Molesey Boat Club skipper Andrew Triggs-Hodge reckons Britain’s rowers start the Olympic year in an outstanding position to better the country’s Beijing Olympics medal haul in London.

The 32-year-old struck gold in the men’s fours in China and was among the front runners to be in the men’s pairs boat come the 2012 Games.

Team GB claimed six medals – including two golds – at the Olympic regatta four years ago.

And Triggs-Hodge, who could lead a strong Molesey contingent into the London Olympics, believed they could better that achievement this year.

“We have young guys fighting for their first Games and their first gold medal,” he said.

“We have a squad of 14 guys who are all capable of winning a gold medal.

“It’s only going to be a few guys who are in that top boat and that’s where I want to be. It all starts now.

“We are certainly looking to outdo Beijing. The men, the women and the lightweights are so much stronger than we had been before.”

And Triggs-Hodge said the benchmarks set by the sport’s legends – like Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent – could see Team GB scale new heights.

“The standard in the sport is so high. We’ve got predecessors, like Redgrave and Pinsent, who set the bar high and we’re looking to push on from there,” he added.

Richmond-based single sculler Alan Campbell was also in the running and is hoped make a mark with the new generation.

“I feel positive that we have the right people around. We have enough talent,” he added.

“We have the right mentality and if we can make a breakthrough we can move on from there. It can be the start of a new generation of scullers for Britain.”