FORMER students from the Grange School have been challenged to lay a marker for the World Rowing Championships when they race next for Great Britain.

Tom Ford and his younger sister Emily are both part of unchanged crews for the final World Cup regatta of the campaign in Rotterdam.

"It's a last opportunity to test ourselves against the rest of the world before what is a qualification regatta for the Olympic Games," said Brendan Purcell, director of performance for British Rowing.

"Our medal-winners from the European Championships will be attempting to stand on the podium again, while there is another chance for the other boats to close a gap between them and those places."

Tom is part of a men's eight that has taken silver behind old foes Germany in their past two head-to-heads.

James Rudkin, Tom George, Mo Sbihi, Jacob Dawson, Ollie Wynne-Griffith, Mat Tarrant, Josh Bugajski and cox Henry Fieldman join him in the boat once more.

Meanwhile Emily Ford will attempt to demonstrate further progress in a women's four that reached the A final at both the European Championships and the most recent World Cup at Lucerne.

Sara Parfett, Caragh McMurtry and Rebecca Girling complete the crew.

“The athletes across both our men’s and women’s squads have huge potential," said Jurgen Grobler, the team's chief coach.

"We now need to get our mental and physical preparation to peak at the right time."

Heats in Rotterdam are scheduled for Friday week, July 12.