BBC SPORT | OTHER SPORTS | Best ever for British rowers

Great Britain equalled their best-ever performance at the World Rowing Championships, with four golds and a bronze matching their return in 1993.

BBC Sport's Mark Davies looks back at the action.

The King is dead, long live the King!

The first major rowing championships of the post-Redgrave era passed so successfully for Great Britain that they will hardly have noticed his absence.

Matthew Pinsent adopted the mantle of the world's greatest rower as if he has been waiting for it for years.

He has now equalled Redgrave's record of nine World Championship golds, and his achievement, with James Cracknell, of winning the coxed and coxless pairs at the same major championships, set new standards.

People will tell you that it is not as difficult to do as it was in Redgrave's day. When he tried it - most recently at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul - the coxed version was still an Olympic event.

Now that it is not, the argument goes, winning both is that much easier, because the competition is weaker.

Try telling that to Pinsent and Cracknell as they sat 1.7 seconds down on the leaders, in third place, with only 500 metres to go in their second race.

Nitsch and Birch row for gold
It is true that in winning the first, Pinsent made sure he and Cracknell did just enough and nothing more.

Rarely, if ever, can a World Championship race have been won as coolly as they did it.

Do not let anyone tell you that they left things close: Pinsent knew exactly where the opposition were, and exactly what he had to do to hold them off.

But boy, were they made to work to take the coxless race; one of those classics which if you saw it, you'll never forget.

Barely a single British spectator, in Lucerne or back home in front of the television, can have watched without feeling as though every muscle was straining with them through every stroke.

A sport which was so low-profile just a few years ago, suddenly had half the country back on the edge of their seats.

On top of the pair, the coxless four of Toby Garbett, Steve Williams, Ed Coode and Ric Dunn looked absolute class, completing a thoroughly professional victory over a German four who themselves looked a quality outfit.

The women's lightweight pair of Sarah Birch and Jo Nitsch couldn't have timed their race better as they rowed down the Americans on their way to gold.

There were obviously some disappointments. The VIII's failure to win a medal is the clearest example, and the women's pair of Cath Bishop and Katherine Grainger will also feel that they under-performed.

But on the whole, the squad can come away from Lucerne with every reason to feel pleased with themselves.

Second in the medal table makes you wonder what they'll go on to achieve when they find the consistency, which seems currently to be the only thing they lack.

You do not hear excuses from rowers that this is post-Olympic year and it is hard to pick yourself up. Other sports, take note.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]		Monday, 27 August, 2001, 13:06 GMT 14:06 UK Best ever for British rowers Super duo: Cracknell and Pinsent winning gold again Great Britain equalled their best-ever performance at the World Rowing Championships, with four golds and a bronze matching their return in 1993. BBC Sport's Mark Davies looks back at the action. The King is dead, long live the King! The first major rowing championships of the post-Redgrave era passed so successfully for Great Britain that they will hardly have noticed his absence. Matthew Pinsent adopted the mantle of the world's greatest rower as if he has been waiting for it for years. He has now equalled Redgrave's record of nine World Championship golds, and his achievement, with James Cracknell, of winning the coxed and coxless pairs at the same major championships, set new standards. People will tell you that it is not as difficult to do as it was in Redgrave's day. When he tried it - most recently at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul - the coxed version was still an Olympic event. Now that it is not, the argument goes, winning both is that much easier, because the competition is weaker. Try telling that to Pinsent and Cracknell as they sat 1.7 seconds down on the leaders, in third place, with only 500 metres to go in their second race. Nitsch and Birch row for gold It is true that in winning the first, Pinsent made sure he and Cracknell did just enough and nothing more. Rarely, if ever, can a World Championship race have been won as coolly as they did it. Do not let anyone tell you that they left things close: Pinsent knew exactly where the opposition were, and exactly what he had to do to hold them off. But boy, were they made to work to take the coxless race; one of those classics which if you saw it, you'll never forget. Barely a single British spectator, in Lucerne or back home in front of the television, can have watched without feeling as though every muscle was straining with them through every stroke. A sport which was so low-profile just a few years ago, suddenly had half the country back on the edge of their seats. On top of the pair, the coxless four of Toby Garbett, Steve Williams, Ed Coode and Ric Dunn looked absolute class, completing a thoroughly professional victory over a German four who themselves looked a quality outfit. The women's lightweight pair of Sarah Birch and Jo Nitsch couldn't have timed their race better as they rowed down the Americans on their way to gold. There were obviously some disappointments. The VIII's failure to win a medal is the clearest example, and the women's pair of Cath Bishop and Katherine Grainger will also feel that they under-performed. But on the whole, the squad can come away from Lucerne with every reason to feel pleased with themselves. Second in the medal table makes you wonder what they'll go on to achieve when they find the consistency, which seems currently to be the only thing they lack. You do not hear excuses from rowers that this is post-Olympic year and it is hard to pick yourself up. Other sports, take note.		Other top Other Sports stories: Jeter hurt as Yankees win New award for Redgrave Racing bulletin: Friday's action Vinokourov ruled out of Tour Ullrich fails drugs test Hamilton plans Armstrong payback Hawk Wing heads Eclipse field Egan keeps licence after hearing Links to more Other Sports stories are at the foot of the page.


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