GBRT April Trials 2024

Success for BROOKES|Rowing at GB Trials

This weekend, 21 BROOKES|Rowing athletes raced over two days at the GB Rowing Senior & U23 April Trials at Caversham. The crews were faced with challenging tail wind conditions which produced tight racing throughout the weekend. The time trials and semi-finals were raced on Saturday, with the finals taking place on Sunday morning.

The Brookes women’s group had some standout results, perhaps their best ever performance at a GB Trial. Jenny Bates placed highly in the time trial and eased through her semi-final which earnt her an opportunity to race in the A-Final on the Sunday. In better conditions for the Sunday, Jenny blasted out in the first half of the final and through the 1000m marker, she was nearly 4 seconds faster than the next fastest sculler! With a huge lead, she was able to control the race in the final 500m earning herself a victory in spectacular fashion. This is a true testament to the hard work and fierce determination Jenny has shown in her training during her time at Brookes. Congratulations to Jenny!

All the women’s pairs performed very highly on the Saturday and earned a chance to race in the A-Final. Grace Richards and Olivia Hill, held their nerve in tight racing and rowed well to finish 3^rd overall and 2^nd fastest U23 pair, a fantastic result having had very limited time to prepare. Aggie Burt, fresh out of the U19 World Champ winning JW8+ last season, partnered by Sarah Marshall from OUBC, came 5^th overall. Some promising results with summer racing around the corner.

Matt Heywood and James Doran, who raced in the winning Ladies Plate crew last season, came away with 3rd in the M2- in amongst some very tight racing with Leander. Just 0.8 seconds separated 3^rd and 5^th.  Louis Nares and Toby Lassen came 6^th and were fastest U23 pair by virtue of making the A-final. Fergus Woolnough and Jake Wincomb placed 8^th overall, after coming 2^nd in the B-Final just ahead of a plethora of Brookes pairings.

With regatta season now fully underway, focus now turns to preparations for BUCS and Wallingford Regatta. The squad that head to Nottingham look to retain a number of British University titles won last year.
Photos courtesy of AllMarkOne

Summary of results:

W1x
Bates 1^st

W2-
Richards & Hill 3^rd
Burt & Marshall* 5^th
Forde & Regan 6^th (DNS A-Final)

M2-
Heywood & Doran 3^rd
Nares & Lassen 6^th (Fastest U23)
Woolnough & Wincomb 8^th
Cameron & Newton 9^th
Hawes & Schlottman 10^th
Bradley & Mills 14^th
Bell & Cooper 15^th