Batten battling on

Rowing

HUGH MATHESON

reports from Tampere, Finland

Guin Batten, the rising star of British sculling, secured her place in the semi-finals for the top 12 places of the World Championships here with an emphatic win in her repechage.

Batten has grown from a novice who was once a shotputter to one of the top 10 in the world.

Mike Webb came as spare man for the scullers and won a place in the single sculls in training. In his repechage he was one and a half lengths up when his scull caught a lily and he crabbed just before 1000 metres. He recovered, regained the lead, but was passed 50m from the line by Timo Soderblom, the Finn, and right on the line Richard Newey, of New Zealand, stole second place.

The women's pair of Kareen Marwick and Philippa Cross finished second in their repechage to go to their semi-final.

The double scull of Andy Sinton and the four times gold medallist Carl Smith won their repechage comfortably.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 31