Rowing: Searles show Molesey how to be top

Molesey and Imperial College surged into the final of the Visitors' Challenge Cup at Henley after a battle royal with the Army. Imperialsupplied the German and Australian internationals Jan Herzog at three and Richard Wearne at stroke, while Molesey's half consisted of the 1992 Olympic champions Jonny and Greg Searle.

Experience told in a race which was led off the start by the Army, who extended their lead to a length at the Barrier and were three-quarters of a length up after three-quarters of a mile. But after the mile, Molesey stormed through to win.

Today's grand final is between the Dutch national eight, who beat Germany yesterday, and Britain, who made short work of the Marine Technical University of St Petersburg, Russia. The final of the women's eights is between Princeton Training Center of the US and the Dutch national eight. The British crew lost to the Americans yesterday.

Britain's World Cup medallists Matt Wells and Steve Rowbotham beat Zsolt Hirling and Tamas Varga, the Hungarian world lightweight champions, in the double sculls. Wells and Rowbotham's time to Fawley equalled the record set in 1995.