GB Rowing News : 2008

Tanner receives New Year's CBE

static_news — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:21:53 +0000

GB Rowing's Performance Director, David Tanner, has been made a CBE in the New Year's Honours list, following a year in which Great Britain achieved the nation's best Olympic medal results in rowing for 100 years topping rowing's medal tables at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Rowers Honoured

static_news — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:17:48 +0000

Hunter (left) and Purchase were given MBEs: Peter Spurrier

Great Britain's six 2008 Olympic rowing gold medallists have been honoured in the New Year's Honours List.

Steve Williams, already a gold medallist in the men's four in 2004 and made an MBE four years ago, now receives an OBE after winning gold again in Beijing in the same boat category.

Andrew Triggs-Hodge, Pete Reed and Tom James, who completed the men's four line-up with Williams, all receive MBEs.

Hodge wins winter assessment trials

static_news — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:39:31 +0000

Olympic men's four gold medallist Andy Triggs Hodge won the GB winter assessment 5km trial at Boston, Lincolnshire, today in a time of 18:15.14.

Triggs-Hodge was five hundredths of a second ahead of Devon's Marcus Bateman who missed out on Olympic selection earlier year. Bateman nudged Alan Campbell, the specialist single sculler whose performance in Beijing was hampered by a severe pre-Games infection, into third place.

GB Rowing Senior & U23 Trials

JoBates — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:15:16 +0000

To view the results for each division please click on the relevant link below.

Katherine Grainger to continue competing at the highest level from 2009 onwards

sarahhope — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:33:30 +0000

Three times Olympic rowing medallist and reigning world champion Katherine Grainger talked today of the passion and excitement she feels for her sport and which helped her reach a decision to continue competing at the highest level from 2009 onwards.

Immediately after her final in Beijing - in which she won silver in the women's quadruple scull with Fran Houghton, Debbie Flood and Annie Vernon - the 33 year-old Scot, said she "probably knew that it wouldn't be the last time I raced".

However Grainger wanted time and distance to consider her final decision before banishing any thought of imminent retirement.

Grainger took up rowing at Edinburgh University in 1993 and has already enjoyed a remarkable rowing career. She was part of the women's quadruple scull at Sydney 2000 which took Britain's first women's rowing Olympic medal of all-time and she won silver once more in Athens in a women's pair with Cath Bishop in 2004.

She has an unbroken record as a world champion since 2003, having made her international senior debut in 1997 a year in which she soon won a seat in the women's eight which broke new ground by winning bronze at the senior world championships - the first medal for a GB women's eight at this level.

Grainger admits that the decision to continue was ultimately "difficult" despite her initial thoughts in Beijing. "I have spoken to various important people in my life and in sport about this decision and the effect it will have on my whole life. I had to feel that I could improve and continue with enjoyment.

"I still have the same enjoyment and passion but I will also be looking to create a more balanced life. I feel excited about this continuing yet, in some ways, new challenge".

Since 2005 Grainger has been part of the Camelot-sponsored women's quadruple scull. However, with Fran Houghton and Debbie Flood currently taking a break from the sport and Annie Vernon undecided about her future, it looks as if Grainger's new challenge in the shorter term may include a completely new boat and crew.

"It is great that Katherine has decided to continue in Rowing", said GB Performance Director, David Tanner today. "She is our leading female rower and I am confident that she can both deliver for herself and be an inspiration to less experienced athletes on the Olympic pathway."

Meanwhile Grainger, who was made an MBE for services to sport in 2006, was also invited to become a Henley Royal Regatta Steward earlier this week.

Youth Olympic names announced

static_news — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:12:50 +0000

The GB rowers who are set to take part in the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival from January 13 - 18 have been announced by the British Olympic Association.

1,600 athletes from 25 nations will take part in the festival, which is organised biennially in Sydney by the Australian Olympic Committee under IOC patronage. The event uses many of the 2000 Olympic Games venues and is designed as a legacy from those Games.

Germany, France, Canada, the USA, China, Greece, Hungary and New Zealand are amongst the other strong rowing nations likely to take part.

Men's four receive Sports Journalists' President's Award from Sir Michael Parkinson

static_news — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:31:13 +0000

The men's four celebrate Beijing gold: Peter Spurrier Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Steve Williams and Tom James, all members of the Great Britain gold medal-winning men's four at the 2008 Olympic Games, were the recipients of the Sports Journalist Association's President's Award.

The Camelot-sponsored quartet, represented at the Awards Ceremony by Reed and James, were presented with their Award by SJA President Sir Michael Parkinson.

Reed to Continue to London 2012

agroves — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:15:00 +0000

2008 Olympic gold medallist Peter Reed today became the first member of Britain's gold medal-winning four to announce publicly that he will continue in the sport towards the Olympic Games of London 2012.

27 year old Reed, who is a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, said that he will continue to row for another four years with the aim of going for gold again.

"I am absolutely delighted that the Royal Navy have agreed to continue to support me as an athlete for another four years in the run up to the Olympics in London 2012," said Reed, who was a member of the British men's four alongside Andy Triggs-Hodge, Steve Williams and Tom James that won gold at the Beijing Olympics.

"I am certain that without them, I would not be an Olympic Champion and I am sure their training, help, guidance will be instrumental when it comes to aiming for gold again on home water."

2nd Sea Lord for the Royal Navy said: "It gives the Royal Navy great pleasure to be able to continue our support of Peter. We will provide every assistance we can to help him go for gold in 2012."

Chief Coach for the men's squad Jurgen Grobler said: "I am very pleased that Peter has made this decision, and that the Navy has agreed to support him. I am sure that Peter has not yet reached his top performance and that there is more to come from him. Hopefully this will come in London in four years time."

GB rowers help launch Stroke for Stroke week

static_news — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:12:59 +0000

Olympic silver medallist Matt Langridge and Olympic bronze medallist Elise Laverick were in London today to help launch Stroke for Stroke Week, a partnership between The Stroke Association and Siemens, the High Performance partner of GB Rowing.

GB Rowing Senior & U23 Trials, Boston

JoBates — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:53:29 +0000

To see the results from today's GB Rowing Senior & U23 Trial in Boston please click on the attachments below.

For those wishing to view the BUCS Small Boats Head Results, please visit the BUCS website; www.bucs.org.uk