Houghton amongst late withdrawals

March 8, 2008

Triple world champion Frances Houghton is amongst a late flurry of rowers who have been forced by illness out of this weekend’s GB Rowing Senior Trials in Hazewinkel, Belgium, where racing has been advanced by a day because of predicted bad weather.

James Lindsay-Fynn, world champion in the lightweight men’s four, and Josh West, a world bronze medallist in last year’s men’s eight, will also be absent through illness. As will former world U23 lightweight women’s single scull champion Hester Goodsell. West’s place with Alastair Heathcote in the men’s pair race – the one to watch this weekend – will now be taken by Toby Garbett who has moved across from the men’s single scull contest.

Andy Hodge and Peter Reed remain favourites to win the event but could face a close contest from several other pairs.

Meanwhile the trials’ organisers are keeping a close eye on weather patterns. The provisional timetable (times given are one hour ahead of the UK) for the event will now be to race time-trials this afternoon (between 3.30 and 4.30pm) followed by semi-finals tomorrow morning (between 9.30 and 11.50am) and finals tomorrow afternoon (between 4.00 and 6.00pm).

"All times are subject to change", said GB Rowing’s Performance Director at today’s race briefing. "We will keep an eye on conditions and keep our options open".

GB’s adaptive rowers (those seeking to compete at this year’s Paralympic Games in Beijing) are also in action this weekend with internal trials.

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ENTRY LIST

OPEN

WOMEN

Pair (5 pairs)

Alice Freeman (Wallingford RC)/Carla Ashford (Ox Brookes)
Baz Moffat (Thames RC)/Louisa Reeve (Leander Club)
Rachel Loveridge (Leander Club)/Jo Cook (Leander Club)
Vicky Myers (Leander Club)/Emma Windham (Leander Club)
Lindsay Maguire (Wallingford RC)/Briony Cavell (Wallingford RC)

Single scull (14)

Vicky Etiebet (Uni of London)
Debbie Flood (Leander Club)
Katherine Grainger (St Andrew BC)
Elise Laverick (Thames RC)
Beth Rodford (Thames RC)
Louisa Rowbotham (Leander Club)
Florence Temple (Thames RC)
Annie Vernon (Marlow)
Sarah Winckless (Walbrook CC)
Olivia Whitlam (Agecroft RC)
Sarah Cowburn (Worcester RC)
Atlanta St John (Wallingford RC)
Tina Stiller (Wallingford RC)
Ruth Walczak (Uni or London BC)