Molesey Boat Club's James Foad admitted world and Olympic champions Eric Murray and Hamish Bond were the class act in the men's pairs event at the World Championships this weekend.

Foad and crew mate Matt Langridge were close to seven seconds adrift of the dominant New Zealand boat as they claimed silver on Lake Aiguebelette in France on Saturday.

The 28-year-old, who won London 2012 bronze in the men's eight, had hoped it would have been a more keenly contested race.

"I’ve now got four silver medals," he said.

"I am not here for silver any more, I wanted to win. 

"I thought it would be a lot closer.  They are a class act."

Fellow Molesey men Moe Sbihi and George Nash helped the men's eight crew to an historic third successive world gold on Sunday.

In a lung-bursting final 500m they pipped Germany to the title, their season-long rivals, by just 0.2 seconds to take the title in five minutes 36.18 seconds.

“It’s the first time in a while that I had my doubts before a race," said Pete Reed.

“The data from the heats showed that it was so, so close.  I am speechless.  That was tough. It felt like a full-out sprint." 

Twickenham's John Collins and partner Jonny Walton finished second in the men's double sculls B final to qualify a boat for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. 

“It was a text-book race. We finished the Championships with the perfect race that was well-executed and we did the job we had to do," said Collins.

Richmond-based single sculler Alan Campbell, a bronze medalist at the 2012 Games, finished second in his B final to also qualify a boat for the Rio Games.

“Before I came here the job was to qualify the boat for Rio," he said.

"I felt in the right place in the B final and accept that’s where my level was for this regatta. 

"I am disappointed not to have been where I wanted to be, but the event has moved on. 

"I’m sculling well, but just not racing as I’d like."

Team GB collected five golds, nine silvers, and a bronze in France this weekend compared to four golds, four silvers and two bronzes in Amsterdam a year ago.

It was enough to top the 2015 medal with New Zealand second and Germany third.