Great Britain's men's eight team earn victory in Germany

Great Britain's men's eight rowing team won on the final day of the Essen International in an encouraging performance ahead of the World Cup regatta at Eton Dorney next month.

Olympic champion Andrew Triggs Hodge stroked the team to victory in Germany but warned against complacency.

Hodge said: "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."

Hodge and his men's four Olympic champion crew-mates Alex Gregory and Pete Reed, rowing in Essen with Mo Sbihi, had been beaten by Germany in a tight men's four final on Saturday.

On Sunday, in strong headwinds, the quartet raced in an eight that also featured Tom Ransley, Daniel Ritchie, Will Satch, newcomer Matt Gotrel and cox Phelan Hill.

Britain beat France into second, with Poland in third. Germany's two boats finished in fourth and fifth.

Hodge added: "It was nice to get the win and perhaps that compensated a little for yesterday."

Germany, Olympic champions in the men's eight, used this regatta to test its rowers in different combinations.

GB performance director Sir David Tanner admitted: "We can't read too much into the results here but for us it has been a good learning experience."