After the men and women earned their places in the rowing World Championships here on Lake Malta, it was the turn today of the "children", the derogatory nickname given by larger rowers to their lightweight brethren.

Both of Great Britain's lightweight doubles qualified from their semi-finals to reach Sunday's final, bringing the total of British finalists this weekend to 13, three more than they had in the Beijing Olympics last year, albeit from six more events.

Hester Goodsell and Sophie Hosking have become the favourites to win the gold in the lightweight women's double after winning the past two World Cup regattas, but they were pipped to the line by Germany in their semi-final in which the lead changed hands four times. “The Germans were pretty up for it," Hosking said. "They were getting quite noisy, but the big one comes on Sunday. It’s good to have been pushed."

The men's double of Paul Mattick and Rob Williams were a comfortable third, although they had to fight back from fifth place after the first 500 metres. Mattick was in the lightweight four that won the World Championship two years ago and said that a medal was not beyond them, even if they will start the final in an outside lane.

With strong crosswinds at 500 metres, it has been a disadvantage today to be in lanes 1 and 2, which may offer one explanation for Adam Freeman-Pask's disappointing last place in the semi-final of the lightweight single. Freeman-Pask has come third twice and fourth once in this year's World Cups and was fancied to reach the final at least here, but he has struggled all week.

Another explanation could be that the Germany boatman carelessly cycled into Freeman-Pask's boat as it rested on trestles before the start of the regatta and while it was repaired straight away, the damage could be preying on his mind.

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