Olympic champion Andrew Triggs Hodge stroked Great Britain's men's eight to victory at rowing's Essen International - but he conceded there was plenty of work to do as the season starts to ramp up.
Triggs Hodge and his Olympic men’s four champion crew-mates Alex Gregory and Peter Reed, rowing in Essen with Mohamed Sbihi, lost to Germany in the men's four final on Saturday.
But they rebounded to beat France, Poland and two German crews in the eight, a morale booster ahead of next month's World Cup regatta at Eton Dorney.
“That was alright and gives a good end to the weekend," said Triggs Hodge, who was joined in the eight by Olympic or world medallists Tom Ransley, Daniel Ritchie, Will Satch and cox Phelan Hill, as well as newcomer Matt Gotrel.
"It was nice to get the win and perhaps that compensated a little for yesterday.
"The conditions here are a big challenge and we have not had much time together as a crew so to win in those circumstances was pleasing.
"But the bottom line is we have a lot of work to do, to get back to our training base at Caversham and work hard."
© Sportsbeat 2013