Rowing: Golden sisters add to medal tally

Twins Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell added a second gold medal for New Zealand at this year's third World Cup rowing regatta at Lucerne, Switzerland, early today (NZ time).

George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle won the men's pair's gold earlier in the programme and Mahe Drysdale a silver.

It was on the same Rotsee course 12 months ago that the Evers-Swindells, Olympics doubles sculls champions, were pipped by Bulgaria in a corresponding race.

They must have feared they would suffer the same fate today when much-talked about British combination Annie Vernon and Anna Bebington sprinted up beside them in the final few strokes.

But this time the golden twins made sure they would wouldn't end up second best.

A flying start had the pair ahead of Belarus and Great Britain by a boat length at the 500m.

By the 1000m mark the twins had opened up a little more gap and held on with 500m to go.

It was a matter of maintaining their rhythm from there, Georgina Evers-Swindell said.

"It is a relief to be on the right side of the line this year. We can now go and train hard for the next six weeks," she said referring to their preparation for the world championships.

- NZPA