Rowing Pair Set Record at Eton Dorney

30 July 2012, 13:50 | Updated: 30 July 2012, 13:56

Thames Valley rowers Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins set a new Olympic best time as they qualified for the final of the women's double scull at Eton Dorney.

The double world champions destroyed the previous mark, set by Germany in Barcelona 20 years ago, by nearly five seconds as they won their heat in six minutes 44.33 seconds.

It was a commanding performance from Grainger, who lives in Maidenhead, and Watkins from Wokingham (pictured), who left world bronze medallists New Zealand trailing home in second place around two lengths behind. 

The British double are now unbeaten in 22 consecutive races and their victory will have laid down a marker to their nearest rivals Australia, who pushed them close in the final of last month's Munich World Cup regatta.