Steve Williams, winner of an Olympic gold medal in 2004, Peter Reed, Alex Partridge and Andy Hodge finished half a length clear of fast-finishing Germany in the coxless four (pictured) while Zac Purchase also claimed a gold medal, winning the lightweight men's single scull in a new world record time.

 

Williams admitted that the coxless four had not been at their best in the final but said he was delighted to retain the title and extend the crew's winning streak to 24 races.

 

"It was not the most beautiful display of rowing but all that matters is that gold medal," said the 30-year-old.

 

"I clipped the water and I thought that was game over. With about 15 strokes to go I was digging deep.

 

"We knew the Germans finished strongly but we were confident with 500m to go. We all wanted the feeling of winning in front of this home crowd. I'll be replaying this for many years to come and the pressure and expectation we felt was perfect preparation for Beijing."

 

Purchase, 20, was third after 500m and moved up to second at 1,000m before taking the lead in the second half. Spain's Juan Zunzunegui Guimerans staged a late challenge but Purchase was able to hold him off. Purchase finished in a new world record time of 6min 47.82sec while Duncan Grant of New Zealand took the bronze medal.

 

"I didn't panic and I just stuck to my race plan. I always knew it was going to be down to the last 500m," said the Gloucestershire sculler."I felt the Spaniard edging closer. I just had to stay ahead for another 10 strokes."

 

Matthew Wells and Stephen Rowbotham came from sixth at halfway to take bronze in the men's double sculls.

 

"We didn't have a great semi-final," said Wells. "We knew that if we stayed calm in the first 1,000m in the second 1,000m we're the quickest crew. It just happened so well. It's just really good for us to finish on the podium."