Olympic bronze medal winning cox Phelan Hill admitted an aggressive approach paid off after Britain’s men’s eight reached the final at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.
Hill, who coxed Britain’s eight to bronze at London 2012 as well as a medal at three of the last four World Championships, saw his crew win their repechage by just under three seconds ahead of Russia.
Britain’s eight are the defending champions after winning gold at last year’s World Championships in South Korea and six of the other seven crews in action secured progression in Amsterdam.
The lightweight and open weight men’s double sculls and the lightweight single moved into the semi-finals as did Vicky Thornley in the open women’s single along with the women's quadruple scull.
The lightweight women’s quad are through to Friday’s final after winning their repechage with the women's eight the only exception as they finished behind world and Olympic Champions USA in their heat.
Britain’s men’s eight in Amsterdam consists of four of last year’s crew that won world gold in Tom Ransley, Will Satch and double Olympic champion from London 2012 and Beijing 2008 in the four Pete Reed as well as cox Hill.
And Hill said: "We got off the start with much more aggression than in the heats and we weren't going to let the Russians walk on in the early part of the race. Inch by inch we kept and stepped up our momentum."
© Sportsbeat 2014