Cox Henry Fieldman stayed on course for a second successive gold medal after he, Ollie Cook and Callum McBrierty surged through the field to take first place on the line.

As in Monday’s heats, GB concentrated on their own race as the crews around stormed out into early leads. The United States and Ukraine were well clear at 500m, with the Brits a narrow sixth at that stage.

Settling into a powerful rhythm, they pushed past the Italians and reeled in the tiring Ukranians to sit second with 500m to go. They wanted the win, though, and continued to pound away, eventually overhauling the Americans in the last few strokes.

Joel Cassells and Sam Scrimgeour edge clear of Denmark

The lightweight men’s pair of Joel Cassells and Sam Scrimgeour extended their unbeaten record to 11 races but had to work hard to hold off a determined challenge from Denmark.

Emil Espensen and Jens Vilhelmsen had finished runners-up to the British pair at both the European Championships and the Poznan World Cup this year, and the two crews were once again the class of the field.

There was very little to choose between them throughout the race but Cassells and Scrimgeour had their noses in front and were able to respond to any challenge the Danes made.

Both senior pairs are coached by Christian Felkel, who – along with Jurgen Grobler – coached the men’s eight to Olympic gold in Rio earlier this month.

Gemma Hall is making her senior debut at these World Championships and had achieved her main target of the week by reaching the semi-finals of a hotly-contested lightweight women’s single scull competition.

She was in touch with the top three at the 500m mark but a battle for third spot between Russia’s Anastasiia Ianina and Katherine Sauks of Canada took them away from the Brit.

Hall was also passed by Belgium’s Eveline Peleman in the last 250m but gained more valuable senior racing experience and will race in the B final on Saturday.

Day five had began with the repechages for the Junior World Championships, featuring two GB boats.

The men’s coxed four of Matthew Rowe, Alex Green, Seb Newman, Bertie Woodward-Fisher and cox George Cozens were off the race pace in Wednesday’s heats but got off to an excellent start today to put themselves right in the mix for one of the two A final places available.

They were second with 800m gone but Serbia were able to push through and, along with Australia, moved clear. GB had given their all and faded in the last 500m, crossing the line in fifth.

Only two crews progressed in the women’s pair repechage as well and those places were secured early on as Denmark and Germany surged clear.

The British pair of Hope Cessford and Lauren Irwin rowed well, at times matching the pace of the leading crews, but were unable to make up ground and came home in fourth.

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