Jonny Tye has found himself on the medal podium for a second time during the Marathon World Championships, as he collected his, and Great Britain's, second Silver medal of the competiton alongside James Webster in the Junior Men's K2.
Tye had already bagged himself a Silver medal, earlier in the Championships, in the Junior Men's K1 before finish line drama saw him and Webster storm to second place.
With a metre to go in the 5 lap, 21.5km Junior Men’s K2 Race, the 2nd Norwegian crew fell in to enable Jonny Tye and James Webster to take the Silver Medal spot, Jonny’s 2nd Silver of the Championships.
For the Junior British crew, the earlier stages of the race were not without incident either.
A very balmy morning with some cloud cover and little wind saw the Junior K2’s off first. With a good economical start and tactical positioning Jonny Tye and James Webster were in touch with the Italians and Czechs who led the early surge.
Approaching the Fist bridge however after about 400 metres, the British boat was touched on the stern and turned, When they finally straightened, they were looking at every boat in the field in front of them. With steady concerted effort the pair dug deep and slowly started to regain their rightful position. ½ way round the first lap they had regained the front pack.
Round at the first portage, they are in a second small group that has formed behind the front pack of 5, a good portage sees them back in their boats within striking distance. Realising that they are probably outclassed for speed and that the Czechs are the fastest boat out there, the boys start to work with the 2 Norwegian crews to keep the initiative away from the Czechs.
The front group changed in size as the race developed, all the time the GB crew is in there, doing some of the work, but just enough to keep them there and in a good tactical position. Excellent portaging and good bank support sees them with time to spare at the end of each portage with chances to re-position, adjust their drink systems and get the good wash for the next stage.
At the last portage the K2’s finally become strung out as the Norwegians take the lead and are in first, GB get a little tangled with a C2 they have caught, the 2nd Norwegian boat is in 3rd. A big effort round the turn doesn’t see any headway being made by the British boat on the leaders, the faster Norwegian boat is gaining however and on the line up for the final sprint, they are very much the faster of the two boats, they power past the British crew to move into the silver medal position, just when there is acceptance that the colour of todays medals for this crew is going to be bronze, the Norwegians dramatically capsize for no apparent reason 1 metre from the line. As the British crew come through to cross the line, there is a sudden realisation that Silver has been achieved.
What a result, an amazing turn up at the end of an excellent race and well done to Jonny Tye on his 2nd Silver in the Championships and James Webster for his excellent crew work and injections of power when needed!
Also in the Championships, in the Senior Men's K1, former World Champion Ben Brown finished 12th, whilst in Men's K2, Jon Simmonds and Mark Childerstone finished 8th.
The Women's K2 pairing Fay Lamph & Lizzie Broughton were unlucky to just miss out on a medal; they finished fourth.
Read all about the Marathon World Championships, in Singapore, at www.canoeicf.com