Rowing: Coxless four in top form

Britain's coxless four of Josh West and the world champions Steve Williams, Toby Garbett and Rick Dunn are back in business after illness kept them away from Henley and Lucerne regattas.

Yesterday they won their heat to qualify for tomorrow's final round of the World Cup, defeating another, newly-formed, British crew of three gold medallists from the Sydney Olympic eight, Steve Trapmore, Luka Grubor and Kieran West, and Cambridge's Tom Stallard.

The latter, plucked from an eight which was going nowhere, will probably reach the final through a repêchage. Meanwhile, younger men are being blooded in the big boat, which yesterday was third but defeated the strong Egyptians. If both crews look good tomorrow, the eight will stay as it is and the four will get a cox for September's World Championships.