British rowers set modest medal target for World Championships

By Chris Cottrell

GREAT Britain performance director David Tanner has set a modest target of four medals for next month's World Rowing Championships in Poland.

EXPECTATION GAME: David Tanner insists he is cautiously optimistic of British chances at next month's World Championships

It has been a season of consolidation for British rowing after six medals at last year's Beijing Olympics and a haul of 11 medals at the 2007 World Championships in Munich.

But despite only picking up three golds in the final two World Cup events in Munich and Lucerne, Tanner is adamant the British rowers will still be a force to contend with.

"We've agreed with UK Sport a target of four medals in the Olympics classes for Poland," said Tanner, after announcing a 58-strong squad for Poznan.

"But obviously we aspire a little higher than that.

"Realistically you need eight boats that vie for the medals to reach that target. It's demanding but definitely achievable.

"We qualified for every single 'A' final in each of the three World Cup stages and, although they're not as strong as the World Championships, they still have high quality fields."

This season has seen numerous transitions within the British crews with Olympic four gold medallists Andy Triggs-Hodge and Peter Reed switching to a pair and three-time Olympic silver medallist Katherine Grainger going alone in the single sculls.

Tanner insisted it was important for these top rowers to try a new event and instead pointed towards the likes of single sculler Alan Campbell and the lightweight pair of Hester Goodsell and Sophie Hosking as major medal prospects next month.

Goodsell and Hosking looked in great shape on the way to consecutive World Cup victories in Munich and Lucerne and Campbell has looked most likely to challenge New Zealand's Mahe Drysdale's dominance in the single sculls, despite losing heavily to him at Henley Royal Regatta two weeks ago.

"We've had an interesting season so far," said Tanner. "It's been really important after Beijing to allow our top guns to take on something new.

"The men's pair and Katherine decided with their coaches that it was good for them to take on a new challenge and I back those decisions.

"We knew we had to rebuild the lightweights this year and the doubles have had the most success so far but it's been a long time coming.

"Alan has also put his gremlins behind him and is having a really strong season. We're confident of where we are right now with some good new shoots coming through.

"The men's quad is especially exciting. They're still learning but they are really beginning to make their mark and are talking about a podium place in Poznan, so it will be an interesting boat to look at in the future."