Campbell beaten by world champion Drysdale at Henley

From George Scott at Henley

GREAT Britain's Alan Campbell was beaten by Olympic bronze medallist Mahe Drysdale in the final of the Diamond Challenge Sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta. 

TOO GOOD: World champion Mahe Drysdale had too much for home hope Alan Campbell in the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley (Getty Images)

Campbell was searching for his third win at Henley after victories in 2003 and 2007, when he beat three-time world champion Drysdale in the final. 

But it was the New Zealander who triumphed this time, winning by three lengths in eight minutes 28 seconds.
 
Campbell - fifth in the single sculls final in Beijing last year - overhauled Olympic champion Olaf Tufte in yesterday's semi-final and he admitted it left little in the tank.
 
"It was a tough, tough old race. It felt like I was carrying double the weight and the wind was really relentless," he said.

"I didn't get off to the best of starts and Mahe really capitalised on that.

"Maybe if I'd have had a lighter race yesterday I'd have had a bit more juice left.
 
"Mahe was pretty much unstoppable, so well done to him because he's come through and really set the standard.
 
"I'm going to go back to our training centre in Caversham and I'm going to find a way to beat him.
 
"It's one each now and that's my first loss in 12 races at Henley but I'll live to fight another day."
 
Drysdale's victory is his second at Henley, having previously won in 2006.
 
And the 30-year-old - who won last month's World Cup regatta in Munich - admitted he was relieved to come out on top after his 2007 defeat.
 
"I'm really happy to win that one. This is his home course so I know he's fired up about it and it's the only place he's ever beaten me," said Drysdale.
 
"To get one back on him was great and to win the Diamonds for a second time is a real privilege.
 
"Alan never gave up and kept throwing it at me but I always had that buffer to cover his moves."
 
Elsewhere, Great Britain's under-23 eight from Leander and Molesey Boat Club went down to Brown University by half-a-length in the Ladies' Challenge Plate while Eton College beat Abingdon School by five lengths in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.
 
New Zealand duo Eric Murray and Hamish Bond - victorious over British pair Andy Triggs-Hodge and Peter Reed in yesterday's semi-final - continued their dominant form in the Silver Goblets, beating holders Shaun Keeling and Ramon Di Clemente easily.
 
Princeton University overhauled Brown University in an all-American final in the Temple Challenge Cup while Sydney Rowing Club beat Nottingham and Union Rowing Club to claim the Wyfold Challenge Cup.
 
Emma Twigg won the Princess Royal Challenge Cup before Durham University and Oxford Brookes University claimed the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup and Agecroft Rowing Club registered their first Henley win in their 186-year history in the Britannia Challenge Cup.