Britain’s Katherine Grainger captured Olympic gold at her fourth attempt, winning the women’s double sculls with Anna Watkins at Eton Dorney yesterday.

Two rowers from the North have helped Great Britain’s lightweight men’s four win a silver medal after being pipped to the line by new Olympic champions South Africa in a sensational final.

Helen Glover and Heather Stanning confirmed their status as gold medal favourites as they stormed into the final of the women’s pair in a new Olympic record time.