First published by L.S. Media. August 1st 2012.

It’s possible; actually more than likely, to believe that Eton Dorney will not see history made like this ever again.

Great Britain has a built a reputation over the life time of the Olympics for their prowess in the rowing. For years the men’s teams, double skulls, fours and eights have run the gauntlet of winning gold after gold. The women’s team has never produced a gold medal, now in Heather Stanning and Heather Glover, the bubble of international women’s rowing has finally been burst and the two women also have the honour, the greatest accolade of being the first British participants to get the top prize in this year’s Olympic Games.

In a strong line up that included the reigning Olympic champions of Romania, the dedication and supreme athleticism  of Australia and New Zealand and the ultimate powerhouses of Germany and America, the British women started well from the hooter and once in the lead never looked like giving up or relenting to the other teams.

Heather Stanning’s fellow army personnel would have made enough noise in Afghanistan to be heard all the way back to the sleepy back water of Eton Dorney as the pair raced through the water. Nothing though would have compared to the sound from the admiring crowd urging the two women on stroke for stroke, inch for vital inch as the oars crashed and pulled through the water. In the end, the two British women won the final by a two and half second margin.

Both women have been trained by Robin Williams and aside from Heather Stanning’s mother who was on hand to witness the magnificent feat, there couldn’t have been a prouder person witnessing the win and the medal ceremony that followed.

At 12.26 the first sounds of the British national anthem at this year’s Olympics thrilled the audience at Eton Dorney, it made people at home proud of their new sporting heroes and in a moment of reflection, it is only right that the women’s coxless pairs took the first gold for Great Britain. A sport that doesn’t get the real recognition that it deserves competed by a women’s team that are truly world class and phenomenal.

Final result.

Gold:  Great Britain, Heather Stanning, Helen Glover.

Silver : Australia, Kate Hornsey, Sarah Tait.

Bronze: New Zealand, Juliette Haigh, Rebecca Scown.

Ian D. Hall