West Country rowing pair win gold

West Country rowers Helen Glover (left) and Heather Stanning celebrate winning gold in the women's pair final at Eton Dorney. Credit: Stephen Pond/PA Wire

Team GB claimed its first gold medal of London 2012 today, five days since the Games officially began, thanks to a pair of rowers from the West Country.

Helen Glover, from Penzance, and Yeovil-born Heather Stanning became the first British women to take an Olympic rowing gold in front of an ecstatic crowd at Eton Dorney.

The golden couple led from the front in a dominant performance which saw the opposition trail in their wake.

After crossing the line they hugged each other with joy and then saluted the crowd, which included Princes William and Harry and the Princess Royal.

The pair high-fived before lying back in the boat after a deafening roar saw them cross the finish line.

Glover, 26, a former PE teacher from Penzance, Cornwall, has been rowing for only four years after starting through the Sporting Giants scheme, which was set up by UK Sport to identify British sporting talent with a view to London 2012.

Stanning, 27, from Lossiemouth, Moray but born in Yeovil, is a captain in the Royal Artillery and the women were paired together in the University of Bath training programme only three years ago.

Great Britain's Helen Glover and Heather Stanning celebrate winning gold in the women's pair final at Eton Dorney. Credit: Stephen Pond/PA Wire

Their dominance this year was born out of the frustration of being beaten into silver by New Zealand at the 2011 world championships by just eight-hundredths of a second.

The pair were home favourites for today's race after setting an Olympic record of six minutes 57.29 seconds as they won their heat.

WOMEN'S PAIRS FINAL RESULT:

  • Gold: Great Britain (7mins 27.13secs)

  • Silver: Australia (7:29.86)

  • Bronze: New Zealand (7:30.19)