FORMER Upton rowing club star Zac Purchase struck gold on Saturday as he married his long-term girlfriend Fliss Hill at St Paul’s Cathedral.

The rower, who clinched second place in the lightweight men’s double sculls with teammate Mark Hunter at the London Olympics, and Miss Hill tied the knot at a ceremony in the Chapel of the Order of the British Empire.

The couple, both 26, met at King’s School, Worcester, and were joined by about 150 guests, including friends, family and Olympic rowing colleagues including Hunter.

During the ceremony, the congregation sang I Vow To Thee My Country, Be Thou My Vision and Jerusalem.

Speaking after the ceremony, Canon Mark Oakley, who presided over the wedding, said: “It was a very beautiful wedding.

It was full of family and friends and some rowing colleagues.

“I thought today, actually, Zac Purchase won his gold medal. He looked a very happy man and she looked radiant.”