British rowing selects for Munich

Peter Reed and Andy Hodge was the fastest men’s pair followed by Alex Partridge and Steve Williams in second. This propelled them into head coach Jurgen Grobler’s priority crew, the men’s four, to compete at the first Rowing World Cup in Munich (25 – 27 May).

The four went unbeaten last season, with 13 consecutive wins and will go into 2006 as the favoured crew.

"The four and the eight, along with the men's single and double, will form the core of our national men's team this year", said Coach Grobler.

Racing in singles for selection, the women’s priority boat, the quadruple scull, who are also the reigning World Champions, saw 26 year old Debbie Flood join the crew. Flood won silver in the quad at Athens but ended up in the double for 2005. She will join Katherine Grainger, Sarah Winckless and Fran Houghton as they work towards this year’s World Rowing Championships.

Flood replaces Rebecca Romero who retired from rowing earlier this year to pursue a cycling career. 

Great Britain’s Performance Director, David Tanner said in the British rowing press release that this is just the start of a tough season.  "The lead crews are strong but we know we will face considerable opposition in both events as the long wind-up towards Beijing continues.”

Moving into the double is Anna Bebington and Annie Vernon, both graduates of the British talent identification programme. Bebington, 23, already has two under-23 medals and last year competed at the senior level in the women’s eight. Vernon, also 23, competed in the single at the 2005 World Rowing Championships.

The team will also include a men’s eight and second men’s four, yet to be finalised, except for the coxswain who will be The Boat Race’s winning cox for Oxford University, Acer Nathercott. This group of rowers will race at the Duisburg Regatta in Germany next weekend to decide on the final eight and four lineup.

Britain will also boat a men’s single. Alan Campbell finished first in the single at trials and thus moves into his desired event.

British rowing said a further announcement is expected soon for the lightweight men's crews and a lightweight women's double after further internal trials.

Crew List for Munich Rowing World Cup

Women Double scull
Annie Vernon /Anna Bebington

Quadruple scull
Debbie Flood /Sarah Winckless / Fran Houghton /Katherine Grainger

Men's Four
Steve Williams /Peter Reed / Alex Partridge /Andy Hodge

Men's eight and second men's four from:
Marcus Bateman
Jonno Devlin
Simon Fieldhouse
Toby Garbett
Matt Langridge
Hugo Lee
Nick Lloyd
Tom Parker
Tom Solesbury
Tom Stallard
Josh West
Kieran West
Cox Acer Nethercott

Single scull
Alan Campbell

Double scull
Matt Wells /Steve Rowbotham

Lightweight Women
Crews to be announced later

Men
Double scull
James Lindsay-Fynn /Tim Male