WARRINGTON’S Richard Egington will have to race again on Monday to qualify for the rowing men’s eight final in the London Olympics.

The 33-year-old former Lymm High School pupil, a silver medallist in Beijing four years ago, finished second to world champions Germany in a morale-boosting display on the first morning of action at sun-drenched Dorney Eton.

In their first race since the disappointing third place in a depleted final World Cup Regatta event two months ago, a strong third 500m got them to within half a length of gold medal favourites Germany by the finish line.

Germany, undefeated since Beijing, clocked 5:25.52 to go through to Wednesday’s final with the fastest time of the two heats.

TeamGB actually had the second fastest time with 5:27.61 but will join Olympic champions Canada, Netherlands, Australia, Ukraine and Poland in Monday’s 9.50am repechage race for the right to join Germany and heat one winners USA in the final 48 hours later.

USA won the first heat in 5:30.72, with Australia second in 5:32.43.

TeamGB had to go through the repechage in Sydney in 2000 but still came through to take gold.

Egington, who started his career with Warrington Rowing Club and still has the family home in High Legh, will be disappointed not to have qualified automatically but he and his crew will take confidence from their time and from pushing Germany to the wire.