WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

OXFORD’S Andy Triggs Hodge said it was “phenomenal” to win gold with the Great Britain & Northern Ireland men’s eight.

Triggs Hodge was part of an Oxfordshire-dominated crew who bagged their country’s first world gold in the boat with an exhilarating win in Chungju, South Korea.

The eight, who included Oxford Blue Pete Reed plus Henley residents Alex Gregory and Will Satch, at stroke, edged out Olympic champions Germany.

With Leander Club members Tom Ransley, Dan Ritchie and Phelan Hill (cox) plus Mohamed Sbih and George Nash completing the crew, Britain led for the final 1,500m to come home in 5mins 30.35secs.

“We knew we had to be good to beat that German eight,” said Oxford Mail columnist Triggs Hodge.

“We knew that we they wouldn’t lie down and let us take their event. We could feel the power and we never let up.

“Riding that was just phenomenal, it was really great to be part of it. That was phenomenal.”

He added: “Today was just about performing what we know we could do. We had a glimmer of that in the heats.

“Also, we have those memories of Lucerne and even Dorney in our minds. They weren’t very good rows.

“We knew we could perform at the highest level, it was just a case of doing it.

“So all the way down the course, for every stroke we wanted to execute it clinically and coldly, but with gallons of passion on top.”

Gold for the eight was the highlight of a strong weekend for Britain’s men’s crews, who also won three bronzes.

Oxford Brookes alumni, brothers Richard and Peter Chambers, took third in the lightweight men's double sculls behind Norway and Switzerland.

“I think that is the worst I have ever felt after any race,” said Peter.

“The pain is all over, but all credit to the other crews.

“You can’t think you will come into an event in your first season and beat the guys who have been there for some time.

“We couldn’t do any more today.”

The medallists also included the lightweight four of Henley resident Chris Bartley, his Leander Club colleagues Will Fletcher and Jonno Clegg plus Adam Freeman-Pask.

Bartley said: “For the three new guys, it is just amazing at their first World Championships in an Olympic boat.

“It’s been hard work but it's been a pleasure to be with them and work with them.”

The quadruple scull of Henley’s Graeme Thomas and Peter Lambert, plus Charles Cousins and Sam Townsend secured Britain’s first global medal for the boat.

“I am a little bit stunned,” said Thomas. “I am here on a World podium much earlier than I thought I would be.

“Sam and Charles are guys that I have really looked up to for a long time and they have helped bring me on.”