Grainger Wins Women’s Trial

Twice Olympic silver medallist and twice world champion Katherine Grainger proved today why she is one of the world’s top competitors when she won the women’s single scull GB Winter Assessment Trials over the 5km course in Boston, Lincolnshire,  ahead of several Olympic medallist team-mates.

She came home in a time of 19:34.09, five seconds ahead of her world champion crew-mate Frances Houghton.  Debbie Flood, Olympic bronze medallist in 2004 was third and Annie Vernon, an emerging young talent, impressed in fourth place.

Tom Stallard and Josh West, both of Leander Club and both former Cambridge Blues, won the men’s pair trial.  Kieran West, 2000 Olympic gold medallist and Tom James, stroke to the GB eight at the 2004 Athens Olympics, were second whilst the Oxford University pairing of Tom Parker and Colin Smith were third.

Andy Hodge, the only member of the Camelot-sponsored world champion four to compete today was third in the single scull in a time trial won by Ian Lawson who has come back into form over this winter. Stephen Rowbotham, from last year’s men’s quadruple scull, was fourth.

Mark Hunter, Leander club captain, won the lightweight men’s single scull trial.  World lightweight single scull silver medallist, Zac Purchase, was second with Tim Male in third.

Hester Goodsell, of Rob Roy Club, won the women’s lightweights single scull trial with Olympian Helen Casey in second.