MATTHEW Langridge admitted his emotions were mixed after Great Britain’s men’s eight had to settle for a bronze medal at the European Championships on Sunday.
Hosts Germany, the reigning Olympic champions, overhauled race-long leaders Russia – who took silver – to win the title on home water.
“It’s frustrating because training has been going well and that’s not a fair reflection of where we are,” said the Northwich rower afterwards.
“We can also be positives about how we performed in the heat.”
As much of a factor was a strong cross-wind that caused waves along the Brandenburg course, making clean rowing impossible.
The British crew, also including Matt Gotrel, Scott Durant, Tom Ransley, Paul Bennett, Pete Reed, Andrew Triggs Hodge, Will Satch and cox Phelan Hill, had qualified for the final as victors in their heat on Friday.
However they, along with the rest of the field, trailed fast-starting Netherlands in the A final’s early stages.
Russia had taken the lead by halfway, although Germany came through strongly at the close to finish first ahead of them.
Great Britain, gold medal-winners in the boat class at last year’s event, edged out Belarus for third in a photo-finish.
A photo-finish shows the bow of the British boat, number four, sneaking over the line ahead of their Belarussion rivals during Sunday's men's eight final in Germany. Picture: World Rowing
“We did the best race we could in those conditions,” added Langridge, a European champion in the men’s pair in 2015.
The British team topped the overall medal table with four golds, two less than their total 12 months earlier.
Sir David Tanner, GB Rowing Team’s performance director, said: “It’s been a championships of mixed fortunes.
“Conditions bordered on the extreme, and have been a tough challenge for everybody. But rowing is an outdoor sport and we have to accept that.”
Langridge and company turn their attention next to a World Cup regatta at Lausanne, in Switzerland, later this month.
European Rowing Championships
Brandenburg
Sunday, May 8
Men’s eight
A final: 1. Germany 6.16.650; 2. Russia 6.17.430; 3. Great Britain 6.20.390; 4. Belarus 6.20.390; 5. Poland 6.23.140; 6. Netherlands 6.24.670
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