Last updated 23rd June 1997

Britain's four clinch World Cup

A crisp start gave the British crew an advantage of nearly two seconds after 500 metres but the French edged closer after that, coming close to level at 750 metres and reducing the gap to less than half a second at halfway and 1500 metres. The final verdict was 0.77 seconds, a canvas, the result of stroke Matthew Pinsent raising the rating to 40, a move almost scuppered by catching a crab when his oar hit the crest of a wave and sliced in on the feather.

Tim Foster, in the No 3 seat, said that it felt to him that they still had another gear. "People were alongside us longer than we're used to," he said. "It gives me confidence to think that they have to work harder than we do to stay there. In the boat it feels as if they are closer than they actually are when you look at the split times."

Taking the second round of the World Cup gives Redgrave and Pinsent their 66th consecutive victory in major races, takes the run of the foursome with James Cracknell in the bow seat to five undefeated races, and amasses 16 points, which means they will win it in Lucerne in three weeks' time even if they don't turn up. In the estimation of coach Jurgen Grobler the crew has advanced since it first raced three weeks ago in Munich. "We were prepared for a close race. The boys adapt better to each other now." He was aware that Redgrave, who described himself as "less than 100 per cent" because of a stomach bug which affected about 15 of Britain's athletes, is not yet up to full strength, and would need to pull out all the stops to hold off the French challenge.

Britain's World Cup haul was eight points for the four and six each for the men's and women's pairs and the women's double scullers, all of whom finished second. The result was excellent for the small boats. Women's coach Mike Spracklen broke his unsuccessful quadruple sculling crew into a double of Miriam Batten and Gillian Lindsay and a pair of Dot Blackie and Cath Bishop, with spectacular results. Bobbie Thatcher and Ben Hunt-Davis now lead in the Cup with a total of 12 points after moving from sixth to first after 1000 metres before allowing the Lithuanians to pip them. Greg Searle reached his first final in the single sculls, gaining two World Cup points. The Nottingham-based lightweight four and the men's eight finished with fourth places, earning 4 points apiece. Guin Batten won the B final of the women's event.

World Cup standings after two rounds: 1 Germany 139 pts, 2 GB 73, 3 France 55, 4 Romania 54, 5 Denmark 46.

© Copyright Chris Dodd, 1997.