Simply oarsome! (From Free Press Series)

Simply oarsome!

12:32pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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TOM Lucy stomed to an oarsome' gold as the Great Britain flagship rowing four destroyed their World Cup field in Munich.

The Monmouth 20-year-old, who was only called into the crew two days before his first major test of the Olympic season, said: "That was brilliant. We just got better and better through every race and really turned it on in the final."

His three crewmates - world champions in the four in 2006 and 2006 - were back on a revenge mission after losing their crown eight months ago on the same Olympic lake, when they finished a miserable fourth.

And with world bronze eights medallist Lucy coming in for injured fellow Welshman Tom James, they totally dominated a field that included world silver and bronze medallists Italy and Holland, who were so blown away by GB's starting pace, that they did not even reach the podium.

GB's power into a stiff headwind was just too much for anyone else to live with, as they won by three lengths from the Czech Republic who came through to beat Germany for silver on the line.

"We stepped it up each race and I'm just delighted with the way we went," said Llangovan's Lucy, whose birthday surprise last week was winning a call up into a GB boat made famous by the likes of Olympic medal legends Steve Redgrave and Matt Pinsent.

With Athens Olympic champion Steve Williams calling the shots in front of Lucy in the bowseat, and Peter Reed and Andy Hodge making up the stern, no one could live with the Brits through the qualifying heats and yesterday's final.

The crew had clear water at the 500m quarter-way mark in the six-boat medal race off, two and a half lengths at half way and three lengths with 500m to race. And they had absolutely no need for a sprint finish as they cruised home watching the field scrapping for the minor medals behind.

And pulling on his World Cup yellow jersey after docking the boat, Lucy said: "It was just a fantastic performance by the crew and I hope I've proved myself to national coach Jurgen Grobler. It's my first World Cup gold and to win it like that makes it even more special."

Two-time world champion crewmate Reed paid tribute to the Monmouth School product, saying: "It was a privilege racing with him. He may be the youngster of the GB squad, but he's a very cool, very tough customer. He's an incredibly mature racer for his years and has certainly proved himself to Jurgen, whose coached five Olympic champion GB boats."

GB rowing supremo David Tanner was similarly impressed, saying: "He's a big, big talent. It's nice to have someone like that in your pocket, who can come in at short notice and perform like that.

"He's come in and taken his chance fantastically. I expect Tom James to come back into the four for Lucerne in three weeks - he won the seat through the selection procedure - but Tom Lucy's done his chances of going to Beijing in a top boat no harm at all."

Lucy was disappointed to be put in the pair initially for Munich, having won bronze in the GB eight at last year's worlds.

And he still sees his main chance of Olympic medal glory in the bigger boat.

"I've done my chances some good this weekend, but I take each day as it comes. I don't want to guess what's going to happen, but I'll put this weekend behind me and just try to step on again in training."

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