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Olympic boon for Britain's rowers

13/08/2008

Team GB will have eight representatives in this weekend's Olympic rowing finals after four further crews qualified on Wednesday.

Leading the way were the men's coxless fours, who powered into the final in a bid to maintain Britain's proud recent record in the event.

UK rowers have won the coxless fours at the last two Olympics – in 2000 with Sir Steve Redgrave and with Sir Matthew Pinsent four years later.

Current team member Steve Williams, who won gold with Pinsent four years ago, said the crew, which also includes Andy Hodge, Tom James and Pete Reed, was not resting on its laurels.

"We've come a long way from the heat and we'll have to step on again," he said.

Joining the coxless fours in the weekend's finals were Steve Rowbotham and Matthews Wells in the men's double sculls, the women's eight and Alan Campbell in the single sculls.

Yesterday Louisa Reeve and Olivia Whitlam became the fourth British crew to qualify for the finals at Beijing's Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park

Team GB's other rowing finalists are the men's eight, the women's quad and women's double sculls.