Hebden’s Olympic gold medal winner Andy Hodge and Guiseley’s Debbie Flood will be bidding for glory in next week’s World Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand.

Both have been included in a strong Great Britain team for the event which starts on Sunday and runs until November 7.

Hodge (pictured) and partner Pete Reed will face stiff opposition for the gold medal from the Kiwi world champion pairing of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, who are favourites to win next Saturday’s final.

Flood will contest the women’s quadruple scull. She has battled back into contention for an event, in which Great Britain has a good medal chance, after taking a year out to complete her probationary training with the Prison Service.

It means she is back in the boat she won silver medals in at both the Athens and Beijing Olympic Games.