Alan Campbell clinched his place in the semi-final of the single sculls at the World Championships in Munich by coming second in his quarter-final.

The Northern Irish rower and his training partner Mahe Drysdale left the field in their wake early on, before the world champion broke free to win.

"There was some jockeying for position early on but once we opened up a lead I thought I'd relax," said Campbell.

"It was just controlled, relaxed racing again."

Elsewhere, the double scull pair of Matt Wells and Stephen Rowbotham won their quarter-final to earn a space in Thursday's semi-finals.

The Italian pair went out at full pelt only to run out of steam, with the British duo emerging at the midway point to power through to victory.

"If you didn't get through to the semi-finals you're not going to the Olympic Games," said Wells afterwards.

"That's why several of the crews went out so quickly to try and qualify. You could see it at the end with the Belgians being so happy but with the Italians and Russians being so down."