Rowing pair to represent Team GB in Rio Olympics

Polly Swann will be part of the women’s eight, while Scott Durant has been named as one of 12 men’s sweep rowers that will make up the men’s eight, pair and two reserves.

Lancaster-born 2013 world women’s pair champion Swann, heading to her first Olympics after agonisingly missing London 2012 through injury, will be part of a team that has already been crowned European Champions and world cup silver medallists in 2016.

The 27-year-old will be joined by cox Zoe de Toledo, Frances Houghton, set for her fifth Olympic Games appearance, Katie Greves, Melanie Wilson, Jessica Eddie, Olivia Carnegie-Brown, Karen Bennett and Zoe Lee.

Former Lancaster Royal Grammar School pupil Durant, 28, is a European bronze medalist in the men’s eight this year, having been European champion and world bronze medalist in the men’s four in 2015.

Other rowers in the 12 vying for spots in the men’s eight and pair, with two reserves, include London 2012 and Beijing 2008 men’s four gold medallists Pete Reed and Andrew T Hodge as well as London 2012 bronze medallists Tom Ransley, Will Satch and Matt Langridge.

Nathaniel Reilly O’Donnell and Mat Tarrant, who were world cup winners in Varese in early May, are included along with Alan Sinclair and Stewart Innes who took silver at the European Championships last month.

Team GB named 43 of the 47 rowers heading to Rio at their official announcement in Henley on Thursday with the final seats in the open women’s double scull, women’s spare and lightweight spare to be named in due course.