YOG 2010: British pairs progress to semi-finals with victories

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Singapore

GREAT Britain's coxless pairs both comfortably won through their opening heats at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

PROGRESS: German gold medal favourite Judith Sievers was a comfortable winner in her single sculls heat at the Youth Olympic Games (Xinhua)

Fiona Gammond and Georgia Howard-Merrill - gold medallists in the British eight at the recent World Junior Championships - were second quickest in the women's event, behind Australian pacesetters Emma Basher and Olympia Aldersey, covering the 1000m course at the Marina Reservoir in 3.30.92.

Ed Nainby-Luxmoore and Casper Jopling also look strong medal contenders after progressing to Tuesday's semi-finals as third quickest, in 3.13.96.

“We were just getting into a pair having raced in the eight last week, so it was a surprise to be so far ahead," said Howard-Merrill.

“But we think we can still go a lot quicker than we did, especially in the last 500m and there is plenty to work on before the semi-final."

Despite winning their heat, Nainby-Luxmoore, who was part of the silver medal winning men's four at the recent World Juniors, also believes there is room for improvement.

“But we just weren’t really on it and we’ll be doing a lot of stuff different in the semi-final," he said.

"We weren’t quite in time with each other and it was all rolling around a little bit. We relied on brute force to get us through,"

The German gold medal favourites Felix Bach and Judith Sievers recorded the fastest times in their respective single sculls events.