Britain pips Australia for 'Ashes'
AUSTRALIA took silver to fierce rivals Great Britain in the men's four on Saturday in a thrilling showdown that matched its billing as the race of the Olympic rowing regatta.
The victory on Dorney Lake before 30,000 screaming fans gave Britain a fourth consecutive win in the men's four and took the host nation's medal tally on the course to seven, making it the most successful Olympic regatta for the country in modern rowing.
The win for the British in a race dubbed an "Ashes" showdown, almost on a par with the cricketing rivalry between the two countries, also denied Drew Ginn the chance to become the first Australian to win gold in four Olympic Games.
He had used the build up to the Games to try to heap pressure on the British boat, saying they would be scared of racing against the Australians.
Instead, the British boat surprised the fast-starting Australians by matching them from the off and then pulling out a slight lead by the 250 metre mark.
Read more at ABC news online.
