Rowing World Cup: GB men's eight and women's pair win gold

Great Britain were beaten by Germany in the men's eight at London 2012

Great Britain's men's eight team clinched a thrilling gold medal as they held off a late Germany challenge at the World Cup in Switzerland.

Britain, who beat their rivals in the final of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley last Sunday, moved into a comfortable lead.

Germany fought back in the closing stages but Team GB won by 0.08 seconds.

In the women's pair, Britain's Helen Glover and Heather Stanning also won gold with a 27th straight win.

Glover (left) and Stanning are the dominant force in the women's pair

The Olympic, world and European champions finished in six minutes 57.590 seconds as they beat New Zealand (7:00.240) and Denmark (7:07.090).

"That was really pleasing because Helen called the race perfectly," said Stanning. "We saw New Zealand put in a push but Helen said 'stay there'.

"We knew we were going to attack it because it was the last chance to put down a marker before the World Championships."

Meanwhile, Team GB's men's pair of James Foad and Matt Langridge earned silver as they came in behind New Zealand.

"We have to take confidence from that," said Foad. "We were nine seconds behind New Zealand this time last year but we are closing the gap and there is still more to come from us."

In the men's single sculls, Alan Campbell was third for Great Britain.

The Coleraine rower failed to make the semi-finals in Lucerne last year and was not selected to compete at the World Championships, but he claimed bronze as New Zealand's Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale won gold and Mindaugas Griskonis from Lithuania earned silver.

There was also a bronze for the women's eight team, who trailed in behind winners Canada and second-placed New Zealand.

There are three World Cup regattas each year, and the nation to have accumulated the most points after the final event is declared the winner.

New Zealand topped this year's standings, with Germany second and Britain third.

Britain were victorious six times in seven years between 2007 and 2013, which was their last win.