Coleraine trio progress to World Championships semis

Campbell won his single sculls heat in 6.48.49 minutes while Peter Chambers was second in the lightweight single sculls at Lake Karipiro.

His brother Richard was part of the GB lightweight fours crew which won narrowly from the the Netherlands to seal the local trio's passage to the semi-finals.

Campbell took the lead from the outset in his men's single scull heat and sculled with confidence in the second half.

Tonu Endrekson, from the Estonian Beijing silver medal double scull, tracked him all the way but Campbell had the opportunity to drop his rate in the final 400m despite a further tussle with Endrekson.

"I feel really positive about being here and I'm in good shape", said Campbell afterwards.

"Everything's been put in place by the New Zealand organising committee and by the GB set-up to give us the best possible opportunity of producing our best performances here.

"The field is tight in the men's single scull but that is part of the challenge", added Campbell.

Richard Chambers and the GB lightweight four led through all the timing points and came in just ahead of a fast-finishing Dutch quartet with France in third.

"It was close today in parts, very close, and in some ways that disrupted us a bit", said Chambers' boat mate Paul Mattick.

"After the long break we're not quite race savvy but we still found a rhythm. We didn't need to unleash everything in the third 500m."

Peter Chambers ensured that his family now has two semi-finalists here after he was second in the lightweight men's single scull heats.

Peter was third at 500m but pushed past Jaap Schouten of the Netherlands at halfway and held his form to the end to cross the line in 7:13.08 just behind world champion Duncan Grant of New Zealand.