Ritchie focusing on World Championship final

ROWING

Herne Bay’s Dan Ritchie has his sights set on a World Championship gold medal after storming through the heats in Chungiu, South Korea.

The 26-year-old Herne Bay ARC star is joined in the men’s eight by former King’s School student Tom Ransley, from Ashford.

The pair were in the boat which stylishly qualified for Sunday’s final with a convincing performance on Monday morning.

They won their heat in a time of 5.32.77 to progress straight to the final – avoiding the repechage round – along with the USA.

Ritchie – a former Herne Bay High School pupil – said it was a ‘great result’ and told fans on twitter: “It’s good to blow the legs and lungs out in the heats.”

He added: “We did a really good job on Monday but it’s not over yet. We might have bragging rights over the USA in the team hotel but it is all about the final.”

The GB crew were fastest off the start line and had built a half-length lead by the 500m mark, with France in second and the USA in third.

They were two seconds ahead by the midway point at 1,000m and despite a strong finish by the US – who won gold at the last World Cup event in Lucerne, Switzerland – GB stopped the clock almost three seconds ahead of their rivals, who pipped France into second by 0.81secs, meaning the French have to qualify through Wednesday’s repechage round.

Italy and hosts Korea completed field. South

the

Last year’s Coach of the Year, Peter Mullervy