9:47

That’s it for today.  We’ll be back tomorrow with updates from the Olympic rowing finals.  We’ll have the singles, the pairs, the men’s four and the  women’s quad finals.

9:45

Italy win (4:22.81) this one fairly comfortably with US just holding on to second place with France taking third.  Estonia just miss out on the qualifying spot.  Ukraine dropped off a bit at the end of the race.

9:44

Italy have a lead over the US with France, Estonia and Ukraine pushing them hard.

[1000]

9:42

Italy still out in the lead but not looking particularly pretty.  They obviously have a lot of power though.  USA in second with France in third.

9:41

Italy have a good start and although it’s close they just lead over the USA.  Ukraine sit in third just ahead of Estonia.

9:40

Last race of the day that we’ll be covering.  The second semi-final of the men’s quads.

9:35

Poland win comfortably in the end (5:51.29).  Australia take second with Germany in third.  Russia the Olympic Champions are out!

The inevitable happened there too – the Polish bow man who looked like he wanted to from about the first 500m mark, finally throws up!

[1500]

9:34

Poland leading at 1500m about a length ahead of Australia who are being pushed very hard by Russia and Germany.  This is another great race.

9:32

Russia just ahead of Poland with Australia just ahead of the Czech Republic.

9:31

Russia lead as we go through 500m half a length up on Poland with Czech Republic and Germany just behind.

9:30

So now onto the men’s quad semi-finals.

9:25

GB finish third with Denmark winning (6:05.70) with France in second.  Ireland finish fourth, Italy in fifth.  USA finish last.

So that’s 10 boats through to the A finals.  What a result for GB so far.

9:24

With 500m to go the Olympic Champions, Denmark lead with GB the world champions in second.  France just in third, Ireland about a length off France.

9:23

At halfway, Denmark lead over Britain with France hanging onto the stern of the leading pack.

9:22

Good start for GB going off with Denmark.  GB lead by a foot from Denmark – France and Italy hold third and fourth respectively.

9:20

Time for the second semi-final with the world champions, GB going in lane 2.

9:16

Great race – really close in the last 500m.  Poland put in a huge push to take first place in 6:06.60.  Canada take second with Netherlands in third.  China looked like they have to use all their energy to try and hold off Poland but it cost them as they came in fourth.

9:14

Canada lead with Poland in second – China have that third place but Australia have dropped off to fourth.

9:13

Through 1000m with Canada leading with Australia half a length down.  China are just down on Australia but haven’t shaken off Poland yet.

9:11

Very close in this first 500m with Australia leading with Canada and China holding the last two final spots.

9:10

We’re now onto the semi-finals of the men’s lightweight four.  Germany have withdrawn from lane 4 due to illness.

9:06

Greece win this by a length (6:24.61).  Denmark finish second and China fly down the last 250m to pip New Zealand to the last qualifying spot.

9:04

Greece have two lengths over Denmark, who have a length and half over Australia who are extremley tight with China and New Zealand.

9:03

Halfway and it’s still Greece leading with Denmark in second with New Zealand and Australia just behind.

9:01

Greece leading New Zealand, Denmark in third and Australia in fourth.  All very close but Portugal and China a little off the pace at this stage.

8:58

Time for the second semi-final of the men’s lightweight double scull.

8:56

GB win well (6:29.56) with Italy in second place – Cuba take third place.  With Germany in fourth.  France fifth and Canada finish last.

8:55

At 1500m, GB have a length and quarter over Italy who have a length over Cuba.  Germany now in fourth with France slipping down to fifth.

8:54

GB have a length over the rest of the field at the halfway mark. Italy are in second with Cuba in third.  France have dropped down to fourth.

8:52

GB and Italy come out of the blocks well and GB lead as we come through 500m.  They’ve got about half a length on Italy with France in third.

8:50

So now the turn of Hunter & Purchase to go for a place in the semi-final.  

8:47

This was close – Canada win with China and Greece joining them in the final.  USA just miss out taking fourth place.

8:45

Canada look like they’ve got the first place sewn up but who’s going to join them in the final.

It’s extremely close at 1500m with Australia, China and Greece just ahead of the other two boats.

8:43

As we come through the halfway mark it’s Canada by just over a length then three boats very close – China, Australia and Greece.

8:42

Canada about a length over China at the first 500m.

8:40

On to semi-final 2 now.

8:40

Confirmed – Netherlands win by inches in 7:03.87

8:38

Germany finish third with a photo finish for first place between Netherlands and Finland.  I think Netherlands finish first just.

GB finish fifth.

8:36

Finland in control of this race about a length up on Netherlands who are about a canvas ahead of Germany.  GB unfortunately have a lot to do if they’re going to make the final.  Currently in fifth.

8:35

Finalnd 3/4 length up on Germany.  GB still in fourth but about a length off the Netherlands who are close with Germany.

8:33

As we come through the first 500m it’s Germany leading with Finland just behind them.  Netherlands sit in third with GB just outside the final spots in fourth.

8:32

They’re off.

8:31

Slight delay – Netherlands have weed in their boat!  

8:30

Here’s the line up for the first semi-final, GBR are in lane 2 having won their repechage on Tuesday.  The temperature’s up today but the humidity is down so we’ve got good racing conditions.

8:13

Welcome to day 7 (or day 6 if you just count the number of days racing).  We’ll be bringing you live updates of the lightweight semi-finals today.  Three GB crews going starting with the lightweight women’s double of Helen Casey and Hester Goodsell.