posted Aug 30, 2009

True, but rowing gets more money from the public purse than a lot of other sports precisely because it has produced medals.

Some sports get less money precisely because they have under performed in the past and not delivered money.

Success is rewarded and failure is not.

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posted Sep 3, 2009

William_Foster surely a "par" performance is good, if i went round the golf course on par I'd be chuffed!!

More serioulsy GB outdid the targets it had set and agreed with UK Sport, performances like those of Graniger in the single and the LW2x were above expectation when the targets were set with UK Sport 10-12 months ago.

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posted Sep 10, 2009

Oooooooooo!!!!

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posted Sep 10, 2009

Any news yet on Steve Williams? His return, although not critical in itself, would mean having two fours, one olmypic, and one world champion, in Britain, containing two completely seperate crews.

I would really like to see Reed and Hodge in the pair next year, because although did not win, they showed they had gained a massive amount during the racing season. I doubt they would have been stretched that far in the four.

I would like to see Steve Williams and Tom James in a coxed four, with the best pair from the remaining squad. That way in summer 2010, the two best will row in the pair (Hodge, Reed, Langridge, etc), then the 4-, and then the 4+. The 8+ will be left for developers, giving a lot of seats for up amd coming guys to try and make it for the Olympics.

When a clear picture of who is coming back, and who is looking good/great appears after the 2010 world cup and world champs, the pair will either be back on winning ways, or moved back into the 4-. meaning the 4+ group can form the nucleus of the olympic 8+.

Thats a muse on how I would develop the squad.

In addition, I would put the doubles guys into a coxed pair. If they win a medal, hopefully gold, then I would move them into the 8+ group for the worlds, but I think their time of medals in the double are coming to an end.

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posted Sep 16, 2009

There is no 4+ at the World Champs, and when was the last time GB put a 2+ together?

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posted Sep 21, 2009

Athletes of those calibre would never be wasted in coxed boats anymore. It is a good idea in theory, to allow the 8 to continue to develop etc, but there is no way you could take a returning Olympian like Williams, James etc and lump them in such a meaningless event - they would turn stale very quickly. They need time in their proper boats/crews with high level of competition to keep them on their toes for the full years ahead.

Hodge/Reed have undoubtedly gained a lot from their pair experience. Whether they continue in that boat or not will be very interesting to see.

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posted Sep 29, 2009

What are your views on good Rowing technique?

I feel that longer strokes are far superior to short strokes.

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posted Sep 29, 2009

I favour a series of longer, slower strokes, gradually increasing in speed until just at the end they become shorter, faster, more urgent strokes

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posted Sep 30, 2009

highly insightful old boy.

toodlepip.

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posted Oct 14, 2009

Any news regarding Steve Williams, or other come backs?

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