Olympics day six

4:11am

Controversy at the track as the TMO (or cycling's equivalent) is called in to sort out some irregularity and disqualies the home team from the women's team sprint. The riders and coaches aren't happy, and the crowd makes its disgust known. Tough break for the British girls, who had been talking it up with their Aussie rivals heading into the Games. Interestingly, both teams have had to take a back seat so far to the unheralded Chinese team, which have set world records in their two rides tonight. (GC)

3:49am

Track cycling has officially begun in London and the first Kiwis in action are the men's sprint team. They were well beaten by Russia in their qualifying run, but their time of 44.175s was fast enough to qualify them seventh for the first round. The fastest two teams from there will ride off for the gold medal and the next two for bronze, so a lot of work to be done if a medal is to be won. (GC) 

3:45am 
Before our lads won gold overnight, Statistics New Zealand skewed some stats to make us feel better about ourselves. Our two bronze medals as of yesterday made us the third best country/capita at the Olympics . Well, thank goodness for that! We really needed that boost to our insignificant egos. English-born radio host Miles Davis, however, wasn't impressed. 

"Please, please, please NZ Media grow up and stop propagating this insecure bollocks. New Zealand is a magnificent country. It's people are generally caring, intelligent individuals (Mark Watson aside). New Zealanders are worthy individuals (Mark Watson aside). New Zealanders are worthy individuals and do not need approbation and constant ego boosting to make themselves feel better. Enjoy it when you a medal. Enjoy a gusty performance but please dont try and twist statistics to make you feel more legitimate. You are already." 

Unfortunately Statistics NZ only ranks the top 10 nation, so there was no information on where Great Britain was ranked. Sorry Miles. (CM) 

2:56am

If you thought Mark Todd's Olympic longevity was impressive, how about this dude? 71 year old Hiroshi Hoketsu has just competed in the dressage 48 years after his first games in Tokyo. When asked if he was going to have  another crack in Rio in four years time he said he wants to, but his horse will be too old! Classic! Interesting to note he also outscored New Zealand's Louisa Hill with his 68.73 to sit 17th after the first day. (ACR)

2:11am

Hill's score of 65.365 is better than just two other riders so far today - Moroccan Yassine Rahmoudi and our unfortunate friend from Canada - so she'll struggle to go further. There are still two more riders today and another 25 tomorrow, so we won't know until then. (GC)

2:01am

Kiwi Louisa Hill entering the dressage arena. Pretty confusing qualifying criteria for this event - the top seven teams go through to the next round, plus the best 11 individuals not already progressing in teams. Think I'll wait for the officials to sort that one out. (GC)

1:25am

Kiwi canoe slalom racer Luuka Jones has competed in her semi-final. She had the best score of 121.41 when she finished, however that was inevitable as she was the first one off. Since then four others have been and she now sits fifth. It looks as though she will be very lucky to make the final. (ACR)

1:22am

The Olympics are full of proud parents, none moreso than swimming sensation Ryan Lochte's Mum. Ike Lochte proudly told USA Today of her son's sexual promiscuity saying: "He goes out on one-night stands, he's not able to give fully to a relationship because he's always on the go." Stay classy Ike and Ryan! (ACR) 

1:04am

Over at Wimbledon, locals will be warmed by the news that Andy Murray is through to the semifinals after defeating Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 6-4 6-1. In contrast to the pressure on Murray during his run at the same venue last month, he is flying largely under the radar this time, as others bear the brunt of public expectation. He'll face either Serbian Novak Djokovic or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France. (GC)

12:57am

Congratulations to the Aussie Boomers for their first victory at London, defeating China 81-61. Quite a few Kiwi connections in this team - NZ Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis is an assistant for the Boomers, centre Aron Baynes was born in Gisborne and head coach Brett Brown began his coaching career in charge of an unsuccessful Auckland NBL team in the late 1980s. They need at least another win to make the quarterfinals, and probably need to beat both Great Britain and Russia if they're to avoid the United States in the next round. (GC)

12:52am

And then Canadian David Marcus is powerless as his horse, Capital, completely loses the plot in the arena and is eliminated. Now I'm kinda regretting the field-mouse crack :-/ (GC)  

