ROWING/Henley Regatta:Coleraine's Alan Campbell produced the race of his life to beat world champion Mahe Drysdale in the final of the Diamond Sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta.
The 24-year-old had never beaten New Zealand's Drysdale in international competition - but he led from the start to win by a length and a quarter in eight minutes and four seconds.
"That was the toughest race I've ever been involved in - I had to dig really deep," he said.
"In the middle section he just wouldn't give up; he kept pushing and pushing - and I kept coming back and coming back.
"It is a great feeling to know I have beaten a double world champion, the world record-holder and my best friend.
"I fear I've just given him fuel for the fire, but I will now be able to sit a foot taller in the boat.
"This is the best result. There are higher expectations now - not just from the crowd. I expect higher standards from myself."
The British coxless four of Steve Williams, Peter Reed, Tom James and Andrew Triggs-Hodge extended their two-year unbeaten run by storming to victory in the final of the Stewards' Challenge Cup.
The quartet, in Leander and Molesey colours, beat Brentwood College Rowing Club and Shawnigan Lake School from Canada by two-and-a-quarter lengths.
Molesey member Triggs-Hodge has now set his sights on continuing their winning streak at the World Cup Regatta in Lucerne next week.
"It was a wonderful race, the sort of race you dream of - we got a solid start and dominated from then on," he said.
"We have done a lot of training over the winter . . . and we can now see it paying off. We worked hard for this, and it puts us in a good position for Lucerne."
In the final of the Remenham Challenge Cup, the German national eight, in the Dortmund Rowing Club colours, beat the British eight, in the colours of Thames RC and Leander, by a length and a half.
There was disappointment for Britain's Jennifer Goldsack, who was comprehensively beaten in the final of the Princess Royal Challenge Cup by the USA's Michelle Guerette.
