Bill Lucas and Matt Langridge showed the progress they have made since coming together for the Eton Dorney World Cup just two weeks ago when they handed a heavy defeat to the Chambers brothers in the Double Sculls Challenge at Henley Royal Regatta this morning.
The margin of victory over the Chambers siblings – Peter and Richard - who are representing Leander Club here but who more usually compete as the GB Rowing Team lightweight men’s double, was bigger than expected.
Coach Mark Banks was delighted with his open-weight charges and says they are looking forward to a close final tomorrow with New Zealanders Arms and Manson as the opposition.
A Leander-Molesey composite club eight featuring many of those hoping to emerge into the national squad put in a great performance to row through the University of Washington junior varsity eight to gain a place in the final of the Ladies’ Plate.
“Rowing at bow I was the only one in the boat who could see Washington at the Barrier but our rhythm was so good, I knew we would come through”, said University of London’s Oliver Cook.
A tinge of drama marked a race umpired today by Olympic legend and Regatta Steward Sir Matt Pinsent. A clash between the two Visitors’ fours from Harvard ‘B’ and Thames R.C. during which the latter crew broke a blade has meant a re-row scheduled later today.
“They seemed to come into our water and Sir Matt may have been warning them but anyway we broke a blade and we must race this evening”, said Thames R.C.’s Pete Randolph.
Olympic champion Mirka Knapkova is through to tomorrow’s final, overcoming local favourite and former GB Olympian Debbie Flood who is this year’s Leander Club captain. She will meet New Zealand’s Emma Twigg, fourth in the London Games final, who beat another Leander rower and current GB international Vicky Thornley.
Twigg said: “I expected Victoria to be pretty strong opposition, she did well in the World Cup at Dorney. I expected her to go out fast which she did. It was a matter of staying relaxed, composed and rowing through.'
'It's been a busy few weeks for me. I was in Amsterdam last week and I'm doing four regattas in four weekends, which is challenging. So it's all about recovering and making the most of what we're doing before the World Championships in South Korea.'
Aleksandr Aleksandrov of Azerbaijan is also in tomorrow’s finals in the Diamond Challenge Cup for male single scullers. He toppled Luka Spik of Slovenia in today’s semi-final. Aleksandrov created a modest lead early in the race and then had enough power and pace to move out to victory in the final phase of the race.
Legendary British coach Mike Spracklen was named recently as the new Russian NationalCoach and takes up his duties next season. He took the opportunity at the Regatta this morning to watch as the students from St Petersburg Universitywere beaten by a strong crew from the Netherlands, D.S.R. Laga.
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