GB Rowing Team disperse to clubs in lead-up to Fours Head

The GB Rowing Team squads disperse back to their clubs this week to train in the lead-up to the Fours Head race which will see Londoner and Olympic gold medallist Mark Hunter return to competitive racing for the first time since winning the lightweight men’s double scull with Zac Purchase at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Two other Olympic gold medallists, meanwhile, Andrew Triggs Hodge and Tom James, took some time out of a busy schedule to work with the sport of rugby. Both were on hand to give rowing tips to the lads from Oxford and Cambridge who will be competing in this year’s Nomura Varsity Match next month, 10 December, at Twickenham.

Hodge roared on Oxford in the ensuing ergo challenge whilst James was on hand to back the light blues of Cambridge.

“It was great fun,” said Oxford captain Dan Rosen “and really interesting to get proper coaching from the experts as usually our experience on the ergos is short and sharp rather than 500m that we did today.”

Tom James was impressed with his three pupils: “They did really well. They were very controlled and rowed very consistently. It is very easy to go off too hard and then fade but they all pulled good scores and look really fit. The fact that they won made my day – it’s always nice to beat Oxford and also get one over on Hodge.”

Andy Hodge was equally happy with his team: “They have a great team spirit – both rowing and rugby need that – and it was good to see the guys work together and push each other on. They are built for rugby and to do what they did today was impressive.”

Cambridge was represented by Sandy Reid, Predee Anavatnujotikul and James Greenwood.

Oxford was represented by Ian Kench, Ricky Lutton and Dan Rosen.