It is hard to believe that there are only 38 days to go to the Rio Olympics and of course our members will have their minds focussed on the rowing. For more information go to www.rio2016.com/en/rowing and of course www.britishrowing.org.

Based on previous experience of rowing clubs in Olympic years, Taunton Rowing Club is very likely to attract a surge in interest in our sport. Bring it on! We will be ready to welcome new people who want to try the sport we love.

Of course the recent World Cup was the last major event on which Head Coach Jurgen Groebler woukld base his final crew selections. After a period of some doubt, Thornley and Grainger have finally been announced for Rio in the Womens double sculls, as detailed below from British Rowing. The question on all our minds is can the Men’s 4 win gold extending Britain’s amazing record in the event?

Alex Gregory will look to defend his men’s four gold from London 2012 – this time alongside Mohamed Sbihi, George Nash and Constantine Louloudis. Sbihi, Nash and Louloudis were all 2012 bronze medallists.

Grainger and Thornley named for Rio.

Grainger is Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian with three Olympic silver medals (2000, 2004, 2008) and an Olympic gold (2012) to her name. She will be competing in her fifth Olympic Games in Rio and is the defending Olympic Champion In the double scull.

Thornley raced in the women’s eight in London on her debut Games. This crew qualified for the Olympic final and finished fifth overall. Thornley was also a World bronze medallist in the eight in 2011 and a European bronze medallist, with Grainger, in the double scull in 2015.

This season the crew have reached the final of both the European Championships and the most recent world cup in Poznan, Poland.

Grainger said: “It is an amazing feeling to be selected to represent your country at the Olympic Games. That feeling doesn’t diminish the second, third, fourth or even fifth time round!  I am proud to have been selected into the women’s double with Vicky and look forward with confidence to the next few weeks of training camps where we can make huge strides towards our goal of competing for a medal in Rio”.

Thornley said: “I am very proud to be selected for the Rio Olympics in the double with Katherine. I am really looking forward to putting the next building blocks in place. Racing with the union jack on my chest at my second Olympics will be very special and I can’t wait”.

Sir David Tanner, British Rowing Performance Director and Team GB Rowing Team Leader said: “Whilst the road to selection for this crew has not been straightforward, I remain confident that they remain a significant contender in Rio”.

Mark England, Team GB’s Chef de Mission, said: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome Victoria and Katherine into the team. Katherine’s achievement on the Olympic stage are unparalleled in British Olympic history”

Earlier this week Alan Sinclair and Stewart Innes were confirmed as the men’s pair and Sam Scrimgeour was named as the lightweight men’s spare.  These two recent selections now bring the tally of named rowers to 46 from 47 places.