New Zealand rowers have made their mark on day two of the World Cup meet in Poland.
The team's claimed their first gold medal to lightweight women's single sculler Zoe McBride, and booked eight more 'A' final spots, from 10 events, in the final regatta before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Zoe McBride Photo: Photosport
World champion McBride won gold as Lake Malta welcomed calmer conditions for the world's elite rowers in the final regatta before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after the previous day's thunderstorms and high winds.
McBride, who's the world's best time holder in 2016, made easy work of her semi-final then set a blistering place in the 'A' final to claim gold in a time of 7:31.32.
Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale was second behind European champion Damir Martin of Croatia, who crossed the line just over a second ahead of Drysdale, while reserve John Storey claimed third. Both New Zealand boats will race the 'A' final.
Double world champion lightweight double scullers Sophie Mackenzie and Julia Edward needed a top-two finish to progress to the 'A' final and did so, finishing second behind Denmark by one second.
2014 world champion Emma Twigg showed her class in the women's single sculls semi-final, dominating from beginning to end.
The reserve women's pair duo of Olivia Loe and Holly Greenslade made an impressive charge in their repechage, moving from fifth to second to book a ticket to their 'A' final, where they will meet team-mates Rebecca Scown and Genevieve Behrent.
Hamish Bond and Eric Murray continued their unbroken streak in the semi-final of the men's pair, winning with a comfortable margin.
World champions Eve Macfarlane and Zoe Stevenson worked their way from fifth to first in their women's double sculls race, outsprinting Great Britain to claim victory by a margin just under 0.4 seconds and book a place in the 'A' final.
Double scullers Robbie Manson and Chris Harris won through to their 'A' final too.
The women's and men's eight got a chance to race for lanes after their exhibition race was cancelled due to weather on day one.
The women's event saw a close race between just three crews of the Netherlands, New Zealand and Great Britain with the British claiming victory, with New Zealand a close second.
Five boats contested the men's event with Germany dominating, New Zealand second and Great Britain a close third. All crews will contest the 'A' finals tomorrow.
