Riches to row for Paralympic gold (From Harrow Times)

Great Britain mixed coxed four qualify for Paralympic final

2:25pm Friday 31st August 2012 in Local Sport By Anthony Matthews, Group Sports Editor

Naomi Riches will row for Paralympic gold on Sunday morning after Great Britain's mixed coxed four comfortably qualified for the final at Eton Dorney.

Competing in the LTAMix4+, the Harrow rower's boat won the second of this morning's heats in 3 minutes 23.59 seconds, more than five seconds quicker than second-placed USA.

However, the British team are likely to have their work cut out to beat the Germans, who won the first heat in a new world best time of 3.15.91.

Sunday's final is scheduled to start at 10.30am.

“I’m pleased with the race, we had a job to do and we executed it," said Riches, a five-times world champion and the only survivor from the Beijing Four which won bronze.

"The conditions were tricky but we train at Caversham [not far from the Paralympic venue] so we are fairly used to them and just tried to relax. The crowd were amazing but we have to stay in our bubble and listen to Lily [cox Lily van den Broecke].”