U23 World Championships Report

There were a number of notable performances by BROOKES|Rowing athletes at last week’s U23 World Championships, held in Poznan, Poland. Of the 8 medals won by GB crews, 3 involved current athletes, with a further 4 athletes racing in A finals.

In the Men’s coxless fours, Sam Nunn raced in the 2 seat partnered by David Ambler, Charlie Elwes and Felix Drinkall. The crew finished in a time of 5:52.74, pipping New Zealand to a silver medal by just 0.07 seconds.

Matthew Aldridge, racing at his third and final U23 Championships, improved on his bronze medal in the eight at last years championships with a thrilling finish to claim a silver medal in a photo finish with Romania.

The women’s eight, coached by Allan French and stroked by Sophia Heath, had a similarly close race in the final. They finished 4th in a strong field- just 0.19s behind the bronze medal in a time of 6:08.23. This is the fastest time ever rowed by a GB U23 Women’s Eight.

The men’s coxed four featured three BROOKES|Rowing athletes. Henry Bloise-Brooke and Matt Rowe, who both raced in the GB Men’s Eight at last year’s Junior World Championships, rowed at bow and 2 respectively. Gavin Mcwilliams coxed the crew in his first world championships. The young crew made it through to the A final, eventually finishing in 5th place.

Attention now turns to the European Rowing Championships, where Jamie Copus races in the LM2x, and Mat Tarrant in the M8+. Following that, it is the FISU World University Championships, which start next week in Shanghai. BROOKES|Rowing have 10 current athletes racing in 6 different crews.