Four Crews into Finals

The GB mixed adaptive coxed four and double scull today qualified for tomorrow’s Paralympic Games finals at the Shunyi regatta course by winning and taking second place in their respective repechages.

GB has now qualified all four crews for the finals of the inauguaral Paralympic Regatta as the men’s and women’s single sculls both moved through yesterday having won their heats.

Head Adaptive Coach, Chad King said: "I am very pleased with our crews today. It’s a really good achievement to have all four boats in the A Finals and I feel that each of our boats has more to come tomorrow" .

Australia led from the start of today’s double scull repechage, showing that they will be strong medal contenders tomorrow, but they were tracked by GB and the USA.  America had got ahead of GB by the first marker but a sustained push saw GB through to almost a length advantage by halfway. Karen Cromie and James Roberts held onto that lead to the finish to take the all-important second place to qualify.

Their coach Tom Dyson said: "This was a good performance today and a big improvement on their 8th place in the World last year – I’m confident that they can raise their game again for a strong showing in the final".

The mixed adaptive coxed four of Vicky Hansford, Naomi Riches, Alastair Mckean, James Morgan and cox Alan Sherman needed to improve on yesterday’s performance in the heats.  They led their race impressively from the first stroke, winning by just over a length from Canada and Brazil to show that they can be in the medal zone tomorrow.  Strokeman James Morgan said afterwards "It has done us good to have to race in the repechage.  We learnt a lot about ourselves today and can make more improvements in the final tomorrow".