Olympic and World Champions Defeated at GB Rowing Trials 2009: ICBC’s Adam Freeman-Pask was unbeatable in the third phase of GB Rowing Winter Assessment Trials at Boston Lincolnshire taking top ranking in the LM1x. 16:27.92 was the winning time; the fastest clocked time over all divisions on the day. This was almost 2 seconds ahead of Paul Mattick of Wallingford RC who in 2007 took gold in the LM4- at the World Rowing Championships. In third place, 12 seconds behind Freeman-Pask, was Olympic reserve Rob Williams (London RC). Williams was also the winner of the final cycling time trial at a squad training camp in Sydney this January, which Freeman-Pask did not attend.

Coaches Steve Trapmore, Stuart Whitelaw and Cox Henry Fieldman accompanied the ICBC posse of LM1x entries Adam Freeman-Pask & Andy Gordon, M1x entries Simon Hislop & Dan Cadoux-Hudson and M2- entries Dom Meyrick-Cole & Henry Goodier. Competitors were staying in the Anti-Comfort Inn at Boston and were just lulling to sleep when animal noises (later described by distressed witnesses as macaque mating calls) were heard across the hall. The source of this nocturnal wailing was swifty identified as the M2-’s room. Sporty and Ginger Spice’s racing combination are a nautical extension of the cottage love-pair starring just one member of the original version.

Come Saturday morning it was serious business and Led Zeppelin was drafted in by Freeman-Pask and Viper Fieldman for some final inspiration. Trapmore gave an in-depth pre-race chat on “the finer points of sculling” which was quickly summarised by Whitelaw informing Freeman-Pask; “You’re not a bad sculler”. This seemed to do the trick and with a pat on the back AFP was sent on his way to destroy the field.

ICBC had entries in all three men’s competitive categories (LM1x, M1x & M2-) with good results overall. Joining Freeman-Pask in the lightweight single sculls was Andy Gordon who came 14th in U23 (29th overall). IC student Oli Mahony competed for London RC and came 10th in the trial. In the heavyweight single sculls race there was tough competition with Alan Campbell of Tideway Sculler’s taking a clear 16 second victory ahead of Ian Lawson (Leander) in second and Andy Triggs-Hodge (Molesey BC) in third. ICBC’s Simon Hislop and Dan Cadoux-Hudson finished 13th and 20th (6th in U23) respectively. In the pair’s race Goodier and Meyrick-Cole came 18th overall (9th in U23/5th in U20). At the half-way point Run DMC had exhausted all leg reserves and had an unscheduled switch to guns. Unfortunately these were depleted even faster and after a failed attempt of switching to lats there were only a few strokes left in the race.

Back at ICBC basecamp Freeman-Pask’s 101.2% gold rank win has been an inspiration to the entire boat club. The gym’s FitVibe machine has been vibrating non-stop since the news with crews trying to replicate the success. Recent reports claim ITB foam rollers (or AFP foam rollers) are sold out across London. Pre-early morning sessions have seen squads releasing all tight fascia tissue and decreasing tension on the iliotibial band in a gracious tribute to their hero.

But before we all get carried away with Pask-mania let the truth be known that Bill “Rigmeister” Mason (of ICBC Club Room fame) laid his magic hands on the winning boat a week prior to racing. Mason was modest in his contribution to the result when speaking to Freeman-Pask later; “You owe me one”.

Freeman-Pask has been developing momentum this season, posting 2 consecutive personal bests on his 2k ergo scores [6:14.7 at a weight of 72kg]. This is testament to the hard work that he has put in over the winter and a big public statement for the development of rowing at Imperial College.

Congratulations Adam!

Christina Freeman-Duffy