Helen Glover and Heather Stanning laid a perfect platform for their World Championships preparation by winning World Cup gold in Lucerne this morning.
The Olympic, World and European Champions moved out to a 27-race winning streak by holding off a strong New Zealand pair, Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler.
The GB duo moved out to a big early lead and then sustained the pressure to win in 6:57.59, while Denmark took the bronze.
Glover said: “I felt like we were in control through all of it. In some sense, I guess, we expected a bit more of a race from them.”
Stanning added: “That was really pleasing because Helen called the race perfectly. We saw New Zealand put in a push but Helen said ‘stay there’. We had the stimulus outside the boat but we felt contained within it.
"We knew we were going to attack it because it was the last chance to put down a marker before the World Championships.”
A year ago Lucerne was the scene for one of Alan Campbell’s worse regattas which resulted in him missing out on the 2014 World Championships.
However, the London 2012 bronze medallist showed his continuing return to form by winning a plucky bronze in the open men’s single scull, which was won by Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand.
Campbell said: “To come back from last year like that, to go from 14th to bronze and being back on the podium, it feels like a gold-medal performance to me”.
Earlier, disappointment laid in wait for Olympic Champion Kat Copeland, racing this season with Charlotte Taylor who were women’s lightweight double world cup winners last month.
They finished fourth in a race won by New Zealand with South Africa in silver. Holding third until the final 300m, the GB boat was pipped by the USA for bronze.
Sir David Tanner, GB Rowing Team Performance Director, reflected: “We are having a challenging Lucerne as we sometimes do but we had two great medals this morning.
“Helen and Heather were quite exceptional and how good it is to see Alan back on the podium.”
© Sportsbeat 2015