After taking the lead after 500 metres in their men's pair final they romped away from the field in spectacular fashion to win their fourth successive world title in 6min 34.98sec despite strong headwinds across the course.

As at London 2012, France's Germain Chardin and Dorian Mortelette were the distant runners up seven seconds behind while the European champion Dutch pairing of Rogier Blink and Mitchel Steenman finished third.

Bond and Murray have never lost since first teaming up in 2009 in a 44 race streak and their 16 consecutive wins at Olympic, World Championship and World Cup level beaks a record which had been held by Belorussian single sculler Ekaterina Karsten.

Hamish Bond and Eric Murray seemed to have plenty to spare after dominating the men's pair to secure a record 16th successive victory at the highest level.


The Kiwi pairs utter dominance in their event over the last four years could be replicated in the women's pair in the future by Britain's Helen Glover and Polly Swann.

The duo continued form which has seen them win all three World Cup events by leading from the front to defeat pairs from Romania and New Zealand.

While Swann is a new member of the British squad Glover is simply continuing the success which included winning the host nations first gold medal in any sport at London 2012 with her previous partner Heather Stanning.

"Last year Heather and I were pretty much unknowns outside rowing but this year there has been pressure of expectation on Polly and me," Glover said.

"It has been a very different year but I think we handled it pretty well".

Helen Glover and Polly Swann celebrate after leading from the front to win the women's pair
and with it Great Britain's first gold medal of the championships


Elsewhere, on a day where 14 different nations won medals, it was the European competitors who had the most to celebrate.

There was a thrilling finish to the men's coxless four when the Netherlands took a surprise victory over London 2012 medallists Australia and the United States, while Croatia took the quadruple sculls title after last doing so in 2010.

There were also titles for Norway and Italy in their respective men and women's lightweight double scull events while Germany crossed the line first in the women's quadruple sculls.

Victory by the Italian pair Laura Milani and Elisabetta Sancassani made them the first Italian women to win a world title. 

The Championships will continue tomorrow with the final day of action which includes the men and women's single sculls where Czech Republic will be eyeing a double victory courtesy of Ondrej Synek and Mirka Knapkova.