Homegrown stars competing in the Beijing Olympics are making the region proud as they show the world their sporting prowess.

More than 30 of the West's top sportsmen and women are flying the flag for Great Britain, making up almost a tenth of Team GB.

It was a mixed opening week for competitors, with Bath swimmer Mark Foster's failure to progress from his heat a notable disappointment. But all eyes are firmly fixed on gold with an exciting weekend ahead. British competitors are favourites to win as many as eight golds in rowing, cycling, sailing and athletics with some of our West stars leading the way.

Ben Ainslie yesterday made sure of at least a silver medal as he closed in on gold in the Finn class sailing in Qingdao.

The 31-year-old can clinch a gold medal for the third consecutive Games if he finishes no more than six places behind American Zach Railey in today's race in which points count double.

Today's men's rowing finals promise to be nail-biting following Somerset sculler Steve Rowbotham's qualification for the men's double scull final, along with partner Matthew Wells.

The 26-year-old was born in Swindon but counts Winscombe, Somerset, as his home town.

Speaking from Beijing, Rowbotham said: "I want to be remembered for winning a gold medal, it's a feeling that no one can take away from you and a feeling you can take to your grave. Steve Redgrave won five gold medals and no one can take that away from him.

"To be honest I would not be out here if I was not confident we could win gold."

His father, Chris, said a group of 80 British supporters as well as close family would be cheering the pair on.

He added: "They will be doing some light training, just enough to keep nimble before the final, they know what they have to do and they know they can do it."

In the men's eight Tom Lucy from Bristol will also be competing in the final. The team qualified for tomorrow's final with a stunning win in their heat over the USA and China. The 20-year-old is one of the youngest since Sir Matthew Pinsent to be selected for a World Championships.

Hopes for the men's four crew are also high, with the British team favourites for gold.

Crew member Peter Reed, 27, from Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, won gold in the men's four at the 2005 World Championships in Gifu, Japan, as well as winning World Cup gold medals between 2005 and 2008.

On dry land, Zoe Derham, who lives in Gloucester, is competing in the women's hammer event on Monday.

The 27-year-old is attending her first Olympic Games and became third- ranked British hammer thrower of all time in 2005 with a throw of 65.48m.

On the track, Bath-born Dale Garland, and Craig Pickering are hoping for glory.

Garland, who trains at the University of Bath's sports training village, is running for Team GB in the 4x400m relay event while 21-year-old Pickering will run in the 4x100m relay on August 21.

And making his first appearance in a debut discipline is Liam Phillips who rides for Team GBR in the BMX individual event.

Phillips, who lives in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, was born in Taunton and trains with Burnham BMX.

The men's road race seeding runs are on August 20, as are the quarter-finals.

British success for the weekend has been tipped by London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.

But Lord Coe, a double Olympic champion, insisted it did not really matter where Britain finished in the medal table just so long as there were big British moments to remember. He insists expectations for the athletics should not be too high.