Reed celebrates world hat-trick (From Stroud News and Journal)

Reed celebrates world hat-trick

NAILSWORTH'S Peter Reed made it a hat-trick of World Cup wins at the Lucerne Bearing Point World Cup Finals in Switzerland on Sunday.

The British men's four were pushed hard by the Netherlands, but made it home in 5:53.87 with the Dutch just over a second ahead.

Denmark were third. When the starting gate opened the four powered into a quick and early lead in their world cup final today.

By 400m they had a half a length on the field. At 650m the gap had broadened to three-quarters of a length.

Between 1000m and 1500m the British squeezed another three tenths to move to a 1.85 seconds lead. It was just as well because the Netherlands, Canada and Denmark were still in the hunt.

As the race reached the grandstands it looked close. Whilst British supporters were getting agitated Steve Williams was making some calm calls in the boat.

The Dutch and British knew they had been in a good skirmish. There were grins and handshakes all round as the crews came into the medal pontoon.

Reed (pictured) and the British crew wore black ribbons on their racing kit as a tribute to the victims of the London bombing.

As well as the win in Lucerne, the quartet picked up the overall World Cup title and will now be clear favourites for the world championships in Japan next month.

The crew are in fine form and are now clocking times faster than the Athens Olympic four and Sir Steve Redgrave's boat in Sydney.

Reed, a naval officer and former Cirencester Deer Park pupil will now be going to the Austrian Alps for three weeks' altitude training.