West Country rowers make history as they win gold again

Two of our West Country rowers made history today as they became the first female British athletes to win back to back Olympic gold medals.

Heather Stanning, from Yeovil, and Helen Glover, from Penzance, secured their 39th consecutive win spanning five years in the final of the women's pairs.

After a dominating performance the defending champions smiled as wide as the margin they won by.

At the West Country rowing club where they first teamed up, and climbed into a boat together, members reprised the routine of four-years-ago, when they cheered the pair to Britain's first gold of the London Games.

And the Minerva Rowing Club couldn't contain their excitement when the girls won.

This time however, they, and the country, expected these world beaters to dominate the Olympic field again.

Glover and Stanning were without doubt the boat to beat.

It was their race to win - but also their race to lose.

But the hot favourites were imperious from the very start - and had worked themselves into more than a boat-length's lead at the half-way stage.

But the pair held on to their lead and their Olympic title, extending their winning streak to a remarkable 39 races.