LARKHILL Army captain Heather Stanning is through to the Olympic final of the women's pair after coming through heats this morning.

Stanning, alongside partner Helen Glover, coasted to victory in an Olympic record time of 6:57.29 at Eton Dorney, with the USA second and Beijing champions Romania third.

The GB duo, unbeaten in this year's World Cup regattas, took the lead from the off and eventually won by a length from the USA, who also qualify for the final. Romania go into the repechages.

Stanning and Glover remain red-hot favourites to win Olympic gold, which would be the first ever won by British women rowers.

Stanning said afterwards: "We expected the USA to come out strong, so it was great to have them in the lane next to us."

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