BRITAIN’S archers hit the headlines pre-London 2012 for adopting a rather unusual training method - and Heather Stanning has revealed one of her own ahead of the women’s pair final.

The Larkhill Army Captain and partner Helen Glover were the overwhelming favourites for Olympic gold before even taking to Eton Dorney on Saturday and, after their opening race, that expectation has doubled.

For Stanning and Glover set an Olympic record in Britain’s first race of the regatta, a performance that ensured victory in the first of two heats, and automatic progression to the final.

Three other pairs also qualified directly from the heats to the final with the remaining six crews forced to battle it out for two places in today’s medal showdown on Monday. Stanning and Glover admitted the crowd for their heat was the biggest they have ever raced in front of and naturally it is only going to get bigger when they bid for gold – not that they will be affected.

While Britain’s archers invited schoolchildren to their training base at Lilleshall and told them to be as loud as possible in order to replicate London’s Olympic crowds, they had their own method.

The Brits had members of their backroom staff making noise, including their coach shouting through a megaphone, during training and Stanning is adamant it will prove beneficial today.

“We discussed the race from the other days and it was a solid performance. We were controlled in our boat and the final is the one for us,” said Stanning, who should she win gold with Glover will become Britain’s first ever female Olympic rowing champions.

“It was the biggest crowd we’ve ever seen and it was a fantastic lovely atmosphere. We were very much in our own boat and we enjoyed the noise.

“But we made sure we stuck to our race plan and did not get distracted by the noise. We had trained with our coach shouting through a megaphone and all the staff making noises around us.

“Our coach Robin Williams is a pretty inspiring guy and he knows the direction that he wants us to head.”

After a heat basked in sunshine, the weather has turned in London but Stanning’s insists as long as there is a tailwind at Eton Dorney Lake she isn’t bothered what else the heavens bring.

“There was a bit of a tailwind during our heat and if it could stay as a tailwind it would be fantastic,” she added. “Regardless though, we will bring out everything in the final.”

Meanwhile, Swindon-born Steve Rowbotham and the men’s quadruple scull crew will hope to progress to the final this morning.

Team GB eased through in the first round after coming second to Germany in heat three, but are likely to find the going tougher in this morning’s semis.

Rowbotham, who grew up in Cirencester until the age of 14 and attended Cirencester Deer Park School, is competing alongside Matt Wells, Tom Solesbury, Charles Cousins in London.

The crew will attempt to qualify for the Eton Dorney showpiece at between 10.40-11pm, when the other semi will also take place.

Elsewhere, Great Britain boss Stuart Pearce, who lives in Shalbourne near Marlborough, leads GB out for their final group game against Uruguay tonight.

Fencer Sophie Williams, from Winsley near Bradford on Avon, goes in the women’s sabre competition today.