GOING FOR GOLD

At 12.10pm on the rowing lake at Eton Dorney, the Chambers’ will join once again with Rob Williams and Chris Bartley in the final of the lightweight men’s fours.

It has been 24 years since Northern Ireland have had a gold medallist at the Olympics - the last time they had two in Jimmy Kirkwood and Stephen Martin, who were part of the winning GB hockey team in Seoul in 1988.

And the Chambers’ progress has been watched closely back home.

While there is certain to be huge support at the Olympic venue outside London today - the Chambers brothers will also have the unseen and unheard support of many from Northern Ireland willing them on to victory on BBC television.

There is a strong Coleraine support already at Eton Dorney and they will be joined by fellow Team GB competitor, Alan Campbell, who secured his place in the final of the men’s single sculls yesterday. He will go for golden glory tomorrow morning.

The men’s lightweight fours team were boosted by the success of British women’s pair, Helen Glover and Heather Stanning yesterday.

They delivered the first home gold medal of the Olympics, while the men’s eight took bronze.

The lightweight fours team were world bronze medallists when they finished the World Cup series with a victory in Munich and they have produced two confident wins to reach the final.

Britain beat world champions Australia in their heat and then produced a strong sprint finish to win their semi-final in a time marginally quicker than chief gold medal rivals Denmark.

“We definitely have to watch out for Denmark,” said Richard Chambers.

“We’ve beaten them so we’re in a really good position. We have to deliver our race. Our strategy will be exactly the same.

“ Yes, it’s the final of the Olympic Games but it’s no different from any other race.”

Meanwhile, Coleraine sculler, Campbell, enjoyed a game of cat and mouse with one of the favourites, Ondrej Synek, from the Czech Republic, in their semi-final heat yesterday.

Synek won the semi-final heat, but Campbell eased up at the end keeping something in reserve for tomorrow’s final.