Haining holds on for ticket to Atlanta

Peter Haining, the champion lightweight sculler, yesterday became the 10th British boat to qualify for the Olympic Games when he finished third in the single sculls final in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Haining's motivation and racing experience as world lightweight champion for the last three years paid off against the five heavyweights he faced for three qualifying places. He was in second position for about half of the 2,000-metre course behind the Norwegian Frederik Bekker before he ran out of steam and was passed by David Cameron, of Australia, 200 metres from the line.

Britain's women's eights qualified on Saturday, setting a record of 6min 00.13sec for the Lucerne course.

Four out of the five British crews attempting qualification succeeded at the weekend. The casualties were Jane Hall and Alison Brownless in the lightweight double sculls, who missed their chance by less than a second and a half. Six other British crews qualified for Atlanta at last year's World Championships.