Crucial first test for Triggs Hodge and Watkins as Rio 2016 beckons

Double Olympic champion Andy Triggs Hodge, who has missed a year because of glandular fever, returns to competitive action at the first British trials this weekend with the target of competing at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

The Rio 2016 ambitions of returning London 2012 champions Andy Triggs Hodge and Anna Watkins will be rigorously tested this weekend as they make their competitive returns after one and three years respectively at the British Rowing trials in Boston, Lincolnshire.

Triggs Hodge, 36, a gold medallist in the four at the 2008 and 2012 Games, announced in March he would have to take the year off after suffering a recurrence of the glandular fever which he first suffered before the London Olympics.

"I love training and making boats go fast but now there is a question about whether I can commit to an Olympic programme," said Triggs Hodge at the time.

Now he will be one of a host of World and Olympic medallists who will race against the clock on rowing machines tomorrow before undertaking a gruelling 5km time trial on Sunday (November 1).

Triggs Hodge, who has spent time training with Cambridge University rower William Warr, is now stepping up to the plate, as is Watkins, in her first competitive race since taking Olympic gold with Katherine Grainger in the double sculls.

Watkins, returning to top flight competition after having two children, will meet Grainger in the open women’s single scull, along with Heather Stanning, Olympic pairs champion in 2012.

Helen Glover, who partnered Stanning in London, will be absent because of a cold.

The field includes another of Glover’s partners, Polly Swann, winner of a World Championships gold medal in 2013 and European gold in 2014.

Anna Watkins, pictured with the London 2012 gold medal she won with Katherine Grainger in the double sculls, returns after a three-year absence to contest the first British trials as she targets Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

Triggs Hodge lines up in the open men’s single scull in a field led by 2013 and 2014 men’s quad world medallists Sam Townsend and Pete Lambert, along with London 2012 bronze medallist Alan Campbell.

While GB’s top rowers are normally exempt from the October assessment, this season is different as the coaches and performance director keep an eye on the progress of winter training and take a look at all those seeking to snatch a squad place before Rio 2016 - less than 300 days away - as well as those chasing World Under-23 and British Universities’ squad places.

“This is the first step in one of the most important seasons of our rowing careers”, said London 2012 silver medallist Chris Bartley.

“This season is shorter than the usual season so it’s important that we get it off on the right foot and show ourselves well.

“This will give us greater confidence when it comes to results in the racing season.”

Many of the open weight men, including all of the eight that won World Championship gold last month, will race in pairs in Boston.

Moe Sbihi and Alex Gregory, who won both assessments they competed in last season plus the senior trials, are paired together once again.

George Nash and Will Satch will rekindle their 2012 men’s pair bronze medal partnership, while double Olympic fours champion Pete Reed races with multiple Boat Race and world medallist Constantine Louloudis.

This weekend’s assessment is the first of three in the build-up to the Olympic Games, with the others due to take place on December 19 and February 27 to 28.

The GB Rowing Team Olympic Trials will then be staged at Caversham in March.