TOM Ford returned to the podium again on Sunday when Great Britain’s men’s eight took silver at a World Cup.

They trailed Germany, just as they did at the European Championships earlier this month, but overtook fast-starting Canada on Lake Malta at Poznan on Sunday.

The former Grange School student, together with crewmates James Rudkin, Tom George, Mo Sbihi, Jacob Dawson, Ollie Wynne-Griffith, Mat Tarrant, Josh Bugajski and cox Henry Fieldman, had secured a spot in the A final with a comprehensive victory in a heat 48 hours earlier.

 

Northwich Guardian: Tom Ford, second from right on the front row, celebrates with the rest of Great Britain's men's eight after they took silver at the World Rowing Cup on Sunday. Picture: Nick Middleton/British RowingTom Ford, second from right on the front row, celebrates with the rest of Great Britain's men's eight after they took silver at the World Rowing Cup on Sunday. Picture: Nick Middleton/British Rowing

 

Emily Ford also matched her result a fortnight earlier as part of a British women’s four that classified sixth.

They had to fight hard during a fiercely-contested heat on Friday, crossing the line third behind Australian and an American crew to secure a semi-finals place.

“We were really pleased,” said Ford, who like her older brother was captain of the rowing team while studying at the Hartford school.

“We went out and executed a race-plan that we’ve been practising in training to get the result we needed.”

Sara Parfett, Caragh McMurtry and Beccy Girling joined the 24-year-old in an unchanged crew from Lucerne and the quartet maintained third spot from start to finish when they returned to action again on Saturday.

However they could not challenge for a medal during a final that was won by a narrow margin by Denmark to deny China a victory.

The British team ended the regatta in Poland with five medals; three silver and two bronze.

“We now have more information about where we are in comparison to the rest of the world,” said Brendan Purcell, British Rowing’s director of performance.

“We arrived aiming for 11 boats to finish in a position that would secure for them qualification to next year’s Olympic Games and nine of them succeeded.

“Some of our medal-winning boats from the European Championships stepped up and delivered another strong performance.

“Others didn’t reach the level they would have liked, but we can now return to training and use what we have learned.”

The World Cup campaign concludes in Rotterdam next month.

Results (selected)

World Rowing Cup II

Sunday, June 23

A finals

At Lake Malta, Poznan, POL

Men's eight: 1. Germany 5:45.83; 2. Great Britain (Tom Ford, James Rudkin, Tom George, Mohamed Sbihi, Jacob Dawson, Ollie Wynne-Griffith, Mat Tarrant, Josh Bugajski and cox Henry Fieldman) 5:47.74; 3. Canada 5:48.44

Women's four: 1. Denmark 6:52.88; 2. China 6:53.96; 3. Australia 6:55.47; 6. Great Britain (Sara Parfett, Caragh McMurtry, Rebecca Girling and Emily Ford) 7:06.72