Australia's women lightweight double scull crew of Hannah Every-Hall (QLD) and Alice McNamara (VIC) has surged to gold in World Rowing Cup 3 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

They highlighted the day for the Australian team, which also included silver medals for the women’s double scull crew of Sally Kehoe (QLD) and Kim Crow (VIC) and the men’s eight.

Every-Hall and McNamara raced from Lane 1 in their final and produced a stunning third 500m to sweep to the lead. They held off the fast finishing British crew to win by three quarters of a boat length in a time of 7:07.85.

Every-Hall, who returned to the Australian team in 2010 after an eight year hiatus, said to win the gold was an unbelievable feeling.

“To describe the feeling of winning the gold medal here today is beyond words,” Every-Hall said.

“Just on 12 months ago I was competing at the Australian Masters Regatta and now to be back here and to win an international gold medal is amazing.”

Kehoe and Crow pushed Great Britain all the way in the final of the women’s double scull before succumbing to the favourites by one boat length.

Kehoe and Crow looked to threaten the British in the second half of the race but could not reel them in, clocking a time of 6:52.60.

After the race Kehoe says they executed their race plan well.

“We knew that the British had a very fast start and we just wanted to hold with them over the first half of the race,” Kehoe said.

“We pushed with 800m to go but Kath Grainger had too much experience and the British were able to respond to our challenge.

“The silver medal is a really good achievement for our squad and gives us something to build upon for New Zealand.”

Australia announced their return in the men’s blue riband event, the men’s eight. Coxed by Toby Lister (NSW), the crew of Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC), Nicholas Purnell (NSW), Sam Loch (NSW), Will Lockwood (VIC), Brodie Buckland (NSW), Fergus Pragnell (NSW), Tom Swann (VIC) and Tom Larkins (VIC) stormed home to take the silver medal behind Germany.

Australia was fifth with 500m remaining but was moving the boat through the field with great pace and finished only one second down on Germany, recording a time of 5:31.31. Great Britain won the bronze medal.

In other A Finals, the men’s four of Francis Hegerty (NSW), Cameron McKenzie-McHarg (VIC), James Marburg (VIC) and Matt Ryan (NSW) finished in fifth place and Sarah Cook (ACT) and Sarah Tait (VIC) claimed fourth in the women’s pair, one place ahead of team mates Pauline Frasca (VIC) and Phoebe Stanley (VIC).

Daniel Noonan (NSW), David Crawshay (VIC), Karsten Forsterling (VIC) and Chris Morgan (SA) were fifth in the A Final of the men’s quad scull.

The men’s lightweight four crew of Todd Skipworth (WA), Anthony Edwards (TAS), Sam Beltz (TAS) and Blair Tunevitsch (TAS) won the B Final, with Perry Ward (WA), Ross Brown (WA), Michael McBryde (QLD) and Angus Tyers (VIC) finishing in sixth place in the same race.

The Australian team will now return to Australia ahead of the final selection trials for the 2010 World Rowing Championships at the Sydney International Regatta Centre from August 23-26.

Rowing Australia