Battle Of The Giants

[old] Sir Pirate · Post by **[old] Sir Pirate** » May 26th, 2004, 5:04 pm

Simple question. Who do you think would win a 2000m race on the Erg between Dwayne Adams (USA) and Graham Benton (GBR) (Current World Champion). Sir Pirate

[old] Nick Rockliff · Post by **[old] Nick Rockliff** » May 26th, 2004, 5:10 pm

Phil, the answer is so easy, his initals say it all GB from GB

[old] monkey · Post by **[old] monkey** » May 26th, 2004, 5:21 pm

I suspect this poll will become a GB v USA thing, as this is the US forum, lets enjoy the lead while we have it! I do think that GB would rise to the challenge though.

[old] Rogus · Post by **[old] Rogus** » May 26th, 2004, 5:27 pm

I haven't voted yet...still thinking...but Big G should win just based on age. Yet, Big D has some of the most impressive training and time rankings I've seen regardless of age. It would not surprise me at all to see him beat GB. It would be a great race if they go head to head. I hope they stay healthy and Dewayne decides to compete in the lower age group at WIRC. Now who to vote for?

[old] Sir Pirate · Post by **[old] Sir Pirate** » May 26th, 2004, 5:50 pm

I better give my view as I started this post. This is a difficult one. On paper Dwayne is the faster of the two. Dwayne has been unlucky in that he has been unable to make any of the big races over the last year i.e., WIRC or BIRC due to injuries etc. I have not trained with Dwayne, so can’t comment on technique power etc. Dwayne has posted some fantastic times and would seem to be favourite for the battle. But.... I know Graham, I have trained with Graham, and he is a 6' 6" power house. 1:14 for 500m, also he has great stamina and endurance, and most of all, Is a big venue player. The bigger the venue/event the better performance Graham puts in. In my view, I would have to put Graham as the victor, as when the pressure is on, Graham is at his best. Dwayne, that is not taking anything away from you I have a lot of respect for you and what you have achieved. Sir Pirate

[old] Roland Baltutis · Post by **[old] Roland Baltutis** » May 27th, 2004, 12:18 am

If I was a betting man I would put my money on Graham. Dwayne can post whatever times he likes in the rankings, but that accounts for very little, until he can go head to head with another challenger in an arena and prove his worth. Graham has proved himself in the arena and Dwayne hasn't, so you have to go with who is presently King. Furthermore, Dwayne has a history of breaking down which raises questions if his body(at almost 40) is treading that fine line between outmost performance and doing harm to his body. Whatever the result, I would like to see the results of the drug test first before bowing to the new King.

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » May 27th, 2004, 12:38 am

Dwayne has rowed faster than Graham several times, so my feeling is that he will do the same, again, in the competitions. And Dwayne's competition times will likely be faster than in practice. In any case it will be an exciting race to see. Also it will be nice if they provide video downloads of the races this year.

[old] Sir Pirate · Post by **[old] Sir Pirate** » May 27th, 2004, 4:28 am

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (Roland Baltutis @ May 27 2004, 04:18 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Whatever the result, I would like to see the results of the drug test first before bowing to the new King. </td></tr></table> I hope that was a joke ? Sir Pirate

[old] ranger · Post by **[old] ranger** » May 27th, 2004, 5:09 am

Interesting question, but a false comparison. When they race this next year, GB and Dwayne will not be in the same age division. My guess would be that GB will not come anywhere near Dwayne's times when he is 40. The average decline with age predicts that GB, if he is still rowing at 40, will be hard pressed to row 6:00. If Dwayne continues to train and row, he might be able to row under 6:00 when he is 50. Now that would also be quite an accomplishment. It would lower the 50s hwt WR by 7 seconds and put it right about where it should be, I think, at about a second a year decline after 30. ranger

[old] Sir Pirate · Post by **[old] Sir Pirate** » May 27th, 2004, 5:40 am

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (ranger @ May 27 2004, 09:09 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> My guess would be that GB will not come anywhere near Dwayne's times when he is 40.  </td></tr></table> Ranger, with respect, that was not the question. But since you have said it, I would be interested to know what evidance you have to back that statement up? Sir Pirate

