Grant and light double make it eight New Zealand boats in rowing World Finals

Both New Zealand boats in action at the Rowing World Championships made it to the A finals on Friday, but it wasn’t plain sailing.

Reigning lightweight single champion Duncan Grant made it to the final today in Poznan, but made it by finishing third in a race dominated by the Greek Vasileios Polymeros. Grant looked out of sorts in the semi final, gradually losing time to the Greek sculler and also seeing experienced Japanese sculler Daisaku Takeda move through. The first semi - won by Mads Rasmussen of Denmark was also quicker, meaning Grant will have a major challenge on his hands to retain his title.

Storm Uru and Peter Taylor had a much easier passage to their final - winning their semi final with a solid and controlled race when they looked on top throughout. They sat a small distance behind the German Under-23 world champion double before making their move and taking clear water ahead of them and the British duo.

The success of the lightweights means that New Zealand will have no fewer than eight boats in A finals.

Mahé Drysdale

Emma Twigg

Duncan Grant

Robin Tinga

Matthew Trott and Nathan Cohen

Rebecca Scown and Emma Feathery

Eric Murray and Hamish Bond