Rowing Nottinghamshire turn on the style in record fashion

Rowing

DANIEL TOPOLSKI

reports from Henley

The international oarsmen of Nottinghamshire County Association dominated a high-class field in the Ladies Plate on the third day of racing at Henley Royal Regatta yesterday. In the morning, the heavyweights put on a powerful display, winning comfortably against Oxford Brookes University, equalling the intermediate record.

Later in the day, the British lightweight eight went four seconds faster against Nottingham's B crew, also equalling the intermediate record and making them the quickest crew of the regatta so far. Princeton, the Eastern sprint champions, beat Oxford University-Leander by one and a half lengths, and Washington paddled home comfortably against the Cambridge old boys, rowing as Free Press Boat Club.

The Thames Cup continues to produce impressive performances, with Washington Junior Varsity going fastest against Heidelberg, although Goldie and Imperial College have not been pressed so far.

Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent continue their unimpeded progress towards victory in the Silver Goblets. Yesterday's victims were Germany's Christian Korp and Falco Fugel.

In the Diamond Sculls, Estonia's Juri Jaanson, weighing in at 14st 10lb and the World Cup leader, eased away from 10st 10lb Hitoshi Hase of Japan's Nihon University, and is seeded to meet last year's winner and world record holder, Xeno Muller, in tomorrow's final.

In the women's Sculls, Sweden's Maria Brandin, who equalled the course record yesterday, and Silken Laumann of Canada, who equalled the Barrier record, look set for a final showdown, with only Guin Batten, Britain's leading sculler, a possible threat today.

Hampton School and Eton shared the same time yesterday in the Princess Elizabeth Cup. Hampton were just a second off the half-way record in winning against Radley. Eton will have the tougher semi-final today against the fast Americans, St Joseph's.

London University are having a good regatta under new coach Paul McGann. Their Thames Cup eight qualified, as did the double scullers, Damien West and Adrian Cassidy.

Today, London University's two best athletes, Rupert Obholzer and Tim Foster, are teamed in a coxless four with Olympic champions Greg and Jonny Searle, racing their first heat of the Steward's Cup against the strong Cambridge/Croatia combination.