Rowing: British enjoy strong team performance in World Cup

Remarkable performances by the women's and men's double scullers and the men's pair contributed to a fine British result in the final round of the World Cup.

Annie Vernon and Anna Bebington finished within half a second of New Zealand's Evers-Swindell twins, Georgina and Caroline - the closest anyone has ever got. Matt Wells and Steve Rowbotham came second to Slovenia's Luka Spik and Iztok Cop. In the pairs, Colin Smith and Tom James gave New Zealand's world champions Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater a fright.

The coxless four remain unbeaten in 21 races. Their gold medal shows that the Dutch still have a way to catch up. The other banker, the women's quadruple scullers, also won gold, beating the Germans.

The sculler Alan Campbell led the early part of his final, which turned into a titanic struggle between Mahe Drysdale and Olaf Tufte. The Norwegian pipped Drysdale, a Kiwi, on the last stroke. The Czech Ondrej Synek deprived Campbell of bronze.

Britain's women's eight also finished narrowly fourth, while the men's eight blew a gasket by going off the start too fast.