Rowing: Edward and MacKenzie win back-to-back world titles

New Zealand's Sophie Mackenzie and Julia Edward, center, celebrate on the podium after winning the Women's lightweight double sculls during the World Rowing Championships, ahead of Great Britain's Cha

Rotorua's Julia Edward and rowing partner Sophie MacKenzie won gold at the World Rowing Championships in France overnight.

Edward and MacKenzie went into the A final of the women's lightweight double scull event as the crew to beat late last night (NZT). They easily won their semifinal on Thursday and were looking to defend their world title which they won last year at the world champs.

Edward and MacKenzie produced an outstanding race in the A final pushing into the lead in the third quarter of the race before storming home to take the win in a time of 6:53.01 minutes. Great Britain were about a second back in second and South Africa finished third.

Edward was delighted after the race.

"We're so stoked, we're double world champions now, we're very very excited - our smiles say it all. I had full confidence in Sophie going through halfway we were all pretty level but I was very confident in our last 500 metres.

"We talked about it before the race and Sophie really ramped us up and she got us going. I think it showed in the race, we took length after length so we're really rapt."

The pair were clearly elated, although exhausted, after the race.

While it is still a year away, Edward and MacKenzie are now clear favourites to win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, in the women's lightweight double scull event.

The formidable pairing of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray also won a gold medal for New Zealand overnight in France.