The British lightweight men's double scull of Tim Male and Tom Middleton finished fifth in the B final of the world championships in Lucerne to place them 11th overall.

It was a disappointing end to the season for the crew which had shown much promise after trying hard to overcome Male's bad run of injury and illness over the past year.

After being selected for the Sydney Olympics with his previous partner Tom Kay, he broke a bone in his arm after a freak accident at the Great Britain training camp in Australia and missed the Games. He then contracted glandular fever.

The duo went from strength to strength after switching Middleton to the stroke seat before Vienna in June. They finished third overall in the World Cup.