Lea RC’s Pakule wins GB’s first international beach sprint championship gold medal
Evelyn Pakule of Lea RC won the U19 Coastal Women’s solo at the European Beach Sprint Championships in La Seyne-sur-Mer, France from 1-3 September
Having won the CJW1x time trial on Saturday, Evelyn had a long wait until Sunday afternoon’s semifinal and final, by which time conditions had picked up substantially with large waves creating a significant challenge.
Evelyn Pakule with coach Yewande Adesida.
Coming into the final stages of the semifinal, Evelyn trailed the Spanish sculler by two lengths but the Spaniard clipped a buoy, enabling Evelyn to come through. In the final she recorded a comfortable win over the Italian sculler.
Sam Scrimgeour and Laura McKenzie are helped to get off to a great start by the boat handlers
The CMix2x of Sam Scrimgeour and Laura McKenzie, from Glasgow RC and Leander Club, who won gold for Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Beach Sprint Regatta, also won their time trial. However, they came unstuck in Sunday’s conditions when they were capsized by a wave whilst leading France, the eventual winners, in the semifinal. Their eventual placing was fourth, after losing to Italy in the bronze medal race, but they cam e away from the weekend with some useful learning for the upcoming World Beach Sprint Finals.
Claire Jamison of Christchurch RC, who won silver in the CMix2x at last years World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Saundersfoot raced here in the CW1x. She finished fifth in the time trial but in the quarter finals went round one of the running flags the wrong way on the final beach sprint after leading off the water, so although she crossed the line first, a penalty meant she was eliminated. Her opponent from Ireland went on to win a bronze, so her performance suggests that Clare should be challenging the leading contenders at the World Finals.
James cox sprints to his boat
James Cox of Agecroft RC/Queen’s Park High School RC, who was the silver medalist in CJM1x in Saundersfoot last year made his senior debut here in the CM1x. James is the team reserve, and stepped in for Gregor Hall who was unavailable for the event. James performed admirably, coming second in the time trial and eventually losing out only narrowly in a sprint to the line in the quarter finals to the eventual silver medalist from the Czech Republic.
CJM1x Hector Harvey from Radley College BC, who’s a resident of Jersey and has been training out of Jersey RC in the lead up to the event, had a good first beach sprint championships, coming fourth in the time trial and losing out narrowly in the quarter finals.
Jonny Martini and Izzy Lancaster sprint out form the beach.
The CJMix2x of Jonny Martini from City of Bristol RC and Izzy Lancaster of Bradford ARC finished narrowly behind Ireland in the last 16 after a very close race. But drama ensued when Ireland were initially disqualified after rowing off the course when they were turned by a wave, putting the GB crew through to the quarter finals. However the decision against Ireland was later downgraded to a yellow card meaning GB weren’t able progress. However some good experience for a new crew as they now prepare for the World Finals in a month’s time.
European Rowing Coastal Championships and Club Coastal Championships
A number of other GB crews raced in the national federation and club endurance (4km or 6km) coastal events, including Charles Cousins, Jerry Owen and Natacha Season, who will race in the Mixed coxed quad at the World Rowing Beach Sprint finals in Barletta, Italy starting on 30 September. These athletes travelled with the team and raced in singles here to get in some extra coastal practice because the European Beach Sprints programme didn’t include a quad event. Charles Cousins won the bronze medal in the Coastal men’s solo.
European Coastal Championships results
| Event | Crew | Result | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCM1x | Charles Cousins | 28:17.99 | |
| MCM1x | Jerry Owen | 13th | 30:06.11 |
| MCW1x | Natacha Searson | 9th | 32:08.02 |
| MCMix2x | Clare Jamison Charles Cousins | 6th | 30:11.74 |
| MCMix2x | Laura McKenzie Sam Scrimgeour | Did not finish |
- Event:
- MCM1x
- Crew:
- Charles Cousins
- Result:
- Time:
- 28:17.99
- Event:
- MCM1x
- Crew:
- Jerry Owen
- Result:
- 13th
- Time:
- 30:06.11
- Event:
- MCW1x
- Crew:
- Natacha Searson
- Result:
- 9th
- Time:
- 32:08.02
- Event:
- MCMix2x
- Crew:
- Clare Jamison
Charles Cousins - Result:
- 6th
- Time:
- 30:11.74
- Event:
- MCMix2x
- Crew:
- Laura McKenzie
Sam Scrimgeour - Result:
- Did not finish
- Time:
- --
European Club Coastal Championships results
| Event | Crew | Result | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCM1x | Joshua Watkins (Jersey RC) | 1st in Final B | 23:47.03 |
| CCM1x | Chris Morshead (Jersey RC) | 2nd in Final B | 24:40.33 |
| CCW2x | Dolphin RC/Llanion Warriors RC Andrea Davies, Bryony Jones | 14th | 34:22.88 |
| CCM4x+ | Tynemouth RC/Jersey RC Chris Thompson, Sam O’Connor, Hal Flowerdew, Hylton Harvey, James Trotman (cox) | 6th | 25:18.27 |
| CCW4x+ | Jersey RC Sarah Earles, Emma Syvret, Connie Huelin, Abbi Syvret, Susan Huelin (cox) | 11th | 29:48.85 |
- Event:
- CCM1x
- Crew:
- Joshua Watkins (Jersey RC)
- Result:
- 1st in Final B
- Time:
- 23:47.03
- Event:
- CCM1x
- Crew:
- Chris Morshead (Jersey RC)
- Result:
- 2nd in Final B
- Time:
- 24:40.33
- Event:
- CCW2x
- Crew:
- Dolphin RC/Llanion Warriors RC
Andrea Davies, Bryony Jones - Result:
- 14th
- Time:
- 34:22.88
- Event:
- CCM4x+
- Crew:
- Tynemouth RC/Jersey RC
Chris Thompson, Sam O’Connor, Hal Flowerdew, Hylton Harvey, James Trotman (cox) - Result:
- 6th
- Time:
- 25:18.27
- Event:
- CCW4x+
- Crew:
- Jersey RC
Sarah Earles, Emma Syvret, Connie Huelin, Abbi Syvret, Susan Huelin (cox) - Result:
- 11th
- Time:
- 29:48.85
Photos: James Lee
