THE GB rowing team have announced the squad that will travel to Belgrade later this month for the European Rowing Championships, and there is a strong Gloucestershire contingent in the group with Alex Gregory (Wormington), Matt Gotrel (Chipping Campden), Pete Reed (Nailsworth) and Beth Rodford (Gloucester) all selected.

The 2012 Olympic champion Gregory has been chosen in a new-look Men’s Four, alongside Mohamed Sbihi and George Nash, of Molesey BC, who both had an excellent winter’s training and testing. Double Olympic gold medallist Andy Triggs Hodge is the final man in the boat.

All four men were in the top two pairs at the recent GB Rowing team senior trials with the Gregory-Sbihi combination taking the title.

Speaking after the selections, Gregory said: “I’m really excited to race with this crew at the Euros. It’s going to be my first time there and it’s really exciting to have a full championships this early in the season. Coming into the racing season is always a really good time. I really enjoy the end of trials, that pressure and that build-up, and now we can concentrate on racing internationally and aiming towards the Worlds and Olympics.”

Reed, the former Cirencester Deer Park pupil, is another double Olympic gold medallist who has been picked in the squad and he will be accompanied by Gotrel in a strong Men’s Eight.

Gloucester RC’S 2010 world champion Beth Rodford headlines the women’s quadruple scull crew which includes Kristina Stiller, Lucinda Gooderham and Victoria Meyer-Laker – the latter was a world finalist with Fran Houghton in the double in 2013.