The 38-year-old, who won the Olympic and world titles in the coxed pairs with brother Jonny in the nineties, was in the heat of the action as both GB eights progressed straight through to Sunday's finals at the World Rowing Championships in New Zealand.

Winning a gold medal would be a dream end to Searle's year.

"To become a world champion again would be phenomenal, it would be ahead of anything I expected this early on when I came back into the sport," he said.

"I would be so proud if I'm able to do that and so happy to be able to do it with such a good bunch of people."

Britain's women's eight needed a top-two finish to make the final, and they managed that comfortably, behind reigning champions the United States.

Crew member Olivia Whitlam said: "It certainly woke the lungs up. For a first run down the track, it was pretty enjoyable, and I think we put a decent run down."

The lightweight men's pair of Chris Boddy and Adam Freeman-Pask also qualified in the lightweight men's pair after finishing second in their repechage.

Nine British crews are now already through to finals with seven others in action in the next two days.


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