Andy Triggs-Hodge

Andy started rowing at Staffordshire University because he wanted to improve his fitness and participate in an athletic sport that was “more serious than rugby”.

After graduating in 2000, he moved to London and joined Molesey Boat Club where Peter Sheppard was the club coach. Andy made huge progress that winter and in spite of his lack of rowing experience he was selected for the 2001 GB team for the World Under 23 Championships in which he finished sixth in the coxed four.

In 2002 Andy won his first GB senior vest in the eight, which won a place in the World Championships final in Seville and finished in sixth place.

The following year saw Andy back in the eight. The crew improved throughout the season and showed their class at the World Championships in Milan by qualifying for the final and the Athens Olympics by taking second place in their semi final, splitting the 2002 silver and bronze medallists. In the final they raced in a leading pack of three, finishing with a very creditable bronze medal.

Andy began 2004 by winning the men's pairs event at the GB Rowing Senior Trials with Alex Partridge but was selected for the men's eight that went to the Olympic Games in Athens and finished ninth.

In 2005 he returned to University, this time at Oxford, where he studied for a postgraduate degree. He stroked the winning Oxford Blue Boat in the 151st University Boat Race and then went on to win the men's pairs event at the GB Senior Selection Trials for the second consecutive year, this time with his Oxford team–mate Peter Reed. The pair were then named in the men's four with Alex Partridge and Olympic champion Steve Williams.

Andy stroked the men's four throughout 2005, winning gold in the World Cups in Eton, Munich and Lucerne and rounding off a superb season by taking the gold at the World Championships in Japan.

He continued this success by winning gold at all three 2006 World Cup regattas.

At the 2006 World Championships the GB four extended their unbeaten run to 24 races to take the world title for a second round – but this time on home water.