World Cup gold for GB men’s quad

Britain’s men’s quad produced their best race of the season yesterday to surge past Germany and Holland to win the Lucerne and World Cup trophies.

“It’s coming home,” announced Jonny Walton at the finish line. “It was about cohesion and all of us doing our jobs the whole way down.”

A small British team mostly comprising rowers with low summer racing experience had travelled to Switzerland and were depleted further when the women’s quad and leading lightweight double withdrew to avoid aggravating minor injuries before the European Championships in August.

The men’s quad had to prove their speed and did so with a beautifully paced scull, staying close to early leaders Germany to make their powerful mid-course push effective and hold off the Dutch.

Three contests in three days was what the quad needed after their straight final at Henley. “We got the second half right in the first race, and the first half right in the second race, and just had to glue them together,” said John Collins.

This was a good omen for the Europeans on Aug 2, as they have beaten all their continental rivals. A new lightweight women’s quad could not summon the finishing speed to take a medal in Saturday’s final, while the men’s four were outclassed by more experienced combinations in the sprint.

The women’s eight’s chances of gold in Glasgow have improved now that the fast Dutch crew’s stroke-woman has been substituted while she completes her studies.

On the men’s side, the German and Dutch eights are as quick as ever, which will pose a big challenge for GB chief coach Jurgen Grobler’s top sweep oarsmen.