Britain’s flagship men’s eight back into the winning groove at Poznan European Championships

The British men's eight, pictured winning last year's world title, got back into winning ways after opening defeat at the European Rowing Championships ©Getty Images

Britain’s flagship boat, beaten into third place in yesterday’s heats at the European Rowing Championships in Poznan, put in a performance that had British supporters sighing with relief today with a commanding repechage victory.

After the disappointment of being beaten by Russia and The Netherlands in what was its first competitive outing since winning last year’s world title, the British men’s eight comfortably qualified for tomorrow’s final - where the opposition will also include Olympic champions Germany - with victory ahead of France in 5min 32.07sec.

The relief also showed for crew member Alex Gregory, Olympic champion in the four at the London 2012 Games, who tweeted: “Hooked up a much better race out there on the water today.

"Wind & waves felt like home! Now time for R&R before the final tomorrow.”

Team mate Pete Reed, double Olympic champion, added: "That was more like it, we were more awake and more ‘on it’.

"But we will have to be even better tomorrow.”

Image title — Katherine Grainger, making her international return after winning gold at the London 2012 Games, advanced with partner Vicky Thornley to tomorrow's final of the double sculls at the European Rowing Championships - but it will be a tough challenge to win ©Getty Images

Britain’s Katherine Grainger, making her competitive comeback after winning gold at the London 2012 Games, qualified for tomorrow’s double sculls final after she and new partner Vicky Thornley chased home Lithuania’s 2013 world champions Donata Vistartaite and Milda Valciukaite in their semi-final.

Poland’s defending champions, Magdalena Fularczyk and Natalia Madaj continued to raise home expectations as they won the other semi-final in the quickest time of the day.

There was another British flourish in the repechage as the men's quadruple sculls boat - with Jack Beaumont aboard in place of the injured Charles Cousins - qualified in a European Best Time and European Championship record of 5min 41.88sec.

Damir Martin of Croatia set a new European Best Time in the men's single sculls semi-finals with 6:47.35.

Martin finished one place ahead of the world and defending champion, Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic, with Britain’s Angus Groom - taking his opportunity to make a mark in the absence of the injured London 2012 bronze medallist Alan Campbell - claiming a place in today’s final in third place.