The defending double sculls champions reached the final by winning their semi-final yesterday and they never looked like their crown was under threat on Lake Bled in Slovenia.

They picked up where they left off at July's World Cup in Lucerne, when they took gold, and led from start to finish to win comfortably having established a lead of almost two-and-a-half seconds after 1,500 metres.

Grainger has now won six world titles in just nine years.

Watkins has struggled with back injuries this year, but said: "It was a much tougher run into the World Championships this year.

"It was a huge challenge and we rose to it brilliantly and it's absolutely the best preparation for next year."

There was also glory for the lightweight women's quadruple scull, as Steph Cullen, Imogen Walsh, Kathryn Twyman and Andrea Dennis dominated the final to win in 6:28:14 ahead of China and the United States.


"You don't expect to lead out a World Championships final like that from the first stroke to the line," said Cullen.

"I was determined though to take each stroke as it came because I knew that China had a sprint on them and I wasn't going to take anything for granted."

Another pair of reigning champions, Hamish Bond and Eric Murray of New Zealand, took gold ahead of British duo Andy Triggs Hodge and Pete Reed in the pairs, whilst Alan Campbell had to settle for bronze in the single sculls behind New Zealand's Mahe Drysdale and Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic.

It was Drysdale's fifth world title, matching the record of five titles set by Peter-Michael Kolbe of Germany, and came after he had finished second last year in Lake Karapiro behind Synek due to a back injury.

"This win really means a lot to me and I got a bit emotional there," he said.

"I have 18 months of hell behind me, but I feel that I'm back on track now.

"I reckon I'll still be stuck on the bike for a while, but it's good to be back out there again and great to be back on that winner podium."

Britain could round off a great weekend and superb Championships tomorrow when Sophie Hosking and Hester Goodsell take part in the lightweight women's double scull after coming third in their semi-final.

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