Two golds for Aust at rowing world champs

Australian crews have grabbed two golds and a silver at the world rowing championships in Amsterdam.

Australia's para-rowers have claimed a golden double at the world rowing championships in Amsterdam, with the team set up for more glory on Friday (Saturday AEST).

Erik Horrie claimed gold in the arms, shoulders men's single scull, retaining the title he won last year, while Kathryn Ross and Gavin Bellis also replicated last year's efforts by winning another gold medal in the trunk and arms mixed double scull.

Meanwhile, Jeremy McGrath and Kate Murdoch crowned off their first world championships with a silver medal in the legs, trunk and arms mixed double scull.

Paralympic silver medallist Horrie was never troubled, leading from start to finish.

"It's an absolute honour to be crowned world champion once again," he said.

Likewise, Bellis and Ross flew out of the start and held off spirited challenges from France (2nd) and Brazil (3rd), giving them hope of success at the Paralympics in Rio in 2016.

"It was a good race, nice and tight, with a few surprises," Ross said.

Earlier, Australia's seven non-para-rowing crews competed for places in the finals, with six achieving their goal.

Lucy Stephan and Charlotte Sutherland qualified for the A Final of the women's coxless pair after finishing third in their qualifier, but will face a tough final which will include current world champions Great Britain.

Alice MacNamara and Ella Flecker led for much of their women's double scull semi-final, before being pipped on the line by Canada - though it didn't deny them a place in the A-final.

The men's coxless four took on the reigning world champions and host nation, The Netherlands in their semi-final, and finished first to qualify for Saturday's final.

Meanwhile, women's quadruple scull secured their berth with a second-placed finish behind world champions Germany.

Australia will also field a crew in the final of the lightweight A-final, while Perry Ward did enough to reach the men's single scull final.


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