Coleraine rowers progress to World Championship semi-finals

Peter Chambers (second from left) will hope to qualify for the Olympics with the lighweight four crew

Coleraine rowers Alan Campbell, Richard Chambers and Peter Chambers have progressed to their respective semi-finals at the World Championships.

Great Britain pair Richard Chambers and England's Will Fletcher won their lightweight men's double sculls quarter-final in a time of 6:23.35.

Peter Chambers won the repechage as part of the GB men's lightweight four.

In the single sculls, Campbell was second behind defending world champion, Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic.

Synek crossed the line in 6:55.80 to win the quarter-final, with Campbell runner-up in 6:57.62 at Aiguebelette in France.

Alan Campbell is targeting a podium place in the single sculls at Aiguebelette

Richard Chambers and Fletcher saw off the challenge of the Italian boat, who finished second, ahead of the Irish pair of Paul and Gary O'Donovan, who also qualified for Thursday's semi-final.

The lightweight four crew made the semi-finals, recording a time of 6:05.81 in beating Canada into second place.

Another Coleraine rower, Joel Cassells, qualified for the semi-finals of the lightweight men's pairs non-Olympic event on Monday.

The regatta doubles up as the main route of Olympic qualification for Rio 2016 and that will initially be the main focus for all the competitors.

The top nine in the singles sculls and top 11 in the lightweight double sculls and lightweight four will secure Olympic places.