Britain Wins Sprint Contest

Great Britain scored a clean sweep when it met a team of rowers from Ireland, Germany and USA at a sprint regatta in London yesterday.

Some of the biggest names in British rowing were in action in the team comprising James Cracknell, Matthew Pinsent, Tim Foster, Debbie Flood and Frances Houghton.

Cracknell and Pinsent met and beat Olympic silver medallists Ted Murphy and Sebastien Bea of the USA in the coxless pair.

Tim Foster enjoyed his first taste of success in the single sculls with a win over Albert Maher of Ireland, while the women’s double overcame Sabine Kosmehl and Samila Kreutzjans of Germany.

The British team then went on to win the relay event.

As well as the rowing, the crowd of about 500 watched course-side interviews with five-time Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave and his coach Jurgen Grobler.

The event is part of Redgrave’s Super Sprint regatta concept and involves crews racing each other over a distance of 350 metres.