AS thunderstorms struck Beijing, Stockton-on-Tees light-welterweight Bradley Saunders got his bid for Olympic glory off to a lightening start by knocking out Samuel Kotey Neequaye after just 84 seconds. In a controversial contest, Neequaye complained about what he felt were a couple of low blows during the 64kg contest. But Saunders progressed to Thursday's round of 16 in confident mood.
In an excellent day for North-East competitors, swimmer Jemma Lowe reached the final of the women's 100 metres butterfly after equaling the British record in her heat.
The 18-year-old from Hartlepool, the youngest member of Britain's swimming squad, recorded a time of 57.78 to qualify for Monday morning's final in sixth place with Australia's Libby Trickett the fastest qualifier ahead of American Christine Magnuson.
Northallerton-born Joanne Jackson continued the regions' swimming success by qualifying for the 400 metres freestyle final.
South Shields' Chris Cook failed to qualify for the final of the men's 100 breastroke final in what was a hugely competitive event.
North East rowers Jess Eddie And Carla Ashford will have to wait until tomorrow to compete in the Women's Eights rowing as heavy rain saw their heats postponed.
HOW DID THE LEADING BRITISH LIGHTS FARE?
BRITAIN claimed their first gold medal the Beijing Olympics when cyclist Nicole Cooke won the women's road race in a thrilling sprint finish.
The Welsh 25-year-old sprinted to the front of a pack of five cyclists in the final 200m, and held off Emma Johansson and Tatiana Guderzo to claim Britain's first medal of the Games.
Cooke clocked a time of three hours, 32 minutes and 24 seconds to become Britain's first Olympic medalist in the road race event.
In Rowing, the first heat of the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls, saw Britain's Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter quickly open up a clear lead over Greece and cross the line for a one length win. Their time of 6:13:69 broke the Olympic record previously held by France.
Britain's women archers missed out on a bronze medal in Beijing by a whisker after losing narrowly to France in the team competition.
Alison Williamson, Charlotte Burgess and Naomi Folkard lost 202-201 after a long delay caused by a thunderstorm to finish fourth.
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