12:38am

Right on queue, there's a torrential downpour at the dressage and competition continues. Makes you wonder again about that rain delay that robbed Andrew Nicholson of a medal in the eventing. Not that we're bitter or anything, (GC)

12:30am

A lull in proceedings - equestrian dressage just needs something to make it interesting (and I know I'm going to suffer for saying that). Maybe if someone released a pack of field mice in the arena? What is the collective noun for field mice anyway? (GC)

12:18am

Great story and especially the pic of Badley Wiggins celebrating his cycling gold medalyesterday. It's such a fine line between being drunk and disorderly, and letting your hair down to celebrate what has been an incredibly successful month for the Brit. I hope no-one deprives him that opportunity, but no doubt someone will take offence and make a fuss. Wowsers! (GC)

11:26pm 
The lads receive their gold medal and we get to hear God Defend New Zealand for the first time. A couple of patriotic souls are getting a bit emotional here in the newsroom. Really lovely to see, great stuff. (ACR) 

11:00pm

We have our first Kiwi gold! Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan win the double sculls! As they have throughout the regatta, the New Zealanders left their charge until late, in fourth position with 500 metres to go, they sprinted hard to overtake the second placed Italians in the dying moments of the race. (ACR)  

10:53pm

Conflicting information coming out of the NZ camp about the men's lightweight double sculls crew apparently missing their final, despite finishing second in their semifinal. Every other indication is that they're safely through, so stand by for a developing situation. By the way, Lauren Boyle through to the women's 800m freestyle final. (GC)

10:28pm 
Another New Zealand rowing final as Emma Twigg finishes third in her semi-final. Again it was a Dane who crossed the line first with the Chinese sculler and Twigg not too far behind. Twigg made a bit of a push to win at the end, but really left it too late and will be pleased to have advanced safely to the medal race. 

9:56pm 
Some better news for New Zealand as the Lightweight double scullers advance to the finals after finishing second. Denmark were comfortable winners, but the New Zealand and German crews were well ahead of the rest of the field, not wasting too much energy as they went through? 

9:38pm 
Another missed final for New Zealand as double scullers Louise Ayling and Julia Edward finish way off the pace in fifth in their semi-final. The lightweight double of Storm Uru and Peter Taylor are nect to go in their semi-final for New Zealand. 

9:32pm

The first New Zealand rowing crew to go today, the men's four, have missed out on the final after finishing fourth in their semi-final. 

9:19pm 
Hot tip from ONE News' Craig Stanaway at Eton Dorney. He reckons the wind is blowing a bit and that the New Zealand double are in a good position to take advantage. Get on them for gold! 

9:05pm 
It's a bit of a later start for our Kiwis tonight, so while you're waiting, why not check out what some of the athletes have been up to outside their events with our behind the scenes photogallery. 
8:30pm 
A New Zealand cyclist took off on Twitter during last night's time trial after realising he shares a name with the protagonist in American spy drama 24 . Here are some of the better tweets on Jack Bauer from last night.

 :JACK BAUER is in the Olympics time trials?! I heard there were terrorist threats, but isn't that a tad extreme?" (@stuartsharpe)

"Wiggo is on the road. Repeat. WIGGO IS ON THE ROAD. Patch his co-ordinates & schematics through to my PDA, Chloe. DAMMIT!" - Jack Bauer, NZ" (@michaelhogan)

"It will take Jack Bauer less that 24 hours to complete this time trial. Watch his progress & of Bradley Wiggins LIVE" (@BBCSport) 

7:30pm

Another New Zealand medal chance at Eton Dorney today when Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan take to the water in the double sculls final. They've made a habit of giving me a fright in the early races as they hang back for the first 1500m before making an almighty push to win over the final quarter of the race. Let's hope they can do it again today.

There's also a raft of other New Zealand crews in action in semi-finals before Cohen and Sullivan at 10:50pm our time.

Also of note over night is the start of the track cycling programme where the men's sprint team will push for a medal and the men's pursuiters have their qualifying ride. The Black Sticks also face their toughest test so far when they take on Argentina where a win could virtually seal their semi-final spot.

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