MATT Langridge is going it alone this weekend to earn himself a berth in Team GB’s World Cup squad.
The Olympic silver medallist from Northwich will be hoping to impress head coach Jurgen Grobler at the trials event at Harsewinkel, in Belgium, as he races against fellow British hopefuls.
The 25-year-old former Hartford High School pupil has just returned from a week-long intensive training camp in Aigubelette, France, and is now building his speed on Team GB’s training lake near Reading, where he has been joined by Northwich Rowing Club coach Paul Rafferty.
Langridge said: “Obviously I have taken myself away from things so I won’t really know what stage I am at until I race this weekend.
“But that’s not a problem as you don’t get to train against your rivals at the World Championships so it’s not really that different.
“I feel like I am on track and I am just working on my speed with Paul so we’ll see.”
Langridge, who was part of Team GB’s silver medal winning eight at the Beijing Games, will be rowing in a single scull against his British rivals and the quickest will force their way into Grobler’s selection plans for next month’s World Cup regatta in Banyoles, Spain.
Rowing solo has always been the aim for Langridge, who this year started his training back home on the River Weaver.
But having earned vital experience from the previous Olympics, Langridge is all too aware that selection is not in his hands.
“If I prove that I am the fastest sculler in Britain and I win these trials then maybe I can say that I am good enough to give the single scull a go,” he said.
“But if I don’t win then of course it’s up to Jurgen to decide where he wants me. I’ve learnt from the past that we don’t really have a say in what boat we are selected in so I’ll be happy with whatever Jurgen decides for me.”
If Langridge meets his expectations and rows for Team GB in Spain, then he will be almost certain of being selected for the World Championships later this summer in Poznan, Poland.
