Kent rowers Dan Ritchie and Tom Ransley helped Great Britain men’s eight secure a superb gold medal at the World Cup race at Eton Dorney on Sunday.

It was a happy return to a packed Dorney lake for Ransley, from Ashford, who claimed a bronze medal in the London 2012 eight race, while for Herne Bay ARC star Ritchie, from Herne Bay, it was a particularly meaningful success after he missed out on the Olympics due to injury.

The pair joined Olympic men’s four champions Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed and Alex Gregory, Will Satch, Mohamed Sbihi and cox Phelan Hill who are all Olympic or World medallists, and Oliver Cook in the boat.

They were a disappointing third in the preliminary race behind Poland and France on friday but turned the tables on their rivals to win the final in a nailbiting finish in a time of 5.25.93, less than half a second ahead of Poland with the French three seconds back in third.

The second GB boat was just out of the medals in fourth.

Ritchie won silver at both the 2010 and 2011 World championships but knee and achilles injuries ruled him out of contention in the build-up to London.

The duo also formed part of the eight which won gold at the Sydney World Cup regatta earlier this year and now GB lead the overall standings by 10 points, with Poland and the USA joint-second with six points.