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Last Updated: Thursday, 7 June 2007, 19:32 GMT 20:32 UK
Great Britain move focus to eight
GB men's coxless four celebrate
Great Britain's four won last weekend's World Cup opener
Great Britain are to move the double world champion coxless four into an eight for the next World Cup regatta.

The four of Steve Williams, Peter Reed, Andy Hodge and Alex Partridge will combine with pair Colin Smith and Matthew Langridge and two others.

Both boats won gold last weekend in the opening World Cup event in Linz.

But BBC rowing reporter Martin Cross told Five Live: "It is not to make a super eight for the Bejing Olympics - it is being done to speed up the four."

606: COMMENT
Martin Gough, BBC Sport

The next World Cup event begins in Amsterdam on 22 June, three months before the World Championships in Munich.

Head coach Jurgen Grobler has kept selection for the coxless four open throughout winter training, even though the current combination has yet to be beaten in 27 races.

Cross, an Olympic gold medallist in 1984, said: "Grobler has got a desire to improve them further, to stretch them. I think it's a brilliant strategy."

Marcus Bateman and James Orme, who raced in the second men's four in Linz, make up the eight, allowing the current first-choice eight to operate independently.

That eight finished fifth in Linz and needs to finish no lower than seventh in Munich to qualify automatically for the Olympics.

SEE ALSO
Find out where to start rowing
19 Oct 05 |  Rowing


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