Campbell eases into Munich semi

Alan Campbell cruised through to the semi-finals in Germany

Alan Campbell is through to the semi-finals of the men's single sculls at the Rowing World Cup in Munich after a comfortable win in Thursday's heats.

The Coleraine competitor won heat three in 7.40 minutes and goes again in Saturday's semi-finals.

Fellow Coleraine men Richard Archibald and Richard Chambers also progressed.

Archibald and the Irish lightweight four were runners-up to China in their heat while Chambers was in a winning Great Britain lightweight four.

Derry's Orlagh Duddy and new partner Niamh NiCheilleachair were fifth for Ireland in the lightweight double and now face a repechage.

Chambers helped the British lightweight four claim last year's world title while Campbell is another Olympic Games medal hope.

Archibald and his Irish team-mates Paul Griffin, Gearoid Towey and Eugene Coakley have yet to secure Olympic Games qualification even though they claimed world championship silver in 2005 and bronze a year later.

The Irish four had a disappointing season last year which left them still requiring qualification for Beijing.