Golden double for Bondy

30/8/2009

Hamish Bond (1999-2003, Head Boy 2003) stood atop the rowing world last night for the second time in two world championship campaigns.

After sampling world supremacy as part of the New Zealand coxless four at the 2007 regatta in Munich alongside fellow Old Boy Carl Meyer (1995-99), Hamish teamed with Eric Murray to crush the opposition in the pairs final on the Poznan course in Poland.

Hamish Bond (right) with Eric Murray on the victory dais at Poznan

Despite having only been together for six months, the pair had dominated this year’s World Cup series going into the championships unbeaten and expectations were for a strong performance.

They did not disappoint, jumping out to a boat length lead at the 500m mark to lead by three seconds at the halfway mark and were never threatened. The Great Britain pair of Peter Reed and Andrew Triggs Hodge were considered their major rivals but failed to keep up as the kiwi duo sprinted to the finish.

"There were times throughout the season when I was thinking, this better be worth it because, man, it sucks right now," Hamish said.

"We did some really hard training with Dick (coach Richard Tonks) this year but it's all worth it now.

"It's a weight off my shoulders.

"I've been stressing the last few days. It was a new thing for us going in as favourites."

Their time of just under 6 minutes, 16 seconds was one of the quicker in the event's history.

Eric suggested the last ten strokes were the “messiest of the season” as the pair tired after the blistering pace they’d set, while Hamish was more calm in his appraisal of their effort.

"I always felt we had another gear. I saw them come back at us in the third 500 metres but kept pushing up. It's a massive relief. It's a different story when you go in as favourite, unlike previous years."

With their class having shone through, Hamish and Eric draped themselves proudly in New Zealand flags on the medal dais. They can now look to further domination leading into the 2012 London Olympic Games.