FISA TEAM CUP

Seville, Spain

16-17 February 2008

Reports by Leander Press officer Robert Treharne Jones

Scroll down for athletes and results summary

17 February: The British contingent in Seville repeated their Saturday sucess over a shortened 500 sprint course when the eight, four, pair and single all took first place ahead of the international opposition.

The all-Leander GB men's four made it two-in-a-row when they beat two Spanish crews to the line in just 1:24.19 and the men's eight, featuring Tom Lucy and Cameron Nichol as replacements for Toby Garbett and Marcus Bateman, beat two more crews from the host nation in a time of 1:21.38.

Peter Reed and Andy Hodge pipped a Spanish crew to the post in the men's pair in a time of 1:29.86. In the single sculls Alan Campbell won ahead of second-placed Belgian Tim Maeyens while Dutchman Sjoerd Hamburger tied for third place with Valentinos Sofokleous of Cyprus.

16 February: Leander athletes helped British crews to four wins in Seville today despite a reshuffle caused by illness.

Matt Langridge and Rick Egington joined Alex Partridge and Steve Williams in the crew which took a seven second verdict over Spain in the men's fours. Peter Reed and Andy Hodge were back in the pair in which they have won the last three national GB trials, and took victory ahead of Ireland and Spain in 3:23.46 whilst the GB men's eight came home ahead of two Spanish crews in 2:57.57. Britain's fourth win came in the single sculls where Alan Campbell beat former Under-23 world champion Sjoerd Hamburger in a time of 3:32.86.

Colin Smith and Stephen Rowbotham formed a hastily assembled combination for the men's double sculls and came third behind Greece and Belgium.

15 February: Leander athletes make up more than half the GB contingent in Seville this weekend where the Andalucian capital hosts its traditional two-day international event on the Guadalquivir River, the setting for the 2002 World Championships.

The FISA Team Cup is the climax of yet another two-week training camp for the British heavyweight men, who have entered seven crews for each day's racing, over 1000m on Saturday, followed by a 500m sprint the following day.

Perhaps offering some glimpse into his final selection for the Olympic boat chief coach Jurgen Grobler has entered two coxless fours on each day in Seville. None of the crews entered is the same as the former world champion line-up which came a disappointing fourth last year in Munich.

Instead Rick Egington joins Andy Hodge, Alex Partridge and Peter Reed on the opening day whilst Matt Langridge joins Hodge, Reed and Steve Williams on the second day. Those left out of the four will compete in the eight, which on both days includes the veterans Tom Stallard and Josh West. The seocnd British four remains unchanged on both days and marks a welcome return for former world champion Toby Garbett, whose 2007 season was plagued by injury.

Tom James and Colin Smith, who showed so well in the December Assessment trials, get a run-out on both days in the men's pair as do Alan Campbell and Stephen Rowbotham who will race each other and the opposition in the single scull event.

Britain's other two squads - the women and lightweights - depart for Italy this weekend for their next training camp in the lead-up to the GB Senior Rowing Trials due on March 9 and 10th.

Saturday 16 February

Leander athletes in italics

Sunday 17 February

Leander athletes in italics

ENDS