Men's four off to a flyer

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Steve Williams, defending the title he won in Athens four years ago, and crew-mates Andy Triggs-Hodge, Tom James and Pete Reed finished a length clear of Italy.

Single-sculler Alan Campbell and the men's double sculls of Matt Wells and Stephen Rowbotham also opened with victories on a promising first day at Shunyi lake.

Team GB have predicted four rowing medals, which would match their achievement from 2004, but the expectations within the camp are higher than that.

The women's double sculls of Elise Laverick and Anna Bebington registered the fourth fastest time in the field but were disappointed to finish third in their heat.

The men's and women's pairs will also spend Sunday preparing for a repechage after failing to secure automatic qualification from their heats.

Campbell, who hails from Coleraine in Northern Ireland, was the first Briton out on the lake and he suffered no ill-effects from recent knee surgery as he booked a quarter-final berth.

Wells and Rowbotham won their heat in commanding style ahead of Croatia and Estonia to reach the men's pair's semi-finals and send a firm message of intent to the rest of the field.