THE Great Britain rowing team winter assessment trials, scheduled to be held at Boston over the weekend, had to be cancelled because of severe weather warnings for the South East and East Anglia posted by the Met Office and travel organisations.

Squad members were contacted by their chief coaches to arrange training.

A number of hotly-contested races between returning Olympians and current or former world medallists were planned with South Devon's Bill Lucas and Barney Stentiford amongst those invited to attend.

The men's single scull event was to feature Sam Townsend, Kingswear-based Lucas of Dart Totnes and Charles Cousins, who made such a dramatic impression with their performances as part of the men's quadruple scull last season.

Ipplepen-based Barney Stentiford (Dart Totnes) was to sample his first serious senior competition following successes with the GB junior squad this season.

Greg Searle, winner of Olympic medals in 1992 and 1996, had attracted attention ahead of the open weight men's single scull race, for which Alan Campbell, the 2009 World silver medallist, was to start as favourite with Stephen Rowbotham, Olympic double scull bronze medallist, also a contender.

Searle, the 1992 Olympic champion, who will be 40 in 2012, is staging a comeback. He said: "I didn't want to row in Beijing but the Olympics in London has a huge pull.

"I just want to get in the mix and maybe even get ahead of some of the current squad."