Quartet keep flag flying as Britain reign in Shunyi
Great Britain continued their proud tradition by powering into the final of the men’s coxless fours to complete a successful day for British rowers in Shunyi.
The quartet of Andy Hodge, Steve Williams, Tom James and Pete Reed produced a dominant semi-final performance to cross the line ahead of Australia and France and lay a marker down ahead of Saturday’s final.
Britain have won this event in each of the last two Games in the flagship boat made famous by Olympic legends Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent. And now Williams, who was part of the gold medal crew in 2004, is confident this new brigade can keep the flag flying high.
“That was a good challenge for us because in the final more crews will stay with us for longer,” he said.
“We have come a long way from the heat but we’ll have to step on it again. But seeing where we have come from over the last three days I would back ourselves to do it.”
The victory completed an encouraging day for Team GB on the river as the number of British finalists swelled to eight. Alan Campbell progressed to the final of the single sculls, while Steve Rowbotham and Matthew Wells did likewise in the double sculls.
The women’s eight also went through after finishing third in a hard-fought repechage.