It was a great day for Britain which also saw the newly-reformed women's quadruple scull team pick up victory on Lake Karapiro, New Zealand.

Purchase and Hunter dominated the final from the outset to win in 7min 13.47sec and well ahead of second placed Italy in 7:15.88 and bronze medallists New Zealand in 7:18.31.

Hunter said: "We went out there and did our thing and came back in with a gold medal – that's fantastic."

Purchase added: "It was good to open the account for the Olympic boats here and you can't get better than that.

"We knew we were good, we just had to go out and do it."

The women's quadruple scull team of Frances Houghton, Debbie Flood, Beth Rodford and Annabel Vernon followed up Purchase and Hunter with another British gold as they made up a first-half deficit to overhual reigning champions Ukraine.

The British team claimed gold in 7:12.78 while Ukraine picked up silver in 7:14.95.

Germany finished in 7:15.26 to take the bronze medal.

Vernon said: "No-one does more than us, no-one trains on worse water than us.

"We just kept powering through.

"It felt good."



The two victories came after Tom Aggar won Britain's first gold medal of the 2010 World Rowing Championships in the Paralympic-class single scull final but there was not such good news for Britain elsewhere.

There was disappointment for Matt Langridge, Alex Gregory, Alex Partridge and Ric Egington as the reigning world champions in the men's four missed out on the medals by finishing fourth despite a strong start.

Sophie Hosking and Hester Goodsell also missed out on a podium finish in the lightweight women's double scull while the men's quad came home fifth and the lightweight men's pair in sixth.

Nevertheless David Tanner, Great Britain Rowing's Performance Director, admitted he was delighted with the display of his team.

"What fabulous gold medals we won today," he said.

"I felt the lightweight men's double are back and dominated the field even in those conditions.

"And what a huge step up for the women's quad that was so clever in their race, exhibiting their skill and discipline.

"I am so disappointed for the men's four though.

"It's an even field and there was an advantage for the inside lane which just nudged us out of the medals in the race for the line."

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