Rowing: Gold within grasp for four finals crews

The big effort by Storm Uru (L) and Peter Taylor to hold on for third in the lightweight double sculls final took its toll. Photo / Christine Cornege

The desire for world championship gold on home waters should be sated today.

After New Zealand grabbed three minor medals yesterday, the coxless pairs of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, and Rebecca Scown and Juliette Haigh line up as strong favourites and solid victory contenders respectively, while Mahe Drysdale's bid for a fifth straight world single scull title will be the subtext to what could be the race of the regatta.

Emma Twigg is the other A finalist today in the women's single scull and she'll be up against a demanding field, led by multi-champion Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus.

Murray and Bond have beaten British rivals Andrew Triggs-Hodge and Peter Reed in their past 11 clashes, including Thursday's semifinal.

You've got to admire the spirit of the British pair. There's no cowering away, no suggestion of "what do we try next" in their bid to stop the rot. They are as up for this contest as they were at last year's worlds and have been ever since.

"We're not here to pick up a silver medal," said Reed. "No one else in the field that can upset the first two places. It's just a case of which way round it's going to be."

Murray didn't entirely disagree with the two-horse proposition, while cautioning against writing off the other four finalists, Italy, Germany, Greece and France.

"At the moment yes [it is], just going on what you've seen in the heats and semis and even right through the European campaign," he said. "There's no doubting the speed our two crews have got is far superior than anybody else."

Murray talked of the kitchen sink theory - as in everyone throws the lot at it when the final arrives - but the New Zealanders will be shattered if they don't cross the line first.

Drysdale's preparation has been muddled by a back injury, and because of that he insists he feels no special pressure to produce another gold medal performance.

"This year, I'm just happy to be here," he said.

Even so, he's not about to lie down today and if he looks across the start line at the quality of the field he should gain suitable inspiration. Czech Republic speedster Ondrej Synek has won all three World Cups and the European title this year; Olaf Tufte is the double Olympic champion; Britain's Alan Campbellhas strong credentials.

"There's a really huge depth of talent and that makes it all the more special, more competitive, and that's what we live for," Campbell said.

Dick Tonks, Drysdale's coach and national team head coach, likes the look of his man but knows what's at stake.

"It's going to be hard with this generation of scullers," he said. "They've got to be on their game on the day. You can't afford to be a little bit off the pace. There's no margin really for having a bit of a slack race."

Drysdale was yesterday offered this scenario: you finish fourth today but you're guaranteed an Olympic gold in London in 2012. Do you take it, or gold today? He plumped for the Olympic gold, which places the world and Olympic titles in some perspective. Still, he'll figure both golds sounds better still.

As Reed said of the pairs final: "It's going to be a big ding dong."

He could have been talking about the singles final too. Haigh is chasing her second world title. She and Scown should vie with American defending champions Erin Cafaro and Susan Francia for the title.