Imogen Walsh took her first world title as part of Britain’s lightweight quadruple crew – in her first appearance at the event – and Katherine Grainger added even more lustre to her career by landing her sixth world crown along with double sculls partner Anna Watkins.
Walsh, 27, from Inverness was stunned by her success in becoming a world champion. “It’s amazing and hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” she said. “We thought it was going to be a fight to the line, but it was easy.”
Walsh and her crew-mates, like Grainger and Watkins, led from the first stroke of their finals. In their heat, the lightweight quad crew struggled with their start, but they got it right this time, allowing Walsh, Stephanie Cullen, Kathryn Twyman and Andrea Dennis to control the race and watch the battle for silver behind them, which China won ahead of USA.
On her debut at world championship level Walsh added: “I was nervous before we boated, but once we got on to the start-line, I felt really good.”
Grainger, 35, and England’s Watkins built on their lead throughout their race and were more than two seconds ahead with 100 metres to go. Australia and eventual bronze medal winners New Zealand began to close but the British pair had enough in reserve to hold on and retain their title.
Grainger, and in particular Watkins, have had to endure injury and illness this year, curtailing their preparations. They celebrated victory by jumping in the lake.
Grainger said: “This win is sweeter than last year although it was a more challenging race and the margin was much tighter. We had by far the poorest preparation ever coming into this. We knew it was going to be tough because the strength of the competition is getting better all the time.”
Recalling the opposition closing in over the final stretch, Grainger said: “I was smiling. When it’s tough and tight, there’s something inside you that’s loving it, because this is what we work so hard for. You have to dig so deep, and it’s sweet when you get it right”.
Looking ahead to the London Olympics she added: “Getting that win after the preparation we had gives us a lot of confidence – next year’s looking good.”
All four Scottish females at the event have now won medals. Inverness’s Heather Stanning took pairs silver and Edinburgh’s Lindsey Maguire bronze in eights.
Dunfermline’s David Smith has every chance of adding to the medal count when he races in adaptive fours today. Sculler Alan Campbell added bronze to the two golds won yesterday.
