Coleraine rowers progress from heats at World Cup in Italy

Peter Chambers and Joel Cassells have been moved to Britain's lightweight four boat

Coleraine rowers Richard and Peter Chambers, Joel Cassells and Alan Campbell have progressed from their opening World Cup heats in Varese.

Richard Chambers and Englishman Will Fletcher won their lightweight double sculls race ahead of the United States to progress to Saturday's semi-finals.

Peter Chambers and Cassells progressed from the lightweight four heat after finishing second behind France.

Alan Campbell has progressed to the single sculls semi-finals.

Returning from injury and making his 2015 competitive debut, Olympic single sculls bronze medallist, Campbell showed a little ring rustiness as he finished third in his opening heat behind European champion Damir Martin from Croatia.

However, Campbell improved in his afternoon quarter-final as he took second spot .96 behind world champion Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic.

Chambers and Fletcher's main competition over the weekend is expected to come from 2013 world champions Norway and recent European winners France who beat the duo to gold in Bled three weeks ago.

After winning the European lightweight pair title, Peter Chambers and Cassells were moved into the Olympic class lightweight four alongside Mark Aldred and Chris Bartley and they started their campaign by finishing second behind France in a closely fought heat.

The French won in a time of 5:52.67 with the GB quartet just a second adrift and both crews went straight into the semi-finals.