London 2012 Olympics: Men and women’s double sculls through to rowing semis

Published on 30/07/2012 03:20

BRITAIN’S men’s and women’s double sculls crews won their opening heats at Eton Dorney yesterday to qualify for their semi-finals, but the women’s eight, with Edinburgh’s Lindsey Maguire aboard, found world champions USA and Australia too hot to handle in their opening heat, finishing third.

With one more session of opening heats today – including Scotland’s Katherine Grainger and her double sculls partner Anna Watkins – the women’s pair of Heather Stanning, from Lossiemouth, and her partner Helen Glover are still the only British crew qualified for a final, thanks to their Olympic-record win in the opening race of the whole regatta on Saturday morning.

In women’s eights, USA are reigning world and Olympic champions, and powered clear of the field in their heat.

Britain were never really challenging for second place and all three boats in the other heat produced faster times. The British eight now go in tomorrow’s repechage for a place in the final.

GB’s reigning world and Olympic champions Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter won their heat, beating New Zealand, but both Italy and Denmark posted faster times in winning their heats. France, tipped for the title, won the fourth heat.

Britain’s new women’s lightweight double combination, Sophie Hosking and Kate Copeland, posted the fastest time yesterday, ahead of Denmark, with Greece and China also winning.

Today’s programme opens with the women’s pairs’ repechage to determine the final opposition to Stanning and Glover on Wednesday.

Also today, the flagship British men’s crew – the coxless four – start their 
defence of their Olympic title.