Cracknell: Back off our Beijing boys

FORMER double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell has told an expectant British rowing public to leave off the men's four as the countdown to Beijing ticks ever closer.

Cracknell combined with Ed Coode, Steve Williams and Matthew Pinsent to land Athens gold in 2004 and was also a member of the British boat, which included Sir Steve Redgrave, that topped the podium in Sydney.

Britain has a strong tradition in the men's four but after disappointments at both the recent World Cup and World Championships has left Cracknell questioning the gold medal chances of Tom James, Steve Williams, Andy Triggs-Hodges and Peter Reed.

Team GB coach Jurgen Grobler believes the four represents Britain's best chances of gold in Beijing and maintaining the record of winning an Olympic rowing category at every Games since 1984.

But with the quartet unable to put together a run of form and the crew disrupted as recently as May with James coming in to replace Alex Partridge - Cracknell remains unconvinced.

"The margins are very, very tight at the top," said Cracknell. "In Athens we won by a whisker and it can go either way.

"What will disappoint them is that they haven't really moved on from last year as much as they would want.

"They were dominant last year and it's very rare for them to be unbeaten for two years like they were, but if they are going to lose a race, it's best to lose ahead of Beijing.

"They are going to have to knuckle down and they know that. The pressure from outside and the disappointment other people feel is nothing compared to the pressure they put on themselves and the disappointment they are feeling now.

"I have absolute faith they will be right back up there next year but if you break a race down into percentages, they need to improve."

SACHA CLAYTON