Rowing: Bond and Murray create history

Eric Murray and Hamish Bond. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Hamish Bond and Eric Murray have created further history tonight at the second World Cup regatta of the season in England.

They have recorded the longest winning streak at international events in men's rowing after recording their 14th straight major title.

Against an underwhelming field the pair in post-Olympic year, Murray and Bond streaked away to win by 15.73s. The performance was so decisive that at one point a wide-angled television shot showed no opposition crews in the frame as New Zealand exited and no-one else entered.

Bond and Murray had been equal with the Danish lightweight four of 1996-1999 and the German men's eight of 2009 to date. The Germans also stood to extend their record overnight but have gone through several crew changes.

Their current record includes an Olympic gold medal, three world championships and 10 World Cup wins. A couple of prestigious Henley Royal Regatta titles (2009 and 2010) have complemented their legacy. At the London Games, they even set a world best time on their way to the final (rowers refer to 'world best' rather than 'world record' because of the variance in water conditions).

Underlining the pair's continued dominance was a heat win by more than 18 seconds on Friday to send them directly into the final. The pair even found time to watch the All Blacks defeat France last night as they relaxed beforehand.

Seven of New Zealand's nine rowing crews contested finals overnight. The new women's pair of Rebecca Scown and Kayla Pratt took silver in their first international regatta together, beaten by Britain's Polly Swann and Helen Glover.

Lightweight single sculler Duncan Grant came fourth.

The men's four, lightweight four, double sculls and women's single sculler Emma Twigg had not competed when the Herald went to press.

The two boats containing Olympic double sculling champions Joseph Sullivan and Nathan Cohen failed to make finals. Sullivan finished fifth in the B final of the single sculls; Cohen and his crewmates finished third in the B final of the quad.