Matt Pinsent and James Cracknell gave their World Cup hopes a boost with two comfortable wins in the Wedau Regatta in Duisberg.

The British pair beat the Yugoslavian 2001 world silver medallists on Saturday and then beat two German crews on Sunday.

The weekend's races were their first outing in the pair this season.

"This has been a very useful weekend with the World Cup in mind," said three-times Olympic gold-medallist Pinsent.

"We are very pleased with the regatta although it's been tiring racing four times in two days with eveyone gunning for us."

The Great Britain four could not make it two wins for the regatta when they were beaten by the Germans by 1000th of a second on Sunday.

Rick Dunn, Steve Williams, Toby Garbett and Josh West were pipped their German rivals, who were silver medallists at the 2001 World Championships after doing to same to them on Saturday.

Single sculler Frances Houghton won on Sunday, while the women's lightweight double scull of Tracy Langlands and Helen Casey repeated their win on Saturday with a half-a-length win.

The men's lightweight pair of Ned Kittoe and Nick Englaish