10:29am Monday 12th March 2012
By Stuart Amos
Molesey Boat Club skipper Andrew Triggs-Hodge and partner Peter Reed underlined their 'top-dog' status in Team GB men's rowing squad by winning the men’s pair at Sunday's senior trials finals.
GB Performance director David Tanner predicted the event would be the most competitive ever seen and that is how it turned out to be.
Triggs-Hodge and Reed pipped Alex Partridge and Alex Gregory to the crown, as they cemented their place as the country's leading pair.
Head coach Jurgen Grobler is yet to decide whether the dynamic duo will go in the men's coxless fours crew or in the men's pair.
But Reed was happy to put down an early marker for London 2012 squad selection.
"It’s nice to get the job done", said Reed.
"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 [Triggs-Hodge], he’s a massive strokeman."
Triggs-Hodge had been critical of British rowing efforts to publicise the trials in the wake of the hugely successful cycling and swimming test events and team trials at the Olympic park in recent weeks.
But he was impressed with the turn out at Lake Dorney over the weekend.
"It is a really nice atmosphere that shows rowing at its best,” he added.
“Knowing that people are supporting us is a big motivation for the training in the coming months, and it is a real source of pride, as an athlete, winning final trials.”
Richmond-based Alan Campbell won his eighth British senior single sculls trial and admitted the success would be important come the Olympic regatta.
"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 added.
"I’ve said it before and will repeat it now, 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."
And Tanner admitted there would be some tough decisions to make by the team the squad for the forthcoming World Cup and Olympic programme is announced in April.
"We’ve had some outstanding and very close racing. That tells us that the depth in the squad is really, really strong", said Tanner.
"We had a few of our top guns missing in the lightweight men’s squad but apart from that I think our rowers have shown that we can really step up for this Olympic season.
"Also, we’ve seen that the venue has delivered. We’ve had good weather and we’ve had a lot of British public here and that support has been exceptional.
"I think we have all got the feeling and the message now that the Olympic Games are close and we will and can step up to them and having our Olympic trials here finishing in the sunshine has been just the starter we needed for the 2012 season".
© Copyright 2001-2013 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.kingstonguardian.co.uk
http://www.kingstonguardian.co.uk/trade_directory/