Grainger back on form at rowing trials

This is the first trial that Grainger has participated in this season and she impressed rowing aficionados by winning her eighth career title in the women’s single.

Grainger announced late last year that she would continue rowing through to the 2012 London Olympics, but after Beijing she took a well-deserved break, resuming training at the start of this year.

The trials, which are used to help decide the British rowing team for the first Rowing World Cup (Banyoles, Spain, 29 – 31 May), were raced over the 2000m distance in either singles or pairs at the Hazewinkel rowing venue in Belgium.

Grainger stated in the GB Rowing News press release: "It's been a tough three months but I've worked really well with my coach, Paul Thompson, to get it right.” Grainger finished easily ahead of Olympic bronze medallist (women’s double) Anna Bebington with Grainger’s Olympic teammate Annie Vernon in third.

Alan Campbell remained the leader of the men’s single but he was challenged throughout the race by Olympic medallist (men’s double) Matt Wells. Just a second separated the two scullers at the line. Ian Lawson finished third and Olympic gold medallist from the men’s four Andy Triggs Hodge was fourth.

Peter Reed was again at the top of the men’s pair race. Reed was part of the Olympic Champion men’s four and with Alex Gregory (instead of usual partner Triggs Hodge), Reed made it his fifth win in a row. Alex Partridge and Rick Egington were second.

A huge closing sprint by Rob Williams in the lightweight men’s single earned him first over Paul Mattick and Richard Chambers. Williams raced last year in his country’s lightweight quad while Mattick and Chambers were part of the Olympic lightweight four.

Sophie Hosking again won the lightweight women’s single. Hosking, 23, has won all three trials this season and it could mean a step up for her from the lightweight quad to the Olympic event, the lightweight double. Hester Goodsel and Andrea Dennis were second and third respectively.

The British team for the first Rowing World Cup will be announced at the end of April.