Gold, silver and bronze for GB at 2024 Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprints
The Under 19 team won the Women’s Doubles, and took silver in the Men’s Doubles and bronze in the Women’s Solos in Los Alcázares, Spain from 1-3 November
In the Women’s Double Sculls (CJW2x), the GB crew of Lucy Whiteley (Fishguard and Goodwick Jemima RC/RGS Worcester BC) and Olivia Hodgson (RGS Worcester RC), recorded the second fastest time in the time trial, which was won by Spain 1. This qualified them directly for the Last 16, side-by-side races, where they beat Norway, followed by Spain’s second crew in the Last 8 round, Czechia in the semi finals, and reversed the time trial result beating Spain 1 in the A final.
Tom Walker (Christchurch RC) and Sol Chamberlain-Hyde (Lymington ARC) in the Men’s Double Sculls (CM2x) also finished second in their time trial, just fractions of a second ahead of three other crews including GB’s other crew of Xavier Jebb (Christchurch RC) and Oli Snoxall (Reading RC). Both GB crews went on to win their races in the Last 16 and the quarter finals. Tom and Sol then beat Switzerland 2 in their semi final, before taking the silver medal in the A final behind Spain 1, who had been the clear winners in the time trial, and beaten Xavier and Oli in their semi final.
Tom and Sol both also reached the quarter finals of the Men’s Solos, while Oli reached the quarter finals of the Mixed Double Sculls with Olivia Hodgson.
The Women’s Solos saw Leah Saunders (Evesham) finish fourth in the time trial, which was dominated by Spain 1. This event progressed straight to Quarter finals where she beat Spain 2 before losing in the semi final to Spain 1. She then produced an excellent performance in the B final to take the bronze medal well clear of Austria.
Hosts Spain won the Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprints overall, with GB and Czechia in joint second place, from the 10 nations competing.
Olympic Pathway Manager Tom Pattichis said, “This event provided an excellent opportunity for our leading Under 19s from the 2024 season to get some additional international racing experience. All rowers raced in two events each to give maximum racing opportunity, and the regatta was also used to provide international experience to three new Beach Sprint coaches.”
