1000 metres, it's King's rating 34
over Haberdasher's and Headington, while Canford earlier had steering
problems, now look to be recovering. The second Haberdasher's crew are
trailing somewhat which may account for the slow results coming
through. With 500 to go, King's are darwing away well, at least 2 lengths
and Headington, third behind Haberdasher's A, are being pressurised by
Henley. Headington includes the three who just raced in junior coxed
fours, no wonder they're tired. Worcester rating 33 over the line,
Monmouth 3 lengths back, Headington don't have a lot of trouble holding
off Henley for third.
Race 566: Men's coxless pairs final
The organisers seem to have
caught up on time, when they were running a bit late originally due to the
difficulty crews had getting on to the start. Anyway, it seems to be OK
now, and we have a little wait before getting the first M2- results.
Worcester in the lead at 1000, with London second and the Nautilus pair
third. Very big field for this race, and it included the likes of Jonty
Williamson, Peter Haining and Martin Harris. The latter two are the
selected Scottish Commonwealth lightweight pair, but Haining was
substituted by Peter Beard as PH has to train with a lightweight eight
this week. London going through nicely between markers in mid-race, Brown
and Williamson shoving steadily through the pack. London have now
overtaken Worcester, whose heads are drooping, and third place is being
contested by Nautilus, and Harris/Beard. Worcester settle for silver
three lengths down from London, Nautilus are keeping their head, and
Harris/Beard fail to overtake them by half a length, so it's bronze for
the juniors.
Race 565: Women's quadruple sculls final
They've started, and Nautilus led at the first 500 over York composite,
with Marlow composite third. Nearing halfway, the junior GB girls still
have the lead by a very impressive four seconds, led by HWR runner-up
Natasha Page. Coming through the third quarter the positions aren't
changing, with 500 to go Nautilus still hold a lead over York composite,
with Marlow composite a second back and Tidway Scullers another second
back on them. Nautilus at 37 coming into the last 200, and the battle for
the minor medals is hotting up, Marlow might be coming through, 100 to go,
Marlow in silver York now struggling against Scullers, Marlow composite at
38, canvas up on York, who hold onto third without too much trouble. A
good close race with only Notts County really off the speed.
Race 564: Men's coastal single sculls final
We think the coastal sculls have started but it takes the scoreboard a
while to update. It's Coalporters in first (Pearce) with Southsea's
MacDonald second, and BTC's Hume third. Comments were being made
earlier about how good this event is getting. Passing the thousand,
Pearce still leading by about a length, with MacDonald behind, and the
stragglers in this event are very far back. Third place is going to be
interesting between Hume and Worthing's Holden - not quite close enough to
see for ourselves yet. 250 to go for the leaders at any rate, and it's
Pearce comfortably, MacDonald in second by a length off third, and Hume,
though he's had to come back through Holden who was ahead at the last
marker. Calls of Sooooooootoooooooon from the crowd down below. First
Pearce by an easy 2 lengths, MacDonald in second, and an epic battle for
third. Looks like just Hume over Holden from our eyrie, while the last
two scullers O'Brien and McLaughlin wander in, the latter nearly half a
minute down on the field.
Race 563: Men's quadruple sculls final
4 boats entered this event, but only 3 starting - poor really and
illustrates perhaps why internationally British sculling is generally not
overwhelmingly successful. It turns out to be the Nautilus juniors who
have dropped out, while Leander currently lead by 3 lengths at the halfway
mark. The stroke of the Maidstone boat (currently third) raced with Pete
Gostling of Leander in the Fawley. Gostling is turning into somewhat of a
super-sub, having performed in two Henley finals when oarsmen fell ill,
and now subs for Richard Briscoe. Close between Marlow and Maidstone for
second, Leander still way out in front with 250 to go. Leander look
fairly long and controlled, Maidstone pushing again with 150 to go,
Marlow/Bath going again, gold is obvious and the question is who will get
silver. Leander by a mile, and Bath/Marlow lift enough to hold onto
second by 3/4 length.
