ALEX Gregory and Matt Gotrel retain their places in the Great Britain men’s open eight boat for the World Cup in Italy following their European Championships silver medals.

The crew enjoyed their first international regatta together in Poznan, Poland, where they recovered from finishing third in the heats to win the repêchage, with only Germany ahead of them in the final.

Wormington’s former Evesham Rowing Club member Gregory, 31, and Chipping Campden’s Gotrel, 26, are joined by Pete Reed, Stewart Innes, Paul Bennett, Mohamed Sbihi, George Nash, Will Satch and cox Henry Fieldman, who replaces Phelan Hill, in Varese from June 19 until 21.

GB Rowing team performance director Sir David Tanner said: “We were delighted with the team’s performance at the European Championships but we are not getting carried away and we know the tempo will rise in Varese, with many big-hitting, non-European nations likely to enter.”