[old] ranger · Post by **[old] ranger** » May 27th, 2004, 8:01 am

At the moment, GB's competition (among, in your words, the "giants") are the other 30s rowers, Siejkowski (and next year, Waddell?), not Dwayne and Karppinen. And yes, it would indeed be interesting to have a race between GB and Siejkowski/Waddell. My claim about GB ten years from now is based on history, statistics, and personal experience; and yes, these things are fallible. GB certainly has the chance to prove me wrong. Predictions/guesses are certainly not facts. In ten years, I guess we'll know the facts. Of course, the arc of GB's rowing from now to then will tell much of the story. It will be an interesting show. ranger

[old] ranger · Post by **[old] ranger** » May 27th, 2004, 8:17 am

By the way, if Dwayne rows 5:47 (or whatever) this next year and breaks Karppinen's 40s hwt world record by quite a margin, GB and Dwayne might indeed have a fair and important competition, albeit by the clock, and GB might indeed have a chance to take a run at an absolute standard. In ten years, Dwayne's 40s hwt world record might well still be standing (or, if not, one that will be even tougher to match) and GB can face it then--heads up. ranger

[old] Canoeist · Post by **[old] Canoeist** » May 27th, 2004, 8:30 am

If Dwayne and GB go head to head at CRASH-B, I pick Dwayne by a few second margin mostly based on better training times. At BIRC, that could be a different story. Dwayne has 8 hours of time zone change, change of diet, and travel stress to overcome. He will also have 3,000+ spectators cheering for his competitor. I think it will still be very close though. I hope to be Dwayne's cheering section. One voice amongst thousands of Brits will be heard! Cheers, Paul Flack

[old] Graham Benton · Post by **[old] Graham Benton** » May 27th, 2004, 9:48 am

I'm not going to vote or really give my opinion on this one - but would like to respond to ranger's post. Ranger consistently refuses to compare Dwayne's times to mine because of the age difference. Whereas it is almost definitely true that age is a battle we all ultimately lose, you are not comparing apples with apples. Firstly, Dwayne is not maintaining his performance, he is improving. So improvement can take place at 40! And Dwayne is not a beginner. He has been doing this for some time so it is not just the rapid improvement that everyone makes when they start training. Dwayne is a very strong, very fit guy already. I know my times will ultimately reach a point and then decline with age. However, I am a long way from that point yet. I have only been indoor rowing for 18 months. Before that I had no history of aerobic performance so I was pretty much starting from scratch. I have only been following a structured training plan for 4 weeks, prior to that I did whatever I felt like. I have recently had some professional testing done and I am some way from my ultimate potential. Your 1 second a year decline is based upon the 30 year old already being a fully developed athlete, not a relative beginner. I am 100% confident that the decline due to age will be heavily outweighed by my development as an athlete over the next 10 years. You are right in that you are not comparing apples with apples if you compare me with Dwayne. You are comparing a soon to be 40 year old, experienced and multi talented athlete with a 30 year old, 40 minutes training a day relative beginner! I am not taking anything away from Dwayne whatsoever ... his times are quite simply out of this world. Comparisons are always going to be made but if they are being made then they should be fair rather than you always turning to the age argument. What you are saying is like saying that someone who has never erg'd but is 30 should be able to beat Steve Redgrave. Dwayne is a freak in his age group. But given my background and how long I have been doing this, my achievements are hardly run of the mill either. I can't resist having an opinion on who will win actually - I have said this to a few people and it is the logical conclusion that anyone would make based on training results. If Dwayne's times are real and he turns up fit and well, then he should win by a few seconds. The facts speak for themselves. However, I will turn up well prepared and confident of what I can pull and will be putting pressure on his performance every metre of the race. And given that he has never pulled a sub 7 minute time in a competitive race (to the best of my knowledge) then I won't be conceding defeat unless his monitor reaches zero before mine!

[old] MarcusLL · Post by **[old] MarcusLL** » May 27th, 2004, 10:11 am

Wasn't Siejkowski 38 when he set the absolute world record? Isn't this at least some evidence that being around 39/40 isn't really *that* much of a disadvantage!?

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