Race 562: Women's coxless fours final
Nautilus led at 500m, with Bedford composites close in 2nd. Nautilus lead
rating 35, from Bedford and Kingston who are close together. Tight into
the last 250m now, Nautilus holding on by a length, from the Bedford
composite from Kingston. Both the junior 4s of Nautilus and the Bedford
composite were racing with GB blades.
Race 561: Men's lightweight coxless pairs final
At halfway, Stourport/UTRC lead Aberdeen Uni by a lengbth, in turn a
length up on St Andrew/Edinburgh Uni. UTRC and Hereford are very close
behind with AK a further length back. Aberdeen rating 37 into the last
350m, with a dead-cross wind not showing signs of dropping much. Stourport
haver a cushion now and can watch the tussle for the minor
medals. Aberdeen steering over the buoys to strokeside, giving it
everything to stay ahead of the Edinburgh crew, which they just manage
with a couople of feet only to spare.
Race 560: Men's coxed fours final
Brookes elected to do the 8 only here, later on. IC lead from Worcester,
with the Nautilus junior world's crew 3rd. At halfway, NCRA (half their 8
whihc is not racing today) lie 2nd, with Worcester 3rd and IC out in
front. Worcester raced in the Prince Philip at HRR having won the Wyfold
in a previous year. Nautilus are back in 4th. IC push with 300 left rating
38, as are NCRA who are pressing them. NCRA are charging, over-rating and
moving well, timing their push well. NCRA take it by half a length,
Worcester hold off London by a canvas for third.
Race 559: Men's lightweight double sculls final
At 1000m, it's difficult to call. London B lead from London A from
TSS/Putney in 3rd. 2seconds covers the first 3. Scullers have put in a
burst with 450 left, sculling at 36. They lead by about a length from
London B, with Walton pressing through now. Composite double look good and
in control. Walton snatching the catches a bit but hold off London B by
half a length.
Race 558: Women's junior coxed fours final
Aberdeen schools trying to follow the Aberdeen Wyfold winners
to Scottish glory. George Heriots may have something to say about that
though. Headington lead, having won their rep, St Pauls and Aberdeen
pressing them at the 500m, and these 3 have a slight lead on the
field. At half way headington have a slight lead but 1s covers the top
3. Looks very tight at the 750m mark, with 4 crews in contention, led by
Headington and followed by Haberdashers, St Pauls and St. Leonards, with
the Scottish crews slightly behind. 5s covers all the crews though with
500 left. St Pauls now lead by 0.4s. Headington higher rating to St Pauls
longer finish as they cross the red buoys. St Pauls at 34 lead,
Headington at 33. St Pauls take it by just over half a length, Headington
2nd and St.Leonards. Haberdashers were closing fast but ran out of lake.
Race 557: Women's single sculls final
Veteran Springman in her Rob Roy kit trying to show the youngesters the
way home. Butler-Stoney of Wallingford looks to be the main danger to her.
First 3 well together after 500m, Bulter-Stoney and Clarke pulling ahead
of the others a bit now. The wind is largely cross-tail but seems to be
picking up. B-S at 30 leads Clarke at 34 by just under a length at
half-way. B-S in the lead. Scott in lane 2 pushing through as they come
towards the last 500, B-S sitting at lower rate but longer than the
others, Scott still attacking it hard. B-S looks relaxed and not in
trouble, wins by 1.5 lengths. 2nd is Clarke, 3rd is Scott half a length
behind.
Race 556: Women's junior quadruple sculls final
All the crews rating 33, Dame Alice sitting about a length up on Henley
B. Tight for 3rd, cant't tell who got it from here at present. Either
Northwich or Star, we think Northwich who were very spirited towards the
line. Northwich it is.
Race 555: Men's junior single sculls final
Colaluca on home water led the field from from lane 3, happy to watch the
others fight it out for the minor places. Matt French in lane 2 was
pushing hard towards the end and the steering sufferred as a result.
Copyright Rachel Quarrell, Trevor Chambers and Steve Travis 2002