Six Olympic champions are headliners in Boston
Olympic Champions Katherine Grainger, Kat Copeland, Helen Glover, Heather Stanning, Pete Reed and Alex Gregory are all in action at the GB Rowing Team’s final 5km winter Assessment in Boston, Lincolnshire, tomorrow.
The squad has swapped the pulsating but indoor atmosphere of the Olympic velodrome and last weekend’s British Rowing Indoor Championships for the more unpredictable and outdoor conditions of the river Witham.
The second of three winter Assessments had to be relocated just before Christmas because of forecast high winds but tomorrow’s weather looks to be overcast yet with lighter winds.
Glover just pipped Vicky Thornley to the women’s single title when the event was switched to Caversham before Christmas. They are both on the starting list tomorrow with Grainger.
Frances Houghton looks likely to make her return to the competitive fray for the first time in many months and is a previous winner of this event.
Charles Cousins, Sam Townsend, Alan Campbell and Peter Lambert are all racing the open men’s single.
Mohamed Sbihi and Alex Gregory won the men’s pair the last time round and must start as favourites tomorrow.
Richard Chambers, Chris Bartley, Jono Clegg, Zak Lee-Green and Jamie Kirkwood will all be names to watch in the lightweight men’s single.
Kat Copeland leads the field in the lightweight women’s single with Charlotte Taylor, Ellie Piggott and Brianna Stubbs all in with a chance.
Will Satch will miss the open men’s pair event as will Matt Langridge. Peter Chambers, Mark Aldred and Sam Scrimgeour will not race in the lightweight men’s single and Imogen Walsh and Ruth Walczak will not race the lightweight women’s single. All have been exempted on medical grounds as they are not at full fitness.
