London 2012: Louisa Reeve and Caroline O’Connor into women’s eight final

By Nick Wright
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
11:59 AM

Olympic rowing: 1. Netherlands 2. Romania 3. Australia 4. Great Britain 5. Germany

London rowers Louisa Reeve and Caroline O’Connor narrowly secured their place in the final of the women’s eight but will have their work cut out for a medal finish.

Netherlands, Romania, Australia, Great Britain and Germany were battling it out in the repechage to join USA and Canada - winners of the heats - in the final.

London-born Reeve and cox O’Connor, who hails from Ealing, will be pleased with qualification but were unable to produce a confidence-boosting finale.

While Netherlands and Romania battled it out for first place, the Brits spent almost the entire race in fourth place.

Although a safe distance from fifth place Germany, they were not close enough to overhaul Australia in third.

They take their place in Thursday’s final as underdogs in an extremely strong field.