Great Britian Become the Mercedes-Benz Sprints Champions

Team GB take the trophy

With a total of 27 points, Great Britain won the first ever Mercedes-Benz World Rowing Sprints held this afternoon (Saturday) on the Serpentine lake in London’s Hyde Park.

Led by team captain James Cracknell, the thirteen rowers who made up the British team placed first in three of the eight events that were raced as part of the sprints.

Germany placed second with a total of 23 points ahead of USA (20) and the Netherlands (18).

Each of the four participating countries entered thirteen rowers – five women, seven men and a coxswain. Each rower raced in two of the eight boat classes. First in their “small” boat (pair or four, single or double) and then combined into the two “large” boats (eight and quadruple sculls). The eight was made up of the men’s four and the men and women’s pair, the quadruple scull was made up of the women’s double and the men and women’s single. All the races were competed over 500 metres.

Five points were awarded for first place, three for second, two for third place and one for finishing fourth.