High hopes for Redgrave

Rowing

Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent in the coxless pair lead the British team to the World Championships, which begin on 20 August in Tampere, Finland, writes Hugh Matheson. Redgrave is now on target for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal, which would be the first by an oarsman and by a Briton, and only the fourth in Olympic history.

Greg and Jonny Searle, who took gold in the coxed pairs in 1992, are now in a coxless four with Tim Foster and Rupert Obholzer. Although this boat finished third in 1994, it has not shown that potential this year.

The third men's heavweight boat is the new eight, with a relatively young crew which includes five junior gold medallists, while the new women's eight should be on the verge of the medal group for the first time in British women's rowing history.

Peter Haining is back in the lightweight single scull, which he has won for the past two years, after an unsuccessful attempt to form a double sculls partnership with Carl Smith.