EMILY Ford has second chance to reach a world championship final after her crew were beaten by last year’s gold-medallists in Rotterdam on Sunday.

The former Grange School Rowing Club captain, part of Great Britain’s women’s eight at the event for under 23s, will contest a repechage later this morning.

USA, the defending champions, trailed unexpectedly to New Zealand during the early stages of the boat class’ opening heat.

However they recovered to reach the line first, recording the fastest overall qualifying time, while Ford and company overtook the tiring Kiwis in the race’s second half to finish as runners-up.

The 21-year-old, a student at Newcastle University, won a bronze medal as part of the women’s four at last year’s edition.

She is joined in the boat by Holly Hill – another member of the four last summer – plus World Junior Championships medallists Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne and Anna Thornton.

Alice Bowyer, Chloe Brew, Madelaine Badcott and Heidi Long complete a crew coxed by Sasha Adwani.

They take on Australia, Czech Republic, France, Germany and New Zealand at 10.55am.

A top-four finish guarantees a place in Thursday’s final.

Lucy Burgess, part of Great Britain’s women’s quad, finds herself in a similar position following a closely-contest heat on the Willem-Alexander Baan rowing course.

They lined up against Poland, able to retain a crew that won gold in 2015.

The 22-year-old, now training at Agecroft in Salford after competing at two world championships while a member at Northwich Rowing Club, joined forces with Georgia Francis, Florence Pickles and Kyra Edwards.

They sat second to the Poles for the most part, only for a late surge from France and Italy to relegate them to fourth.

Australia, China and France provide the opposition in a repechage at 10.50am, when the first two crews to finish will secure a spot in the final.

Results

World Rowing Under 23 Championships

Sunday, August 21

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Women’s quad scull

Heat Two: 1. Poland 6.37.98; 2. France 6.39.18; 3. Italy 6.39.92; 4. Great Britain (Florence Pickles, Kyra Edwards, Georgia Francis, Lucy Burgess) 6.40.20; 5. New Zealand 6.42.67

Women’s eight

Heat One: 1. USA 6.20.86; 2. Great Britain (Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne, Alice Bowyer, Emily Ford, Chloe Brew, Holly Hill, Madeline Badcott, Anna Thornton, Heidi Long and cox Sasha Adwani) 6.25.88; 3. New Zealand 6.27.60; 4. Germany 6.27.73