RICHARD STANHOPE, the elder statesman of British rowing, at the age of 35, remains on course to add a second medal to the silver he won at the 1980 Games in Moscow.

Stanhope, a member of the men's coxless four in Barcelona along with Salih Hassan, John Garrett and Gavin Stewart overcame the rigours of the repechage heat in Banyoles yesterday. The British four finished first in their heat ahead of the strong Canadian and French opposition to advance to today's semi-finals.

Tish Reid reached the final of the single sculls while the double scullers, Annabel Eyres and Alison Gill, progressed to the semi- final stage.

But four British crews ended their interest in the Games, including the coxed four of Pete Mulkerrins, Nick Burfitt, Terry Dillon, Simon Berrisford and John Deakin, who had been touted as medal contenders. Other departures were the men's quadruple sculls, the women's coxless four and the single sculler, Wade Hall-Craggs.

The spirit of the Games lives on, in rowing at least. Ali Riza Bilal, the sole Turkish oarsman in the Games, parted company with his boat on Monday during his heat of the single sculls and was later seen being fished out of ignominy by a rescue craft.

Yesterday his fellow competitors voted unanimously to have him reinstated for the repechage despite a regulation which says that a competitor must complete the course to earn the right to a second chance. He finished last, but at least he had finished. . .at last.