Redgrave and Pinsent save best for last

Rowing

There were three British winners at Lucerne Regatta yesterday, but more of the 20 British crews should qualify through the second chance repechage system this morning, writes Daniel Topolski.

In the opening heats the top crews were cruising and none more comfortably than Britain's Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent. Although Romania's Cornel Nemtoc and Dorin Alupei closed quickly at the finish, the world and Olympic champions barely responded, saving their efforts for tomorrow's final where the main threat will be Australia and Cambridge's Blue, Marko Banovic, and Minoslav Saraga, of Croatia, who both won at Henley last weekend.

Britain's lightweight men's crews have been reconstituted since last year and both won their opening heats impressively. Toby Hessian, Ian Watson, Steve Ellis and Tom Kay in the four were clear by halfway and qualified directly for tomorrow's semi-final. But the world champions Denmark, Italy and Germany all went faster.

The eight, stroked by Ben Helm and now coached by Lenny Robertson, coasted home to qualify directly for the final. Only Denmark looked threatening as they won the other heat one and a half seconds faster.

Scotland's Peter Haining, the world lightweight sculling champion, had relinquished his crown in favour of a lightweight double scull with Carl Smith, but theyhave so far failed to gel. They were fourth and must win their repechage to make the semi-finals.

The Olympic coxed pair champions Greg and Jonny Searle, now in the coxless four with Rupert Obholzer and Tim Foster, were second to the world champions Italy, but looked to be keeping something in hand.

The women's eight confirmed their early-season form when they finished a close second to the United States and should qualify today. The men's eight moved through to the semi-finals in third place behind Romania.