ROWING: Great Britain storm into World Cup final (From Northwich Guardian)

Matthew Langridge is confident ahead of Sunday's World Cup regatta final

8:20pm Saturday 9th July 2011 in Other sport By Andrew Simpson

MATTHEW Langridge believes Great Britain’s men’s four are on course to win a World Cup gold medal after a dominating display in today’s semi finals.

The Northwich star’s quartet led from the start in a high-class field that included world champions France along with big guns Australia and USA.

“It was a good race,” said the 28-year-old afterwards.

“We got away well and dominated from the front so we didn’t have to sprint at the end.”

Langridge was joined in the boat on the water in Lucerne by fellow mid Cheshire rower Richard Egington, Tom James and Alex Gregory.

The latter stroked the boat into a lead at half way with Australia and France close behind.

With 500m left they remained in front with Greece, silver medallists at the World Championships in New Zealand last November, their closest rivals to the line.

USA outsprinted Australia to earn a spot in Sunday’s final.

France trailed home in a disappointing sixth position.

In the other semi final, Germany’s new-look crew finished first ahead of fast-finishing Serbia with New Zealand holding off Spain’s crew to take the last available final place.

Elsewhere GB Rowing crews won four other semi finals; the men’s and women’s pair, women’s double and lightweight men’s four.

"We've had another cracking good day at the office with a full World Championships-style field here,” said team performance director David Tanner.

“So to notch up five wins is tremendous.

“We have some great chances of medals tomorrow and a really good spirit in our camp.”

Great Britain’s men’s four race in Sunday’s final in Switzerland at 1015 UK time.

BBC Television will broadcast the action live via its Red Button service.

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Samsung World Cup
Lucerne
Men’s four Semi final one
1. Great Britain (Matthew Langridge, Richard Egington, Tom James, Alex Gregory) 5:54.64
2. Greece 5:55.93
3. USA 1 5:56.96
4. Australia 5:57.16
5. Netherlands 5:59.95
6. France 6:01.35

Heat Two
1. Germany 1 5:58.01
2. Serbia 5:58.90
3. New Zealand 6:01.27
4. USA 2 6:02.20
5. Italy 6:07.47
6. Spain 6:12.08