22 June: A third successive gold for Mark Hunter in the lightweight double, and a win for Anna Bebington in the women's double were the highlights at the World Cup regatta in Poznan, where fourteen Leander athletes helped towards the British medal haul of four gold, a silver and two bronze.

The tally meant that Britain also won the overall World Cup trophy for the second successive season, with Germany and China second and third in the league table.

After their third successive gold medal Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase were the

star performers amongst the GB squad in Poznan. Italy made the early race pace, and were a length up on the British double at halfway. But with the Danish world champions always threatening in an outside lane, Hunter and Purchase pulled level, gradually drawing away to take gold, while a dash for the line from Denmark denied Italy the silver.

"We have this confidence in ourselves", said Hunter after the race. "We can be patient and then make a move. We know the Danes are a good crew. I was aware of what they were doing. They showed that they still have something left in them".

In the women's doubles Anna Bebington and Elise Laverick made a positive and rhythmic start to their final, and with a quarter of the race behind them the GB crew were in pole position, more than a second clear of Italy who were trailed by Finland.

By halfway they were still ahead but a concerted fight-back from Italy meant the lead was narrowed. With 500m to go Bebington and Laverick were still ahead by half a length, and with Italy closing hard they dug deep into their reserves and pulled away again to win.

The men's eight, coached by Leander's Mark Banks, showed a good turn of pace in their three-boat final which included a completely rebuilt German eight. The British men built a lead throughout the race, increasing their one second advantage at 500m to almost a length at halfway, crossing the line more than three seconds clear of Germany with Poland third.

"It was good to win but a shame that there were not more crews here", said Leander's Alex Partridge after the race. "I guess everyone's got their priorities in Olympic year, including us".

The fourth gold medal for the GB squad in Poznan went to the lightweight women's quad stroked by Leander's Jane Hall. The crew, which also includes Sophie Hosking, Andrea Dennis, and Laura Greenhalgh were world silver medallists last year, and held off  off hosts Poland to take their Word Cup win and set themselves up for the world title in Austria next month.

The GB men's four racing in Poznan was the originally selected line-up of Tom James, Steve Williams, Peter Reed and Andy Hodge, competing in this format for the first time after James recent return from injury.

The Netherlands made the early pace, while the British four did not blast off the start in their customary fashion but sat in the pack behind the second-placed Slovenians.

Gradually the British boat began to build a push to challenge the leaders, levelling with Slovenia and forging ahead. But the Dutchmen had gained confidence from their early lead and, rowing with a more fluid style, they anticipated another British push and unleashed a sprint finish to win by a length ahead of Britain.

The silver medal for Britain was a marked improvement on the eight place they won three weeks ago in Lucerne when they boated two substitutes and provides a springboard as they make final preparations for Beijing.

The GB women's eight, which includes Leander's Katie Greves in the 7 seat, came back strongly in the second half of their final to take a confidence-building bronze medal.  They were lying in close fourth for much of the race but pulled themselves up in the last 500m to overtake Germany to take bronze.

Britain's final medal came in the lightweight men's quadruple scull which took bronze behind France and Italy. The crew, which includes Leander's Simon Jones and Matt Beechey, together with Rob Williams and Alastair Leighton-Crawford, amalgamated into a quad recently after racing separately in both sweep and sculling boats throughout the season.

GB RESULTS in POZNAN

(Leander athletes listed in bold)

ENDS