Scots women start strong in World Cup

Both of Scottish rowing’s Olympic hopefuls racing at this weekend’s Rowing World Cup in Lucerne made good starts yesterday, winning their opening heats.

Three-times Olympic silver medallist Katherine Grainger and her double sculls partner Anna Watkins kept their unbeaten run together intact in their opener.

They were drawn against the German crew that pushed them all the way in the first World Cup in Belgrade three weeks ago, and once again were involved in a tight race.

But the Brits crossed the line first, over two seconds up, without having to go completely flat-out, to qualify for tomorrow’s final, where they can expect a stronger challenge from the Germans.

Lossiemouth’s world silver medallist Heather Stanning and her pairs partner Helen Glover also won their opener ahead of China and Argentina to move onto today’s semi-final.

Meanwhile, the British men’s four, Andrew Triggs Hodge, Tom James, Peter Reed and Alex Gregory, smashed the world’s best time by four seconds, winning their heat in 5 minutes 37.86 seconds.