British Team Trials Complete Third Round

Winter in Boston, Lincolnshire, turned on low temperatures and strong tail-winds for nearly 300 athletes competing in the third of four trials to make the British Olympic team.

Weather conditions cut the time trial distance of 5000 metres in half for the race that has been attracting the most attention in Britain – the men’s pair. Former World Champions Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell led the way finishing seven seconds ahead of Steve Williams and Toby Garbett in second. Behind them Josh West and Rick Dunn finished in third. West and Dunn, along with Williams and Garbett, made up the 2003 silver medal winning four.

In the women’s single Frances Houghton looks to be back on form winning the time trial over Debbie Flood and Rebecca Romero who together finished fourth last year in the double. Matt Wells and Ian Lawson raced to a fifth placed finish in last year’s double and at the Boston trials took out the top two spots in the men’s single, followed by Pete Gardner.

The 2003 women’s lightweight double combination split into singles to win the two top spots with Tracy Langlands finishing ahead of Helen Casey by four seconds. Jo Hammond finished back in third.

Rod Chisholm won the lightweight men’s single while the lightweight men’s pair saw a close finish between first and second. Tim Male and Nick English edged out Ben Webb and Mark Hunter for first place by one second.

The top crews will continue their preparation in warmer climates with a training camp in Spain for the next two weeks. Initial Olympic line-ups will be made after the final trials in April at Hazewinkel in Belgium.