World champion Drysdale ready to start Henley sculls campaign

GLASGOW Rowing Club caught the eye at Henley Royal Regatta yesterday.

ONE TO BEAT: Mahe Drysdale faces former world junior champion Nick Baker in the first round of the Diamond Sculls at Henley (Getty Images)

They became the first Scottish club to win two first day heats at the event with victories in the Britannia and the Wyfold coxless fours.

Henley's first day is traditionally dominated by school, college and club rowers but Thursday will see the opening heats in the highly-competitive Diamond Sculls - with Olympic champion Olaf Tufte and three-time world champion Mahe Drysdale both in action.

Drysdale faces Great Britain's Nick Baker, a former world junior champion who rows with local club Eton Excelsior, while Olympic finalist Alan Campbell is the main home hope, having won the event twice before.

Andrew Triggs Hodge and Peter Reed, Olympic gold medallists in the men's four, start their Silver Goblets' campaign today against American opposition in the men's pair.

Meanwhile, high temperatures yesterday prompted organisers to allow members and guests in the Stewards' Enclosure to remove their jackets for the first time in 33 years.