Somerset Rowers Part of Record Medal Haul
5th September 2011Somerset rowers had a rollercoaster of emotions winning medals at the World Rowing Championships in Slovenia during a record 14-medal haul for the GB Rowing Team.
Helen Glover was 0.08 seconds away from gold, Marcus Bateman competed despite sickness and Winscombe's Stephen Rowbotham qualified for 2012 under pressure.
Ex Millfield School pupil and PE teacher Glover, a graduate of the Siemens-sponsored World Class START programme in Bath, won silver in the women's pair after being pipped on the line by New Zealand - 0.08 seconds the margin of victory for the Kiwis.
Another START graduate from the Bath centre of excellence, Bateman, finished sixth in self-styled 'Red Express' men's double scull after reaching the final but falling ill the night before his race.
Frome's Paul Mattick and his crewmates in the lightweight men's four were unable to defend their 2010 World crown but took solace in a hard-fought bronze medal while Glastonbury's Cameron Nichol won silver in the men's eight - again behind big rivals Germany but beating the Canadians.
Winscombe's Stephen Rowbotham crashed out at the semi-final stage by four-tenths of a second in the men's quad before salvaging pride by winning the B final to qualify the boat for London 2012.
The results ensured all their boats qualified for Olympics next year - with the GB Rowing Team securing places in 13 of the 14 Olympic classes.
Glover, who only started rowing three years ago, with team-mate Heather Stanning, led for much of her final before being agonisingly overhauled by New Zealand in a much tighter repeat of the 2010 World Championships.
"I knew the Kiwis would come back on us but I didn't know how close it was at the end", said former army officer Stanning.
"This may be the result that makes our career because we will be so fuelled up to get up there and be punching at the top of the podium next year", added Glover.
Nichol said of his silver in the eights: “They (Germany)are obviously a very good crew but we had every belief that we were going to beat them this year. Our goal was to win the gold medal.”
His crew-mate and former Monkton Combe pupil Alex Partridge said: "It’s very good fuel for what is going to be a very tough year next year. Internally we are going to have to fight to get into any of our boats so knowing that means the pressure is on.”
The red-headed Bateman won silver at the 2010 Worlds with partner Matt Wells and bravely competed despite his illness.
"I got woken in the night by Marcus being sick", said Wells. "I only got three hours sleep and he got much less, there was no fuel left in him. I went out this morning to train with the spare and we weren't sure if we could race but we made the decision as a team.
"For two fifths of the race, we were really there and even to finish five seconds off the bronze when not totally fit is impressive. We were missing half the boat and for the last 500m it was all me. It would have been incredible if we could have beaten one of the other crews. I think there are seven boats that can win gold next year."
The last day of finals on Lake Bled brought gold for Britain in the lightweight men's double sculls, the men's four and the adaptive mixed coxed four bring GB's overall tally at the event in the Olympic classes to three golds, three silvers and four bronzes with the international classes and the Paralympic classes also providing two golds apiece.
"(The final day) has obviously been completely outstanding. If we wanted cream on our cake here, this was the day", said GB Rowing Team Performance Director David Tanner.
"But we must not get carried away. Yes, we've had a good event with some truly exceptional performances of which we can be justifiably proud but so, too, have Germany and New Zealand. We need to keep our feet on the ground.
"We need to go into the Olympic year with confidence but not thinking somehow we are going to have a gift because it is London", he added.
Britain won the overall World Championships with a tally of 105 points and topped the medal table.