OLD Monmothian rowing coach Robin Williams saw his Olympic champion women's pair Helen Glover and Heather Stanning blow the field away in world record style at the world rowing championships in Holland. Cardiff Metropolitan graduate Glover paid tribute to Chepstow's Williams coming into the Amsterdam championships, hailing the former Monmouth School pupil as "the world's best coach" after the 54-year-old overcame a life-threatening illness during the winter. And after retaining the title she won with Polly Swann last year in Korea and shaving a full three seconds off the 12-year-old world best time in the tailwind conditions, she said: "The record hasn't sunk in yet. "When we crossed the line, Heather noticed the time. I think our coach Robin will be more pleased with that than the win." The Olympic champion duo were reunited this year after army officer Stanning took a year off to serve in Afghanistan, and dominated the World Cup season after Glover had taken European gold with Swann. And they were quickly into a 3/4L lead at 500m from the Romanian duo on Amsterdam's Bosbaan course, and had stretched out to 1 1/4L at half way. Americans Megan Kalmoe and Kerry Simmonds pushed through to second in the third quarter, but out front GB could watch the race unfold behind them with clear water to spare. And without pushing the rating through the roof for the run in, they still came home well inside the world best mark, crossing in six minutes 50.61 seconds to land gold by just over a length from the US with New Zealand taking bronze. "This feels different to last year," added Glover. "Because of the history that Heather and I have, this win was more expected. Last year, with Polly, it was all very new." Coach Williams, who took up rowing at Monmouth School under chief coach John Hartland, and went on to win world silver and bronze as an oarsman and coach Cambridge to seven Boat Race victories, spent the winter fighting cancer and was only given the all clear to return to coaching full time during July's Henley Royal Regatta. And 28-year-old Glover said the Monmouth Rowing Club life member's return to good health had been a massive boost to her and London 2012 partner Stanning ahead of the championships. Glover is unbeaten in the pair since 2011's world championships, where she won silver with her Olympic partner. And she said of Old Monmothian Williams, who underwent a major operation in January: "He's the world's best coach... look at his record, Olympic and world titles, seven Cambridge Boat Race wins, he's incredible. "He took us on a few months before the 2010 worlds when we were really raw and transformed us into world silver medallists. He was the reason we won Olympic gold, so losing him in the winter was a huge setback. "But much more than that, he's family, and we were really worried for him. I think we were aware that if we weren't performing well, that was extra pressure for Robin, so from that point of view, it drove us on to perform for him, not to let him down when he was struggling. It was motivational, though hard emotionally. "It was tough knowing what Robin was going through. You can get in an Olympic gold medal bubble and it gave us some perspective on life. "But even though he was facing such challenges, he wanted to make sure we continued progressing in the pair and was concerned for us. The bonds between us are so strong, it's just like family. "You put your professional head on and you have to continue. But it's been a massive relief that he's been given the all-clear and a huge boost to us. "After a tough year, it feels like we're back to normal, the three of us all on board together again. "Heather has returned from Afghanistan, Robin is well again and we're firing on all cylinders, and it feels really good two years out from Rio," she added. "Obviously, Rio is the focus, with such challenges as the worlds along the way, so we can't keep dwelling on London 2012. "But it's great to have it in the back pocket, to remember how we got to be Olympic champions. It's a great foundation, and now with Robin back, we can get even better." Wales cap Graeme Thomas agonisingly missed gold in the men's quadruple scull by just a tenth of a second, admitting that the crew couldn't have done any more to put their bows in front of Ukraine in the strong tailwind. And Olympic silver medallist Chris Bartley from Wrexham settled for a second successive world bronze in the men's lightweight four after a brave battle to land gold ahead of Denmark and New Zealand only faltered in the last 500m. Welsh oarswoman Vicky Thornley placed eighth in the women's singles while Wales cap Zak Lee-Green placed 10th in the men's lightweight singles.