A couple of penalties, but the speed is good. Sticky moment at gate 19.

Good start, first upstream gate negotiated. Flowing in the Rio sunshine.

Florence and Hounslow are in fact the next pair to go. 116.49 seconds is the time needed for a place in the final. 250m course, gates to go through, not clipped or missed.

Andrew Walters: Florence and Hounslow in Rio 2016 canoeing... or an unlikely town twinning project?  

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport in Rio

Image source, .

BBC Radio 5 live commentator Rob Nothman looks on as the early pairs go down at the canoe slalom. A decent start for Poland buT the British pair of Richard Hounslow and David Florence will be coming down in the next couple of minutes.

Hounslow I'm told is a Tottenham fan. Florence of course is the athlete who applied to be an astronaut - the job recent space hero Tim Peake ended up getting.

You can listen for updates of this semi-final now on 5 live and Team GB should progress. It would be a real shock if they don't.

For now, though, our eyes are on the canoeing. After Joe Clarke's gold medal yesterday, David Florence and Richard Hounslow are hunting a place in the final of the double. They are soon set to go in the semi-final. Progress should be straightforward - of the 11 boats, 10 reach the final.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris and Gabby Adcock are one of those couples that finish each other's sentences.

Some might find it annoying, others cute. But when your significant other is also key to winning Olympic gold, being so perfectly in tune can be essential.

They face the Chinese pair later in the group stages of the badminton doubles this evening

Their match starts at 20:40 BST. 

Brits also in action include Lauren Smith and Heather Olver in the women's doubles who will start shortly, and Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis in the men's doubles (21:25 BST). 

Rajiv Ouseph and Kirsty Gilmour represent in the individual events later this evening. (23:55 and 01:05 respectively). 

Image source, Getty Images

Jess Varnish, who was controversially omitted from the GB squad, believes they can win a medal on the first day of competition.

“I'm hearing good things from the squad. I know the boys are ready to smash the team sprint today," she told Radio 5 live. 

"The boys, they're the first medal available today so they're going to feel a bit of pressure. I spoke to Phil (Hindes) last night and I said 'How are you feeling?' and he's like 'I'll let you know tommorow'."

The men's team sprint final is at 22:21 BST.

It is widely believed that the velodrome at London 2012 was the loudest venue. Maybe because Great Britain won seven of the possible 10 golds on offer. 

Can they match that incredible record this year? 

They will give it a good go, starting with the men's team sprint - Jason Kenny, Philip Hindes and Callum Skinner - later this evening.

Image source, Getty Images

If yesterday was Wonderful Wednesday then this can be, erm, Thunderous Thursday?

Great Britain will go for medals in cycling and rugby. We'll also have the women's all-around gymnastics final, tennis, golf, badminton and archery.

Here's a little taste of what's coming up...

That was Magic Mike Henson, this is Stephan Shemilt with you for a little while.

What have I got to offer? I'll tell you....

GB's Carl Hester and his horse Nip Tuck suffered a nasty spook at the dressage event today.

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport in Rio

Image source, .

Not packed in here yet by any means, the semi finals and finals are spread out a little though so the crowds may come in for the later stages. 

This image shows the central area which splits the course from the warm up water. During a paddler's descent of the course, coaches tend to run up this slice of concrete to be adjacent to their athlete and shout encouragement.

Matthew Britten: Getting nostalgic. Seeing people watching sport in the stands. Seems a long time ago.

Jediarty: Maybe I'm biased, but I miss the roar and atmosphere of the London 2012 Games.   

Image source, PA

The Harrogate Advertiser have news of a unique honour of Ripon's gold-medal winner Jack Laugher.

"Transdev, whose famous 36 bus runs to Ripon and past the Hydro where Laugher trained as a youngster, have decided to mark his achievement in a unique fashion. One of their iconic 36 buses will be named after the diving sensation with information about his life and training onboard," they report., external"Famous" and "iconic" because Ripon's number 36 traces the route of the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour". I presume.

Image source, BBC Sport

Bad news from the judo arena as Team GB's Natalie Powell is beaten by France's Audrey Tcheuméo in the -78kg competition.

Nasty sport judo, with the French judoka having to finish the match with a bandaged face after suffering a cut during the fight.

Rio 2016 is not over for Britain's Powell, however. She will fight again in the repechage this evening hoping to stay in contention for the bronze medal.

Water...

Sand traps...

Owls.

There's an unusual extra hazard for golfers at the Olympic Golf Course in Rio to negotiate on the ninth hole, which is home to a family of owls.

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport in Rio

Now, before the men's C2 semi final let's iron some things out.

David Florence and Richard Hounslow won silver in 2012 and come here with a hot chance. Ten of 15 semi finalists will go through.

The faster you finish in the semi-final, the later you go off in the final. But take this warning, in the events so far this week on this canoe slalom drag, the fastest paddlers in semi finals have not even won a medal. It's all about keeping your one golden run for when it matters.