Bradford’s Matthew Wells proved a shadow that Alan Campbell could not shake off at the Great Britain rowing trials at Hazewinkel in Belgium.

The Olympic bronze-medal winning double sculler pushed Britain’s top single sculler all the way in their single sculls semi-final, finishing second in 6min 48.72sec.

And it was the same story in the final, Campbell never being able to relax before winning in 6:46.33, Wells crossing the line in 6:47.76.

Meanwhile, Andy Hodge of Hebden, near Skipton, also proved his versatility by returning to single sculling at the event which marked the start of the four-year Olympic cycle which will end with London 2012.

However, Hodge – who used to scull before concentrating on multi-person events – went on to win the first semi-final in 6:49.56, claiming the impressive scalp of Steve Rowbotham (Leander), who won bronze with Wells in Beijing.

Hodge, who was fifth at halfway, surged over the final 500 metres to defeat Rowbotham, also overcoming early leader Ian Lawson (Leander), who claimed the final qualifying place in third.

“I’m learning something new every time I race in the single and I’m enjoying every minute of it,” confessed Hodge.

Hodge was involved in a three-way battle for third place in the final with Lawson and Rowbotham, Lawson prevailing in 6:52.73, with Hodge finishing just 14 hundredths of a second ahead of Rowbotham in 6:54.60.

Wells, of Leander, was fourth in the earlier time trial event over the 1900m course in 6:33.17, Campbell (Tideway Scullers) winning in 6:29.26. Men’s Olympic fours champion Hodge finished sixth in 6:33.31.