British rule the waves in Holland with three more gold medals at the sailing World Cup
Last updated 02/06/2009 08:49:56
British win with three more gold medals at the sailing World Cup
British sailors won three golds, two silvers and a bronze in the latest leg of their World Cup in Holland at the weekend.
Olympic Laser champion Paul Goodison, Finn sailor Ed Wright and the women's match-racing team of Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Ali Martin all struck gold as the British sailors ruled the waves.
As well as the top podium places Giles Scott took silver behind Wright, Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes claimed bronze in the 49er class and Megan Pascoe won silver in the 2.4mR.
Goodison finished the medal race in a safe ninth place, ensuring he was one place ahead of Croatia's Tonci Stipanovic, who was the only other sailor in with a chance of taking gold.
Goodison claimed his second straight World Cup series victory in only his second event back since the Beijing Olympic Games and said afterwards: "This is the one that's eluded me - I think I've won everything else apart from the Worlds and Holland Regatta, so that just leaves one for later in the year.
"It's a good feeling that I am sailing well after the break following the Olympics. The real focus now is going to be on to the Worlds in Canada in August and working on a few key things."
Wright, who strengthened his lead in the World Cup standings having been on the podium at the past four events, was left behind after a premature start meant he had to re-cross the line.
But the 31-year-old picked his way back through the fleet to finish the 10-boat medal race in second, pipping long-time regatta leader Scott.
"I was really surprised [to have won] because I started so badly - both in the race today and the whole week in fact," he said, "I made it hard on myself throughout the week - I got a couple of bad scores on the second day, but just have been slowly coming back but I'm really surprised that I managed to get the gold."
Macgregor, Lush and Martin had a close battle with the German boat helmed by Ulrike Schuemann, but emerged 3-2 winners in only the second World Cup appearance for the new Olympic discipline.