England Team announced for 2022 Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships

October 3, 2022

Three boats will compete for England at the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships (CRABS) in Walvis Bay, Namibia from 2-4 December.

England Rowing will be travelling to Africa to race at the Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships (CRABS), with the competition taking place on Independence Beach, Walvis Bay, Namibia this December.

A team of four rowers has been selected to represent England. They will race across three events as well as in a team relay, with competition taking place from Friday, 2 December to Sunday, 4 December.

Melissa Shaw of Shoreham RC will be racing in the mixed double in what will be her first international competition: “I’ve always been a coastal rower, the sea was where I first learnt to row. But I only learnt about the beach sprint format this year and decided to give it a go, it’s been so much fun and it’s such a great atmosphere. It’s so special that my first international competition will be a coastal one. I can’t wait to get to Namibia and see what Hal and I can do.”

For others this will be a return to the international stage, after competing for Great Britain at the recent World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals (WRBSF) and European Rowing Coastal Championships (ERCC).

Hal Flowerdew from Tynemouth RC, a student studying at Newcastle University will be moving from the solo at the ERCC to the double at CRABS said: “To be selected for my nation in the Commonwealth Beach Sprints in the mixed double is an amazing and new challenge, from moving from the single which I’ve been racing all year but one I am very excited and look forward too.”

The WRBSF GB mixed double of Clare Jamison and Charles Cousins will be splitting to row the women’s and men’s solo respectively at CRABS. Clare said: “I’m excited to have another opportunity to represent England and race in the beach sprints format. I am looking forward to racing in Namibia – hopefully in the sun and waves and with some exciting competition!” Charles added: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be heading out to Swakopmund to race the Commonwealth Rowing Beach Sprints. It is no doubt going to be a very exciting place to race. The South Atlantic is wild and will provide some challenging conditions (and hopefully not too many sharks!) for us – it’s going to be a lot of fun!”

Welsh Rowing have also recently announced teams for the CRABS with Scottish Rowing expected to make their team announcement later this week.

All three nations are looking forward to joining other Commonwealth Nations in this historic event in Namibia, which will mark the first time a Commonwealth Rowing event has been hosted in Africa.

After acting as Team Manager at the first Home International Rowing Beach Sprints, Lucy Hart will be coaching the team and said: “I’m thrilled with the team selection particularly that it is representative of both the river and coastal community and features current and new, talented athletes. It’s really exciting to have such a strong team and the opportunity to compete against all the Commonwealth countries that we may not traditionally see in the equivalent flat water event.”

James Andrews, Head of Performance talent at British Rowing who will be travelling as the Team Manager said. “We have selected a strong team of experienced athletes from across England, with a mix from both coastal and river community clubs. It will be a privilege to take an England Rowing team to race in Africa for the first time, especially as we await a decision on the format’s inclusion into the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”

Follow the England Rowing Team on their journey and show your support by following them on Twitter or Instagram and by using the hashtag #CRABS22.

Many thanks to the National Trust, Studland Bay and the Coastal Rowing Centre for hosting and supporting our selection trials.