DOVER Rowing Club members Richard Twyman and Liam Cairns reached the quarter-finals of the double sculls at Henley Royal Regatta on Saturday.

The pair, representing Globe Rowing Club, were drawn in the quarter-finals against a pair from the USA who competed in the world championships two years ago.

Twyman, the strokeman, set the pace from the start for Cairns to follow. Rating an excellent 47, they pulled ahead of the American pair and led them to just past the island, but the Americans’ greater experience eventually paid off and they powered to a comfortable win.

The Dover pair, qho trained hard during the winter, finished third in the Under 23 event at the Begium National Championships in May and then last month they won a silver medal in the Elite Senior 1 Doouble Sculls at the Docklands Regatta.

Following their fine performance at Henley, the pair are planning to compete in the National Championships at Strathclyde in two weeks’ time.