OLYMPIC favourite Zac Purchase has been boosted in Beijing by a good semi-final draw in his quest to land lightweight doubles gold with Mark Hunter.

Evesham Rowing Club’s Mark Earnshaw should see the Great Britain men’s heavy-weight double he coaches go through their semi as well, despite facing Olympic champion Adrien Hardy in the French boat and two other boats with the Athens silver and bronze medal singlers on board.

Former King’s School, Worcester, student Purchase and his World Cup champion partner backed up their pre-Games favourites’ tag with heat victory in the fastest time.

Unbeaten in 11 races this season, they go against Italy, Canada, Germany, France and Cuba in Thursday's semi, avoiding the big threats of world champions Denmark, New Zealand, Greece and Australia.

Italy’s Elia Luini has a Sydney 2000 Olympic silver medal and four world titles to his name, but the GB duo have had too much firepower for him and Marcello Miani this season, and will expect to head their move into Sunday’s final in a gold-medal frame of mind.

Heat victory in the quickest time of six minutes 13.69 seconds was a massive confidence boost, with the Danes, 1.15 seconds slower beating Canada by a length, the closest on the clock to GB. Italy won their heat from China in 6.16.16, while New Zealand won heat four in 6.16.78 to go through with second-placed France.

Former Upton and Evesham RC man Purchase looked in control of his race all the way, being two seconds faster to the quarter-way 500 metres mark than anyone else except the Greeks.

Meanwhile, former Prince Henry High School history teacher Earnshaw was delighted to see GB heavy doublers Matt Wells and Steve Rowbotham winning their heat to reach the semi-finals.