Women's double sculls into final

There was mixed news for the New Zealand rowers today, with one crew advancing to a final and the other just missing out.

Shannon Cox and Jackie Kiddle in the women’s lightweight double sculls finished second in their semi-final to ease into the final.

Cox and Kiddle recorded 7min 02.86s, three seconds behind Great Britain, but comfortably ahead of third-placed USA.

There was disappointment for Dan Williamson and Phil Wilson in their men’s pair semi-final.

The New Zealanders finished 4th and, with only the first three through progressing to the final, are therefore consigned to racing in the B final.

Williamson and Wilson were timed at 6min 32.77s, half a second behind third-placed Ireland. Their time would have placed them third in the other semi-final.

“It’s bitterly disappointing,” said Williamson. “We didn’t perform how we wanted today. We didn’t quite click and couldn’t find the rhythm we had in our heat.”