Chiswick rowers win at GB trials

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West London rowers Pete Reed and Alan Campbell each won their events at the GB Rowing team’s selection trials for the eighth time – but have a month to wait before their crews for the Olympics are confirmed.

Chiswick-based Reed won in the pairs with regular partner Andy Triggs Hodge – captain of Molesey Boat Club.

Campbell, of Chiswick’s Tideway Scullers School, triumped in the single scull.

But men’s head coach Jurgen Grobler will wait until 4 April before announcing his line-ups for the 2012 season, which culminates with the Olympic regatta.

Reed and Hodge (pictured above) are expected to move back into the four, where they won Olympic gold in 2008, and Campbell is being considered for a move to the double scull, which could offer him a better shot at gold.

“It’s nice to get the job done,” said Reed after he and Triggs Hodge beat Alex Partridge and Alex Gregory by three seconds in the pairs final.

“It’s been a special win for me as it marks two Olympiads with wins at final trials and I’ve got to give big credit to Hodgey.”

Campbell beat Matt Wells by five seconds in the singles final, watched by an estimated crowd of 2000 at the Olympic venue Dorney Lake, near Windsor.

“It’s good to get the eighth win, and on the Olympic course. That makes it special, especially with the support on the banks and it gives me a good memory to store up of racing here,” he said.

“The British trials is one of the toughest events we do, racing against our team-mates but also against some of the best people in the world.”

In the women’s pair Jess Eddie, who rows for University of London, finished second with partner Louisa Reeve, behind world silver medallists Helen Glover and Heather Stanning.

Adam Freeman-Pask, from Putney-based Imperial College, was a surprise winner in the men’s lightweight singles event, which Olympic champions Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase both missed through illness.

Sophie Hosking and Imogen Walsh from Putney’s London Rowing Club, were second and third respectively in women’s lightweight singles, behind Kat Copeland.

Click here for the full results list from GB Rowing

 

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