Townsend to represent GB at World Cup

Berkshire rower Sam Townsend has been selected to compete for Great Britain in the men’s quad scull at this weekend’s World Cup in Lucerne (Friday-Sunday), the second of three major international events in the build-up to the Beijing Olympics this summer.

If he performs well, Townsend will enhance his case for selection in the Beijing Olympics squad.

Also in the squad are Reading University student Natasha Page, who will race in the women’s eight, and Maidenhead’s Rob Williams, who will race in the non-Olympic lightweight men’s pair.

The GB Rowing squad is looking to match its excellent performance at the first World Cup in Munich, where they topped the medal table and brought home a total of eight medals – five of them gold.

Amongst the British crews will be the women’s quad, who are current World Champions and took gold in the first World Cup in Munich 10 days ago.

The lightweight men’s four, also reigning World Champions, will be seeking gold in their highly-competitive class after narrowly missing out earlier this month.

The men’s four, still missing Tom James who is replaced by Tom Lucy, will race with Colin Smith in the stroke seat as Andy Hodge rests an injury.

Three of GB’s other gold medal winners at the opening World Cup are also back and unchanged: the lightweight men’s double of Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter, Alan Campbell in the men’s single and the men’s double of Stephen Rowbotham and Matt Wells.

GB also has the potential to impress in the men’s and women’s eights and has entered a new-look lightweight women’s double scull of Laura Greenhalgh and Helen Casey.

The GB rowing squad for the Beijing Olympics will be announced on June 26.