Wales’ Graeme Thomas helped Britain’s men’s quadruple sculls win a stunning gold medal on the final day of World Cup 1 in Belgrade.

The 29-year-old from Preston joined Tom Barras, Jonny Walton and John Collins in a victory after a terrific battle with the rival German crew.

Britain were second going through the 1500m mark but came through in the final 500m to edge ahead and win by a matter of inches.

Thomas, who cruelly missed out at the Rio Olympics through illness after arriving in Brazil, said:“It was 2015 the last time I won a gold in the quad, so it’s good to be back.

“I’m hoping this will be a more consistent year, but it’s great to get the win.”

The gold added to the silver the crew won at the World Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton last year as well as a full set of World Cup medals in 2017.

Walton said: “We set out to win gold and did exactly that. It was a tough race but we got our noses ahead and that was the most important thing.”

World Championships silver medallist Vicky Thornley faced tough competition in the final of the women’s single scull where she faced three other finalists from last year.

The Wrexham rower was edged into fifth place by Annekatrin Thiele in the final stroke, crossing the line in seven minutes 27.78 seconds.

Switzerland’s Jeannine Gmelin won in 7;22.78.

In the men’s lightweight double sculls B finals, Cardiff’s Zak Lee-Green and Sam Mottram finished second.

Results

Men’s quadruple sculls (M4x) Final
1. Great Britain (Tom Barras, Jonny Walton, Graeme Thomas, John Collins) 5:38.86
2. Germany 5:39.13
3. Norway 5:41.65

 

Women’s single sculls (W1x) Final
1. Jeannine Gmelin (SUI) 7:22.78
2. Sanita Puspure (IRE) 7:25.30
3. Magdalena Lobnig (AUT) 7:25.51
–
5.Victoria Thornley (GBR) 7:27.78

Lightweight men’s double sculls (LM2x) B Final
1. Jiri Simanek & Miroslav Vrastil Jr (CZE) 6:20.67
2. Zak Lee-Green & Sam Mottram (GBR1) 6:21.09
3. Pedro Fraga & Afonso Costa (POR) 6:21.26