ROWERS Frances Houghton and Debbie Flood for once out-shone three-times Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent when they competed in the season’s second World Cup event in Lucerne.

Former King’s School, Canterbury, rower Houghton and her double scull partner Flood were one of three British winning crews, while Pinsent and his fellow Sydney gold medallist James Cracknell had to settle for silver, behind Australia, in the men’s coxless pair.

Houghton and Flood’s second successive World Cup win saw them again beat the world champions from Germany, Magdalena Schmude and Christiane Huth, who were third behind the fast Lithuanian crew, Kristina Paplavskaja and Birute Sakickiene.

In contrast to their win from the front in Belgium a month ago, Houghton and Flood allowed their Lithuanian rivals to take an early lead of a length and a half in the final. Between the 500 and 1000m marks, however, the young British crew cut the deficit to just a canvas.

Just before the 1500m mark the British boat hit the front and had just enough to spare to win.

Houghton said: "We had to contend with some very difficult water in the first 250m but we knew the Lithuanians would be quick in the first 500m and so we were confident enough to come through in the middle of the race."

Flood added: "Though I'm still seeing stars, I'm delighted with our result.” She said the pairing would have to improve further before the World Championships in Seville in September.