HEBDEN rower Andrew Hodge (pictured above) has been chosen to represent England in the Athens Olympics after coming through the final trials in Belgium recently with flying colours.

While Hodge partnered Alex Partridge to victory in the pairs in Belgium, he will compete in Athens as a member of the eight-man boat, with Partridge switched to the fours crew which will contain Olympic medallists Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell.

Coach Jurgen Grobler has never drawn back from re-structuring his resources and in switching Partridge, he has adjusted the Olympic selection he made in February with a view to giving priority to the fours challenge.

Any disappointment Hodge may have felt at not being elevated along with Partridge is bound to be eclipsed by the fact that to get a place in the fours, the London-based rower would have needed to displace multi-gold winner Matthew Pinsent.

After winning the men's pairs trial, Hodge's place in the eight, at number four, has been confirmed, with the first international test for the crew coming is in three weeks time in Poland at the first series of World Cup meets