The gold rush in Spain was started by Annie Vernon and Anna Bebington, who claimed victory in the double sculls, ahead of Italy and Poland.

 

Bebington medalled in this event at the Beijing Olympics while Vernon took a silver in the quad.

 

Vernon and Bebington returned as part of the quadruple sculls to earn their second gold medals in a race that was effectively over in the first 500 metres after they opened a huge lead.

 

Vernon said: “I love this place, it has been my favourite course.”
 

On a day when there were some many outstanding performances Britain's head coach Jurgen Grobler picked out the performances of Pete Reed and Andy Triggs Hodge for special praise as they won the men's pair as they made their switch from the four where they were part of the British squad who won gold medals in Beijing last year.

 

They held off a determined challenge from South Africa on a course that was used for the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

 

Triggs Hodge said: “It was a really good race, a challenge.

 

"We were very quick, with a good rhythm, it was really exciting.

 

 "Experience always helps.”

 

Britain were so dominant that they won the first seven events of the day in front of a crowd that incuded Juan Antonio Samaranch, the former President of the International Olympic Committee.

 

Louisa Reeve and Olivia Whitlam won the women's pair and Matthew Wells and Stephen Rowbotham the men's double sculls.

 

 

The four of Alex Partridge, Richard Egington, Alex Gregory and Matthew Langridge (pictured) won on their first outing together while Katharine Grainger, making her international solo debut after a career in teams, and Alan Campbell took their respective single sculls.

 

Campbell claimed the scalp of Norway's double Olympic champion Olaf Tufte.

 

He said: "It was strong, feeling that you are competing with big champions.

 

"I have had bad times so I had to ensure my form, and today has been a really nice test.”
 

Grainger, who has finished second in three consecutive Olympics, was satisfied with her first appearance in a solo final after a comfortable victory over Sweden's Frida Svensson.

 

She said: "I wanted to have more races in the single, but it was only a straight final.

 

"I am happy about this first in the single.”
 

Germany and Italy briefly halted the British charge when they won the lightweight women and men's double sculls respectively.

 

But Britain's women's eight, who included Whitlam and Reeve, ensured that the national anthem would be heard one last time as they beat Poland by a massive 17 seconds.

 

Caroline O‘Connor said: “It was quite tricky at the start with waves crashing over the riggers but once we got the pace and got into it, it went right. 

 

"It’s a good start of the season."

 

The action was finished off with the men's eight where Britain claimed the bronze medal in a race won by Italy. 

 

David Tanner, British Rowing's performance director, said: "Overall, of course, I'm very pleased with what has happened here.