KATHERINE Grainger's Olympic hopes are still hanging in the balance after the 2012 gold medallist and Vicky Thornley finished only fifth in yesterday's double sculls final at the World Cup in Poznan, Poland.
The 40-year-old Scot and Thornley never looked like medal contenders in Poland, placing third in Friday's heat before improving to qualify second in Saturday's repechage. They took a big step back yesterday, struggling home seven seconds behind Polish winners Magdalena Fularczyk and Natalia Madaj in 6mins 54.83secs and also well behind the New Zealand and French boats which they had matched in qualifying.
Earlier in Poznan, Lossiemouth's Heather Stanning and her English partner Helen Glover saw off a late surge from New Zealand duo Genevieve Behrent and Rebecca Scown to retain their pairs title. The Olympic champions came home in a new World Cup best time of 6mins 52.79sec.
Edinburgh's Callum McBrierty and his English team-mates Oliver Cook and Henry Fieldman overtook Turkey in the closing 500m to win the coxed pair final in 7:01.79. The Scot missed out on Olympic selection despite helping Britain's four to victory at the previous World Cup in Lucerne.
There was gold in the men's four for the British team of Alex Gregory, Mohamed Sbihi, George Nash and Constantine Louloudis.
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