Agony and ecstasy

Aug 20 2008 By Daniel Schofield, Staines News

MOLESEY Boat Club stars Andy Triggs-Hodge and Tom James gave their all and more, as Team GB won the Olympic title in coxless fours for the third successive Games after a thrilling late surge.

Hodge and James, together with Peter Reed and Steve Williams came from three-quarters of a length down to beat Australia in a coruscatingly nerve-jangling last few seconds.

Weighted down by history and watched from the riverbank by golden forerunners Sir Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent, the new oarsome foursome stepped out of the shadows at Shunyi. Tradition dictated success and they didn't disappoint.

The flagship boat went into battle against their old foes from Australia, but left it late to fire the salvo that sunk the boys from Down Under.

"It would have been nice to have led the field and to have cruised home,but it is one of the toughest events and we really had to push hard," admitted James. "It is an absolute relief to come out on top although I didn't have any energy to celebrate.

"The boat had a crescendo which built and built and got momentum. I looked across and realised we had it. I just knew we were going to win. "We stuck to our plan, kept it simple and had faith in each other.We listened to Steve's calls and once we got our noses in front, we weren't going to falter."

James was watched by parents Mike and Julia - who waved their Welsh flag in delight as Britain edged past Australia to take gold.

National flags of non-competing countries had been banned by organisers, but James didn't care as he wrapped himself in the Welsh Dragon. Coach Jurgen Grobler maintained an aura of belief,but this regatta was the first time all season that the line-up had actually raced together.

"It has not been the best preparation; we have certainly had our ups and downs," admitted Hodge, who now takes on a more parochial challenge as captain of Molesey Boat Club for the coming year.

"In many ways all the problems have just made us more determined. We have been so united and single minded about it," he added "There have been tense times in the last few months when we've needed to be honest with each other and frank enough to say when someone isn't making the grade.

"The last week and a half have been very pressurised. We knew we didn't perform in the first round but we lifted our game for the semi-final and that gave us the confidence and belief that we needed."

Lloyds TSB, proud first partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to 2012.