GB 1st Assessment report

This weekend saw the GB Rowing 1st Assessment take place in Boston, Lincs- which marks the first step towards next year’s Olympic Games, U23 World Rowing Championships and FISU World University Championships. 48 Brookes athletes attended the testing, which comprised of a 2k ergo on Saturday followed by Sunday’s 5k water test.

In the morning division, Josh Bugajski, who won a bronze medal at this summer’s World Rowing Championships in the Men’s Eight, finished fastest of the Brookes athletes in the men’s pairs- partnered by James Rudkin. Their second place finish was followed by Morgan Bolding in fourth and Rory Gibbs close behind in fifth. Matthew Tarrant rounded off the Caversham-based pairs finishing in ninth.

Sam Nunn and Michael Glover, both part of the Olympic Pathway Programme, were the fastest Brookes-based pair in tenth followed by pairs in 12th and 13th places. In the men’s singles, Jamie Copus finished third of the lightweight men.

The women’s division followed in the afternoon. In the women’s single, Annabelle Stevens finished as fastest U23 in 14th place in a tough field of seasoned internationals.

Esme Booth, who raced in the women’s pair at this summer’s U23 World Rowing Championships, and Coralie Spearman finished as second fastest U23 pair in 12th place. Harriet Ferguson and Ella Morgan finished 13th and Sophia Heath and Daisy Bellamy were 16th.

The combination of both men’s and women results are the strongest set of results Brookes have achieved at this set of trials.

The club next races on the Cholsey stretch at Wallingford Head, which takes place on 1st December.

📸 All photos kindly provided by AllMarkOne