Gold for GB coxless four

Matthew Pinsent (left) with Britain's men's coxless fours

Britain's men's coxless four claimed gold at the opening World Cup event of the season in Poland.

Without injured James Cracknell, the team of Matthew Pinsent, Ed Coode, Alex Partridge and Steve Williams claimed an impressive win over Germany.

The women's quadruple scull of Alison Mowbray, Rebecca Romero, Debbie Flood and Frances Houghton also claimed gold.

And Britain won silver in the women's coxless pairs and lightweight men's pair and a men's double scull bronze.

"I had a good feeling before the race," British coach Jurgen Grobler said about the men's coxless four result.

"We have done some good things in training but you never actually know until you really see it. I was also really pleased with the technique I saw."

We're happy with where we are now Katherine Grainger

Pinsent added: "I never felt really under pressure. We just rowed our own race and didn't give them an inch."

And Katherine Grainger and Cath Bishop were content with their performance in the women's coxless pairs.

"It would have been lovely to win but we were definitely in there," said Grainger. "We're happy with where we are now."

"We weren't really looking to try a big finish at this time of year," added Bishop. "There are a lot of rough edges that have to come off."

A new combination for 2004 featuring Alison Mowbray, Rebecca Romero, Frances Houghton and Debbie Flood finished almost two seconds ahead of Denmark in the quadruple scull.

John Warnock and Ben Webb clinched silver in the lightweight men's pair while Matthew Langridge and Matthew Wells were the bronze medallists in the men's double scull race.

But Britain's men's eight only managed a disappointing fifth.