All bar three of Britain’s 16-boat team are still in medal contention after the first day of the Munich World Cup. There were some sparkling performances both from established crews, such as the men’s world champion coxless four, and new ventures, such as the women’s eight and Alan Campbell making his senior debut in a single scull. The day finished with three crews already in tomorrow’s finals and a further nine race in today’s semi-finals.

The British women’s quad scull, the 2005 world champions with Debbie Flood, the Olympic silver medal-winner, taking the place of Rebecca Romero, who has retired, reached their final without a race since their event attracted only six entries. Germany, who were Britain’s main rivals in 2005, were absent.

Katherine Grainger, the double Olympic silver medal-winner and Britain's stroke, was top in the selection trials that saw some younger contenders in the top placings. "The next generation is on the move", Grainger said after the trials and this proved to be the case yesterday when Annie Vernon and Anna Bebington led all the way in their first appearance in a double scull to reach their semi-final.

There were a number of new faces in the women’s eight that caused a stir by overhauling both Germany and, in the final few strokes, Australia to take the one qualifying-final place. The crew is stroked by Elise Laverick, the Olympic sculling medal-winner now converted to rowing and backed by Katie Greves. "There is life and experience in the stern," David Tanner, the team manager, said. "They are racers."

Alan Campbell, still only 22, has never concealed his desire to race in a single. "I’ve been given the opportunity, I feel physically well prepared, it’s up to me to make of it what I will," he said after being selected.

He certainly made his point yesterday with first places in both his races, finishing ahead of Ondrej Synek, the world bronze medal-winner from the Czech Republic, in the first and the Olympic champions, Olaf Tufte of Norway and Luka Spik from Slovenia, in the second.

Matt Wells and Stephen Rowbotham, Campbell’s 2005 quad-scull crew-mates, had their first international taste of double sculling and successfully reached their semi-final, while the fourth member of that 2005 quad, Matt Langridge, now switched to rowing rather than sculling, stroked the men’s eight to a second place behind Germany. Only first place qualified directly and Britain have a second chance in the repechage today.

Britain’s lightweight men seem to be showing more pace at the moment and three crews, the coxless pair, the coxless four and the double scull, all achieved first places, the coxless four after a photo finish against the fancied and fast-finishing Italians. With only the four and double scull featuring as Olympic boats and with Mark Hunter, the Olympian, just returning after injury and qualifying with second place yesterday in a single, inter-squad rivalry and competition are likely to be intense.

Of the lightweight women, Laura Ralston, relatively new to the top flight, qualified in a single with no upsets but Helen Casey and Jane Hall, previous medal-winners, suffered a boat-damaging crab in their first heat. After repairs, they qualified safely in the repechage.

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