Grainger challenged at GB Trials

The trials, held over the weekend on the 2012 Olympic regatta course at Eton-Dorney, saw Watkins win the women’s single race over the 2000m distance with Grainger coming in second ahead of Beth Rodford and Katie Solesbury.

Grainger and Watkins raced together in 2010 in the double sculls winning every race they entered internationally. They were subsequently named 2010 World Rowing Female Crew of the Year. This one – two finish at trials for the duo makes it increasingly probable that Watkins and Grainger will remain together this season with the final trials to pick this season’s boats being held in April.

Watkins told GB Rowing Team News: "Sitting behind Katherine in the boat last year taught me a lot. I felt today that even if I could be in touch at halfway, then I would have a chance.” Watkins downplayed her win, “We've only just come back from training camp and haven't done many race pace sessions. So I haven't beaten Katherine at her best."

For the men’s single it was business as usual with Alan Campbell, the 2010 silver medallist in the single, winning by two seconds over Matthew Wells (second in men’s double sculls in 2010) with Sam Townsend (fifth in the men’s quadruple sculls in 2010) coming in third.

As expected Andrew Triggs Hodge and Pete Reed won the men’s pair. Hodge and Reed finished in 6:35 ahead of Alex Gregory and Alex Partridge who were three seconds back with Ric Egington and Matt Langridge in third.

Comeback phenomenon, Greg Searle was second in the B-final with partner Tom Broadway. Searle and Broadway were both in the silver medal men’s eight at last year’s World Rowing Championships.

The B-final of the men’s single was full of top lightweight rowers with Adam Freeman-Pask just ahead of brothers, Peter and Richard Chambers who finished in second and third respectively. Younger brother, Peter, 20, was sixth last year in the lightweight men’s single while the more experienced Richard, 25, was in the winning lightweight men’s four in 2010.

The two-day trial was compressed into one day due to the weather with a top 12 time trial being conducted. Last year’s World Champions from the women’s quadruple sculls, Debbie Flood and Annie Vernon missed out on a top 12 finish and thus did not advance.

Final selection for the 2011 British team will return to Eton-Dorney on 16 – 17 April, 2011.