GREAT Britain’s men’s pair, which includes Matthew Langridge, are through to Saturday’s World Championships final.

The Northwich rower, along with crewmate James Foad, finished second behind defending champions New Zealand during their semi final in Amsterdam on Thursday.

They did the same during last month’s world cup regatta in Lucerne.

Langridge and Foad were fastest over the first 500m, though Kiwis Eric Murray and Hamish Bond – drawn in an adjacent lane – had responded to take the lead by halfway.

The British boat stayed ahead of their rivals from the United States, in third, and Netherlands until the finish.

They completed the 2,000m course in 6:28.330 , five seconds quicker than a German boat that won the other semi final.

Spain and South Africa qualified along with Germany.

Langridge, a two-time world champion in the men’s four, now targets a hat-trick.

The men’s pair final is scheduled for 1250 on Saturday.

Results

World Rowing Championships

Men’s pair

Semi finals 1

1 Germany 6:33.800; 2 Spain 6:35.040; 3 South Africa 6:35.880; 4 Turkey 6:37.930; 5 Argentina 6:45.390; 6 Croatia 6:46.650

Semi finals 2

1 New Zealand 6:24.980; 2 Great Britain 6:28.330; 3 United States 6:33.920; 4 Netherlands 6:37.080; 5 Italy 6:38.120; 6 China 6:41.760