World Rowing Championships: GB have strong opening day

Stanning (left) took 2013 off to concentrate on her military career

London Olympic champions Helen Glover and Heather Stanning led a strong first day for Great Britain at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.

The women's pair were among six British crews to win their heats.

There were also victories for the GB men's four and quad, the men's pairs and the lightweight women's and men's double sculls.

Glover, 29, is defending the world title she won at Chengdu in 2013 with Polly Swann.

She has teamed up again from London 2012 with 29-year-old Stanning, who took a year off in 2013 to concentrate on her military career.

"From my seat in the boat it felt great. The race was won fairly early so we could enjoy it," said Glover.

The GB men's four of Alex Gregory, Mohamed Sbihi, George Nash and Andrew Triggs Hodge also won their heat comfortably.