Image source, World RowingImage caption, Imogen Grant, Finn Stratton, Hannah Scott and Lola Anderson took gold in the women’s quad sculls
ByNigel RinglandBBC Sport NI Senior Journalist- Published1 hour ago
Great Britain won six gold medals at the third and final World Cup regatta of the season in Lucerne.
Success came in the women's quadruple sculls, men’s quadruple sculls, men's fours, women's eights, women's single sculls and PR1 men's single sculls.
The newly formed women's quadruple sculls crew led the way as Olympic champions Hannah Scott and Lola Anderson were joined by Finnola Stratton and Paris 2024 lightweight double sculls gold medallist Imogen Grant in the stroke seat.
With lightweight events no longer part of the Olympic programme, Grant has stepped up into the heavyweight boat and the quartet produced an impressive performance to secure the victory.
They controlled the race throughout, with Northern Ireland duo Scott and Stratton laying down the power to ensure clear water between themselves, Germany and world champions the Netherlands.
"It was good, we had a strong race," said Scott.
"We got out fast, and then we just had a bit of control over the race, and our strong point was the middle. We've had a changing crew, yes, but that's made us faster.
"We've had a tough couple of weeks with testing and training again because the depth in the sculling group at the minute is so strong that to get in the boat itself has been hard. So, on top of that, the performances are coming out of it which is good."
GB finish second in World Rowing Cup
The women’s quartet were joined on top of the podium by the men’s quad sculls of Cedol Dafydd, Callum Dixon, Tobias Schroder and Rory Harris.
They built a commanding lead through the first three-quarters of the race to hold off the charging Netherlands boat with Germany in third.
Daniel Graham, James Robson, Douwe de Graaf and George Bourne were again in fine form in the men's fours final, taking a small clear water lead by halfway and continuing to stretch out that advantage in the third quarter of the race.
The world champions won by a very small amount of clear water from Romania.
A well-paced and patient race from Lauren Henry gave her the win in the women’s single sculls, with world champion Fiona Murtagh from Ireland finishing second.
Great Britain also won the women's eight as the crew of Elizabeth Witt, Jade Lindo, Amelia Standing, Katherine George, Lauren Irwin, Annie Campbell-Orde, Heidi Long, Megan Slabbert and cox Jack Tottem took the lead and never relinquished it, beating Australia and the USA.
The sixth gold for Great Britain was won by Benjamin Pritchard in the PR1 men's single sculls
The Paralympic and world champion came back from an early deficit to defeat world bronze medallist Erik Horrie from Australia.
There was also a silver medal for the men’s eight behind the Netherlands and bronze for the women's four.
Meanwhile, the USA were confirmed as the World Rowing Cup winner for 2026, with 114 points from their visits to Plovdiv and Lucerne.
On the back of the outstanding performance in Lucerne, GB came second with 94 points, pipping the Netherlands by a point. However, GB nor the Netherlands competed in Plovdiv.
