Boston Trials Round-Up
19th December 2011It was frozen, it rained and then the wind picked up its pace but the GB Rowing Team Winter Assessment went ahead in Boston, Lincolnshire, today pitting Britain's top rowers against the elements and the clock on a 5km course.
"Yes it's tough but it's also a good thing to do and it's feels like the start of the Olympic campaign. The time trial's not my favourite form of racing, it's a bit processional but it had to be done", said Alan Campbell, winner of the men's single from Tom Solesbury in a time of 18.15.97.
Anna Watkins won the equivalent women's event in 19.45.55, beating her world champion crew-mate and three-times Olympic silver medallist Katherine Grainger who finished third in 19.53.70. Gloucester's Beth Rodford produced a strong performance to take second behind Watkins in 19:48.96.
Watkins was delighted with her win but like all the established squad rowers was mindful of the ability of others to spring a surprise.
"That's what's good about this event. Anyone who has met the criteria can turn up and race and there may be some people here today who we weren't aware of before but that we will have to watch more closely in the future".
Grainger meanwhile, was not enthusiastic about her own efforts in today's gruelling test. "It was ok but I can't say I'm totally pleased".
"This is the last Open trial of the season", explained Andy Triggs Hodge winner of the men's pair with Alex Partridge in 17:03.41. "Anyone who wants to lay a claim to getting into the squad gets a chance to come here and take on the squad rowers. It's a great sport to be in right now because we have so many good rowers coming through".
Olympic champion Hodge rowed in a scratch pairing today with world and Olympic eights silver medallist Partridge whilst his normal partner, Pete Reed, is recovering from the winter virus that ruled out a number of top rowers from today's trial.
He underlined the confidence but not arrogance felt by the whole GB Rowing Team as 2012 rapidly approaches. "This is a great squad to be in. We have so many good rowers all challenging hard for their seats in the squad. You know that you have to put in a good show here or someone else will do it and may take your seat.
"We have more testing in January, February and then the GB Rowing Senior Trials in March so we won't know for some time yet which boat we will be in next year. Everyone is fighting hard and wants to be the best they can be in the Olympic year".
Moe Sbihi and Alex Gregory - both strong contenders for top seats in the men's squad were second today whilst World U23 champions Constantine Louloudis and George Nash laid down a marker by taking third slot ahead ahead of Greg Searle and Cameron Nichol.
Not renowned for their prowess over the longer distance rather than the 2km Olympic distance, 2011 men's four World Champions Matt Langridge and Richard Egington were fifth.
"We know this is not our strength", said Langridge afterwards. "But it's important to be here and to be in the mix over the longer distance. That will stand us in good stead for when we get to side by side, 2km racing".
Richard Chambers held off his younger brother Peter to win the lightweight men's single scull contest at the GBR Team in 18.20.64 - with the younger sibling just under three tenths of a second behind. Rob Williams came home third with Olympic lightweight men's double sculler Mark Hunter in fourth.
Sophie Hosking won the lightweight women's single event in 19:51.73 followed by world U23 gold medallist Kat Copeland in 19:58.36 with Imogen Walsh third.
"I quite like coming here I quite enjoy it. I think it's all about the bare bones of rowing. It's about getting back to basics and taking away the glamour of the summer and just racing hard", said Hosking.
"It does bring up different challenges, the weather the coldness but you've just got to get on with it", she said.
After Boston, the next milestone will be the GB Rowing Team Senior Trials on the Olympic course at Eton-Dorney in March (10-11).