WORCESTER oarsman Matthew Beechey is closing in on selection for Great Britain in the forthcoming World Cup regattas.

The Leander Rowing Club member, partnered by Steve Lee, finished second in the lightweight coxless pairs at the British international trials held in in Hazewinkel, Belgium.

The pair finished less than a second behind the winners and ahead of last year's world silver medallists Nick Strange and Peter Haining, who could only manage fourth.

The squad for the first World Cup regatta, at Princeton in the United States, will be named next week and Beechey and Lee are strong candidates to make the grade.