Great Britain top medal table at storm affected World Rowing Cup in Serbia

Great Britain topped the medal table at a storm interrupted World Rowing Cup 1 in Serbia last weekend, with Marlow's Rory Gibbs helping the Men's Eight to the final gold medal of the day.

In total Team GB won 14 medals encompassing eight golds, two silvers and four bronze medals.

Reflecting on the country's success - following a disappointing medal return at the Tokyo Olympics last summer - British Rowing's director of performance, Louise Kingsley, said: “For the first race of the Paris cycle, it’s good to see our team come together and work as a new look-and-feel unit. It’s as much learning how we work as the team behind the team to support the athletes, as well as giving athletes the platform to go out and race, and they’ve done themselves proud today.

“It’s great to top the medal table but we’re realistic that there’s a long way to go this season. We’ll see our crews shaping and evolving as we go through the season, and I’m sure we’ll see other crews from the rest of the world coming in.”

Across an inclement final day, GB added seven gold medals with the last one coming in the men's eight.

Gibbs, of Oxford Brookes University BC, helped teammates Morgan Bolding, David Bewicke-Copley, Sholto Carnegie, Charlie Elwes, Tom Digby, James Rudkin, Tom Ford, and Harry Brightmore claim gold in the A final in 05:33.38. Their start was postponed owing to thunderstorms, but they saw off their rivals for victory.

Morgan said: “Once I got to the start line, I was at peace with the fact I was going to have tired legs – I was really happy with the way that the boys dealt with getting me in and I couldn’t have had a better team around me.”

Tom Ford put their commanding win in context, saying: “At the end of the day, you have to try and win against the competition that’s there. As far as we know, there were a lot of decent crews that aren’t here and we’re focusing on what’s here, but also what’s we’ve got to come in the season. It’s a long season, so there’s a long way to go but more to come hopefully.”

In the final race of the day, GBR1 Graeme Thomas won a bronze in the Men’s single sculls (M1x). He said: “I’m just happy to be here and happy to have medalled.”