Triggs Hodge and Reed set to make Silver Goblets debut

GREAT Britain's Andrew Triggs Hodge and Peter Reed are looking to underline their Olympic credentials by winning one of rowing's oldest prizes this weekend.

WATCHFUL EYE: Sir Steve Redgrave, now a Henley Steward, won the Silver Goblets at the famous event seven times (Getty Images)

Sir Steve Redgrave won Henley Royal Regatta's Silver Goblets seven times, twice with Andy Holmes, once with Simon Berrisford and four-times with Sir Matthew Pinsent.

Triggs Hodge and Peter Reed, Olympic champions in the men's four in Beijing, are making their debut in the event but are expected to face a stiff challenge from New Zealand's Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, who beat them in the World Cup a fortnight ago.

The Diamond Challenge Sculls is also a strong event with Kiwi world champion Mahe Drydale and Norwegian Olympic champion Olaf Tufte expected to go head-to-head.

British Olympic finalist Alan Campbell will also challenge, along with Belgium's Tim Maeyens.

The Queen Mother Challenge Cup will see Poland's Olympic champions take on Great Britain's youthful new quadruple scull of Sam Townsend, Marcus Bateman, Bill Lucas and Charles Cousins.  

The British men's four of Alex Partridge, Alex Gregory, Ric Egington and Matt Langridge will also be in action in the Stewards' Challenge Cup, another event Redgrave once dominated, but will face stern opposition from Italian, American and New Zealand crews.

Matt Wells and Stephen Rowbotham, Olympic bronze medallists last year, will compete in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup with Kiwis again expected to be their nearest rivals.

"I am delighted that, in this post Olympic year, we have been able to attract such a high quality entry for this year's Regatta," said Regatta chairman Mike Sweeney.

"The presence of almost the full British team is particularly pleasing and the strong international competition should produce some wonderful racing."

Overall, the 160th staging of the world's oldest rowing regatta, which starts on Wednesday, has attracted 468 crews from 15 nations racing in 19 events, including, for the first time, a Chinese entry.