British rowers taste success

Team GB's female and male rowers enjoyed a successful afternoon at the Shunyi Rowing Centre on Sunday.

Katherine Grainger, Debbie Flood, Frances Houghton and Annie Vernon powered into the final of the women's quad.

Meanwhile, both the British men's double sculls and coxless fours also reached their respective semi-finals.

The women's quad got to their final by inflicting a first Olympic defeat on Germany, who have won every title since unification.

The Germans qualified in second place but could not catch Great Britain, who are one of the favourites to win gold after a hat-trick of world championship triumphs since the Athens Olympics.

The British made a fast start to lead by almost a length at the 500metre mark and then cruised home.

Delighted team member Vernon, who was making her Olympic debut, said: "We wanted to be leading from the front and be in control.

"It was a tough race but we were keeping an eye on Germany and never felt they would come through."

History

Meanwhile, the male British lightweight crews also set about making their own history.

The coxless fours - Richard Chambers, James Clarke, Paul Mattick and James Lyndsey-Finn - are the current world champions but faced their predecessors China in their heat.

The home team had huge support alongside the rowing stretch and after starting strongly, they managed to stay in front all the way to the line to grab first place.

The British boat pushed the Chinese hard all the way and finished just half a length back in second place, comfortably holding off Australia in third.

Welcoming the performance, Clarke said: "I think we might have had some doubters before so it was really good to go out there and show we are on form. We knew we had the speed.

"It gives us a lot of confidence. We were so far ahead of the Dutch who beat us (at the World Cup) in Poznan and we beat the Australians, who have given us a lot of trouble over the years.

"It was a case of ticking off the crews and saying 'this is where we are, we are right at the top'.

Strong field

"The Chinese crew were quick today but that doesn't give us any worries. This is such a strong field. There are only 13 boats in it and it will all come down to the day."

Denmark, Canada and Italy qualified from heat two, while Germany, France and Poland made it through heat three.

In the double sculls, British pair Zach Purchase and Mark Hunter, who are unbeaten in the World Cup season, led from start to finish in their heat to storm into the semis in style.

The pair, who are among Britain's top medal hopes in the rowing, dominated second-placed Greece to stamp their authority on the event.

Meanwhile, British women's lightweight sculls Helen Casey and Hester Goodsell rowed well but had to settle for third behind world champions Germany and the powerful Canadians.

The duo will have to row in Tuesday's repecharge to try and progress but they are filled with confidence after their opening race.

"That was the most fun I have had in a boat in a long time," said Casey.

"It was a great start. There is a long way to go but I think we can start quicker and there is more speed there.

"Every race we are looking to go faster and faster."