LARKHILL army captain Heather Stanning and partner Helen Glover were carrying the hopes and expectations of a nation on their shoulders this morning as they went for gold in the Olympic final of the women's pair.

Five days since the Games were officially opened, Glover and Stanning have the opportunity to deliver Great Britain their first gold medal of London 2012.

The home favourites will be the crew to beat, having dominated the boat class all summer with victories at all three World Cup regattas.

Glover and Stanning opened their campaign at Eton Dorney by winning their heat in an Olympic best time as they stormed into the final - and one race from history.

Britain have never before won an Olympic gold in women's rowing.

"We want to produce a really good race and, of course, we hope that comes off with us on top," Stanning said.

"It's going to be a fantastic day of racing and there are some great crews out there that we've got to race.

"If we produce our best race hopefully that's good enough to beat them."

Glover and Stanning's dominance this year was born out of the frustration of being beaten into silver by New Zealand at the 2011 world championships.

The margin of defeat at Bled, Slovenia was just eight hundredths of a second.

"It's been burning ever since. Sometimes if you don't win it gives you something extra," said GB Rowing performance director David Tanner.

"It will take someone very good indeed to beat them.

"They are absolutely capable of winning that gold medal. There's nothing at all to stop them doing that.

"Our objective in Beijing - and now - was to win our first women's Olympic gold medal.

"It would be huge. If they can do it, it would be fabulous and have a huge impact."

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