Rowing: 'Super Eight' hold off Chinese threat

Britain provided the drama among the big boats at the World Cup, but the writing on the wall was in Chinese. The hosts of next year's Olympics split the two British men's eights and took gold in the women's quads, trouncing the British world champions. They also took gold in the women's double sculls, pairs and lightweight double sculls and gold in the lightweight men's fours. There was also a silver for the sculler Xiuyun Zhang, behind Belarus's Ekaterina Karsten.

The ploy of sending a "super eight" to give the men in Britain's smaller boats a change of scene inspired the true British eight. The super eight stormed into a lead they never lost and the other crew held second place until 300 metres from the finish, where the Chinese took silver. Under two seconds separated the British crews, though, and as the super eight breaks up again for Henley in two weeks' time, the other has gained focus and confidence.

Britain narrowly retained the lead in World Cup points after this second round, winning six medals in Olympic events. But the advance of the Chinese is awesome. Katherine Grainger, stroke of the women's quad, said: "We held them for the first half but didn't seem to have anything to respond with after that." Fran Houghton, in the three seat, said: "I'd rather know now what they can do now than find out later. If they are strong, we can be strong, too."