It's Nathaniel not Nathan

Current Serbian top ten.

Last weekend was the first World Cup race of the season.  Due to an injury I was asked to step into the Eight a few days before the race.  I slotted in well and [hope] I helped the Eight continue to step on and get positive experiences under their belt.

Choices, choices.

You can watch the race on the BBC here or, for international readers, on the World Rowing website here.  On the BBC commentary I am re-christened "Nathan" - it's not the first time this has happened on commentary, hopefully someone gets themselves to specsavers in time for the next race.

Those who have regularly watch our Eights races, we have tended to be more of a Kelly Holmes circa 2004 crew (slow to begin with then fast into the line).  As you will see in the footage above, we "got up in their grill" early doors and looked to put ourselves in a different position, earlier in the race.  Mixed result, but the boat will use the experience to shape their plans as the season progresses.

Serbia was an interesting country.  The people were friendly and I was pleased to be able to meet up with my Serbian friend Fil.  The weather was pretty good, 30+ degrees with a slight tail wind on the course.  Their national elections were held on the Sunday while we were there, it meant that every billboard was dominated with a political poster - gave it more of a Soviet era sort of vibe.  We didn't have a chance to see much of the City, but what we did see was not quite what I expected.  I've visited quite a few Eastern European countries and seen the full spectrum of change from "Soviet poverty" to "Western wealth".  I had expected Belgrade to have some Austro-Hungarian type architecture, some 50's/60's rubbish and the occasional new modern buildings.  If I'm honest, nearly all of what I saw was repaired 50's/60's rubbish.  On the plus side they did have quite an impressive spaghetti junction/bridge thing going on and the course was lined with some quite nice looking bars, all with sun booths and lounges.

There was a fair amount of sport going on in the City that weekend.  Their was the Serbian Tennis Open, World Cup Rowing and the Partisan vs Red Star Belgrade derby (football).  Had we not been racing, I would have loved to go to the football, sadly we had to make do with a smaller game [Video - for some reason uploaded upside down!]

Fred and Ron Weasley at the airport.

Training started straight away Monday morning and it's been quite a big week.  Enjoying a day off today, I resisted the urge to go out an buy a small white dancing dog.