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Campbell: Strong show
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British single-sculler Alan Campbell shook off the effects of knee surgery to make the Olympic quarter-finals in Shunyi, while the men's coxless fours were tested but powered through their opening heat.
Northern Irishman Campbell had to have an infection cut out of his leg in June but despite missing three weeks of training he still looked in decent shape as he successfully came through his heat.
The 25-year-old started well and held the lead from the front before finishing strongly to beat Australian rival Paul Hardcastle.
"I am more than pleased with it," said Campbell. "That was my first 2k since the injury. Two months ago I was in hospital. Now I feel there is more to come in this regatta.
"My knee felt very good, I didn't feel any pings during the race and I am looking forward now to the quarter-finals.
"I took a more conservative race than usual. I would usually have blasted a bit further from the start but the boys pushed me hard throughout. I am more than pleased.
"Every race we are going to step it up a little bit more and a little bit more. Fingers crossed, toes crossed, everything crossed that we can have a nice clean run through to the semi-finals now."
Fours
Britain's normal blue riband boat the men's coxless four was also successful as the first-choice quartet raced for the first time.
Andy Triggs-Hodge, Peter Reed, Steve Williams and Tom James ere challenged strongly during the middle of their race, but pulled away well to be Italy by a length.
Injuries have not helped the men's four with James and Hodge struggling, but they looked good when answering the challenge from Italy and the USA boat.
World champions New Zealand were beaten by the Netherlands in one of the other heats - encouragingly for Team GB the time for the Dutch was almost the same as theirs.
Britain's women's pair of Olivia Whitlam and Louisa Reed finished third in their heat and need to do better in Monday's repechage to reach the final.
Men's pair Robin Bourne-Taylor and Tom Solesbury must also come through the repecharge after coming only fourth in their heat.
