Bristol pair claim a golden double

Rowing: Two members from City of Bristol Rowing Club won four gold medals between them to qualify for the National Championships in Nottingham.

William Downey and Sean Bathe-Taylor, representing England, were victorious in the coxless pairs and the eights.

The duo made a strong start to the pairs event, building up a boat's length lead in the first 500 metres against strong opposition from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

The bigger crews made up the deficit over the next 1000m, leaving the Bristol pair a length behind going into the final 500m.

Downey and Bathe-Taylor really attacked the field in the final 500m sprint, increasing their stroke rate to over 40 strokes per minute and eventually reaching the finish line half-a-length clear of their nearest rivals.

Their second goal came in the eights, the final event of the afternoon. As in the pairs, the English crew made a strong start and led by half-a-length after the first 500m before quickly establishing a more substantial advantage

Their nearest rivals, from Wales, did provide some resistance in the second half of the 2km race, but England were too strong as Downey and Bathe-Taylor helped them secure another victory.