Hodge wins winter assessment trials

Olympic men’s four gold medallist Andy Triggs Hodge won the GB winter assessment 5km trial at Boston, Lincolnshire, today in a time of 18:15.14.

Triggs-Hodge was five hundredths of a second ahead of Devon’s Marcus Bateman who missed out on Olympic selection earlier year. Bateman nudged Alan Campbell, the specialist single sculler whose performance in Beijing was hampered by a severe pre-Games infection, into third place.

James Clarke, of London RC, was fifth.  He was part of GB’s world champion lightweight men’s four in 2007 but competed today in the open weight class.

The women’s title was taken by Gloucester’s Beth Rodford in a time of 20.05.36.  Rodford was part of GB Rowing’s women’s eight at the Beijing Games. Rising star Olivia Whitlam was second in 20.09.55 whilst Tina Stiller and Alice Freeman were third and fourth respectively.

Only just under four seconds separated Olympic reserve, Rob Williams, from lightweight men’s single scull trial winner Paul Mattick of Wallingford. Reading University’s John Preston was an impressive third. He will be part of GB’s Australian Youth Olympic Festival line-up in January.

Sophie Hosking won the equivalent women’s single ahead of teacher Hester Goodsell with Andrea Dennis in third.  

For full results see: http://www.bostonrowingmarathon.org.uk/Trials.htm