Wind leads to Eton Dorney lane changes

Gold medal favourites Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins have been moved into a preferred lane for today's final after the rowing authorities reacted to the wind at Eton Dorney.

Lanes for all four of today's finals have been redrawn to give those crews who qualified as semi-final or heat winners the more sheltered conditions.

The leading crews are usually drawn in lanes three and four but the cross-wind at Eton Dorney means outside lanes five and six are more favourable.

FISA, world rowing's governing body, were criticised by British lightweight sculler Peter Chambers for not making the changes before yesterday's finals.

The re-draw directly benefits Grainger and Watkins, who have moved from lane four to lane five, and the men's pair of Will Satch and George Nash, who also now race in lane five.

But Alan Campbell has been moved to lane three for his single scull final and the men's quadruple scull are now in lane two.

"At the end of the day we are an outdoor sport. Somebody's had to make a judgment and I'm sure it is the right one," said GB Rowing's performance director David Tanner.