Rowing wins for Britons

Last Modified: 17 Aug 2008
Source: ITN

Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase have won Great Britain's second rowing gold medal with victory in the lightweight men's double sculls.

The duo came into the Olympic final as strong favourites after an unbeaten World Cup campaign and commanding performances in the heats and semi-finals.

And they lived up to all expectations to beat world silver medallists Greece by half a length, with world champions Denmark third.

The women's quad of Katherine Grainger, Debbie Flood, Frances Houghton and Annie Vernon could not quite follow suit and were beaten into second place by a late charge from China.

The Brits had led into the final 500metres but were hauled in by China in the closing stages.

For Grainger, stroke of the crew, it was a third successive Olympic silver medal having also finished second in the quad in 2000 and in the pair with Cath Bishop four years ago.

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