Wins and medals for para-rowers in Italy

GB’s para-rowers took two wins, three silvers and a bronze in today’s finals of the Gavirate International Regatta on Lake Varese, Italy.

GB’s para-rowers took two wins, three silvers and a bronze in today’s finals of the Gavirate International Regatta on Lake Varese, Italy.

The titles came from Laurence Whiteley and Lauren Rowles in their respective trunk-arms single scull finals before the duo teamed up to take bronze in their Paralympic programme event, the trunk-arms mixed double scull, behind the Netherlands and France.

Rowles is currently busy juggling her A level studies and exams with rowing training.

In sunny conditions with a light tailwind Rachel Morris was involved in a fast-paced arms-shoulders single scull race in which she took sliver behind Norway’s Birgit Skarstein. The result reversed the finishing positions of the two at last year’s World Championships.

“That was a really quick race, that was good”, said GB Lead para-rowing coach Tom Dyson.

Tom Aggar also took silver in the equivalent men’s race behind relative newcomer Sergiy Khyzhnyak of the Ukraine.  Scott Jones, now in receipt of a classification, made a robust international debut for GB by taking fifth place in the same event.

Scott, aged 18, is at school at Hartpury in Gloucestershire and has transferred to rowing from shot put and discus.

Whiteley’s victory in the trunks-arms single scull came at the expense of his team-mate Scott Meenagh who came home in silver.  Meenagh will soon take part in the Invictus Games.

The Ukraine won a close mixed coxed four final from South Africa.  World silver medallists, the USA, did not race today after taking second place to the South Africans in the heats.  GB’s World Champion crew is not racing in Gavirate.

Tomorrow’s race programme at the event is under threat due to predicted severe weather conditions. More information will be posted at:  www.canottaggio.org

==================================================

For media information and pictures: please contact the GB Rowing Team press office for this event via:  [email protected] or 07831 755351