Seven GB crews to compete at 2021 U23 World Rowing Championships

July 1, 2021

24 rowers, across seven boats, will represent Great Britain at the 2021 U23 World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic from 7-11 July

The squad includes the return of World Rowing Cup III silver medallists Calvin Tarczy and Douwe De Graaf in the men’s pair (M2-). Reflecting on his selection Douwe said: “I’m super excited. It’s been difficult not having much racing due to the pandemic, so we’re especially excited to have this chance to get out there and race again this year. We had a great experience at World Cup III but can’t be complacent, as the field in Racice will be just as competitive, so we’ll have a pretty good race on our hands.”

Also in the team are 2019 Under 23 World Rowing Championships men’s eight (M8+) gold medallists Matt Rowe and Henry Blois-Brooke who will be reuniting to race in the men’s four (M4-) alongside 2019 World Rowing Junior Championships JM8+ Bronze medallist, Iwan Hadfield and Dan Graham.

Looking to retain their title will be 2019 Under 23 World Rowing Championships men’s eight gold medallists Felix Drinkall and Callum Sullivan, in a new combination with Noah Norman, Miles Beeson, Tobias Schroder, Simon Nunayon, Joshua Bowesman-Jones and Michael Dalton. This crew will be coxed by Scott Cockle who picked up a silver medal in the coxed men’s four (M4+) at the Under 23’s in 2019.

Holly Dunford, silver medallist in the women’s eight (W8+) at the 2019 Under 23 World Rowing Championships will be joined by Amelia Standing, Lettie Cabot and Daisy Bellamy in the women’s four (W4-).

Peter Sheppard, British Rowing’s Chief Coach for U23s and Juniors said: “This is an opportunity for our under 23s to go out and show what they can do on the world stage again after two years without racing. I’m sure they will take the opportunity put in front of them and go out there to put a marker down with Paris in their sights.

“Everyone is excited to go racing again. Representing their country is a great honour and they value the opportunity that’s been put in front of them, particularly during these difficult times

“The role of the clubs and their coaches cannot be underestimated through this challenging period. They have done the most amazing work in supporting and motivating these athletes and getting them race ready for Racice.”

The squad has reduced in size since initial selection, due to swift action taken by the British Rowing medical staff following the news that a club practitioner who had worked with a small number of the U23 athletes had tested positive for Covid-19.

Explaining the decision, British Rowing Director of Performance Brendan Purcell said: “Following consultation with Public Health England, and in line with the advice that we have been providing to the GB Rowing Team and wider rowing community, we took a prompt decision to isolate the immediate contacts and segregate any “contacts of contacts.” This has also led to the difficult decision to withdraw the athletes from the regatta in the interest of protecting the remainder of our U23 Team and the wider sport who are due to meet in Racice next week.

“Whilst this is disappointing for the athletes, who have so far returned negative tests and not shown any symptoms, they should feel very proud to have been selected to represent Great Britain at the U23 World Championships and we hope to see them back out racing soon.”

You can follow the GB Rowing Team live from Racice every day on www.worldrowing.com.

GB Rowing crews for U23 World Championships

Women’s single sculls (W1x)

Lauren Henry (Club: Leicester RC)

Coach: Howard Marsh (Leicester RC)

Women’s double sculls (W2x)

Katherine George (Leander Club)
Zoe Adamson (Leander Club)

Coach: Ali Brown (Leander Club)

Men’s double sculls (M2x)

James Cartwright (Leander Club)
Ollie Costley (Leander Club)

Coach: Helen Brown (WCS Twickenham)

Men’s pair (M2-)

Calvin Tarczy (Tideway Scullers School)
Douwe De Graaf (Tideway Scullers School)

Coach: Pete Sheppard (GBRT)

Women’s four (W4-)

Amelia Standing (Oxford University Women’s BC)
Lettie Cabot (Oxford Brookes University BC)
Holly Dunford (Molesey BC)
Daisy Bellamy (Oxford Brookes University BC)

Coach: Franz Imfeld (Molesey BC)

Men’s four (M4-)

Dan Graham (Leander Club)
Matt Rowe (Oxford Brookes University BC)
Henry Blois-Brooke (Oxford Brookes University BC)
Iwan Hadfield (Leander Club)

Coach: Brian Young (GBRT)

Men’s eight (M8+)

Noah Norman (Molesey BC)
Miles Beeson (Molesey BC)
Felix Drinkall (Oxford University BC)
Tobias Schroder (Oxford University BC)
Simon Nunayon (Tideway Scullers School)
Callum Sullivan (Cambridge University BC)
Joshua Bowesman-Jones (Oxford University BC)
Michael Dalton (Molesey BC)
Scott Cockle (cox) (Oxford Brookes University BC)

Coach: Brendan Gliddon (Oxford University BC)

Selected but not travelling

Victor Kleshnev (Leander Club)
Nathan Hull (Queens University Belfast BC)
Callum Dixon (Twickenham RC)
Hope Cessford (Leander Club)
Sarah Ferris (University of Worcester RC)
Cam Nyland (Warrington RC)
Muryn Greene (Bann RC / Oxford Brookes University BC)
Sarah Portsmouth (Cambridge University BC)
Phoebe Campbell (Leander Club)
Lauren Carey (Leander Club)
Angharad Broughton (Llandaff RC)
Lucy Edmunds (Leander Club)
Flo Donald (Leander Club)
Charlie Marcus (cox) (Cambridge University BC)

Support Team

Equipment Managers/Drivers: Jamie Wilton (Univ of Worcester) and Paddy Ryan (Cambridge Univ)
Team Manager: Anna Liddell
Doctor: Dr Clodagh Dugdale
Physios: Simon Edwards and Sasha Bloomfield