British rowers reign in Spain with nine World Cup gold medals
Last updated 04/06/2009 09:38:38
Mens quadruple rowing scull - Picture Peter Spurrier
Katherine Grainger changed boats but not her winning attitude as she led the British team to nine out of fourteen gold medals in the opening World Cup regatta in Spain.
Any doubts over a let down after their success in Beijing were blown away as Grainger, in the scull, and the men's pair of Pete Reed and Andy Hodge, both won their first outings at this level in their new events.
In a staggering display of dominance Great Britain won the first SEVEN events, starting with victory in the pair and double in both the men's and women's races.
The other British golds went to the men's four, Alan Campbell in the single scull and the women's quad and eight as they claimed their biggest ever number of medals at a World Cup regatta.
The one silver was particularly significant because the men's quadruple scull that claimed it is the first complete crew to come out of GB Rowing's talent identification scheme, finding top class sportsmen and women from other sports.
"I like the way they are doing things", said GB Rowing's performance director Dave Tanner," Overall, of course, I'm very pleased with what has happened. There are many more boats to come in later regattas but in the events here where there was a strong field, it showed that our top boats are in form".
Annie Vernon and Anna Bebington, who were later part of the winning quad scull, set the pattern for the golden day with victory in the first race, leading from start to finish in the women's double scull.
Louisa Reeve and Olivia Whitlam followed suit in the women's pair before the men took over.
Reed and Hodge were part of the four that won gold at the 2008 Olympics but were making their first appearance as a pair at World Cup level.
They paced their race beautifully, taking charge in their final while Matthew Wells and Stephen Rowbotham also judged their race perfectly to come from behind to claims the men's double scull.
Hodge said afterwards: "It was a really good race, a challenge. We were very quick, with a good rhythm, it was really exciting. It's great to be part of an exciting new project."
With the four that won gold in Beijing having broken up, a new four is taking shape with the crew, stroked by Matthew Langridge and containing three of the British eight who finished second at the Olympics, cruised to victory with something in hand ahead of the Czech Republic.
"We could take an easy rhythm throughout the race; we were prepared to give more but fortunately did not need to," said Langridge.
Grainger, a three-time Olympic silver medallist, has switched to the single scull this year after spending the rest of her illustrious career in team boats and she led all the way in her final, while in the men's race Campbell beat Olympic champion Olaf Tufte.
Campbell was equally happy with his win following a difficult 2008 and said afterwards: "The Olympics was a tough time for me and I'm hoping for a better season. I need to show my form in every regatta. Each one is a personal test for me."
The final two victories saw Bebington and Vernon claim a second gold as part of the women's quad scull, while Whitlam and Reeve claimed their second gold of the regatta as part of the women's eight.