Over 200 rowers compete in first trials on the road to LA 2028
The first GB trials for the 2025 international season took place in Boston, Lincolnshire and at the National Training Centre, Caversham from 9-10 November
These open trials provide the first opportunity for athletes aspiring to the GB Rowing Team to make their mark. They were a compulsory test for all candidates apart from Team GB rowers from Paris 2024 and those currently studying abroad.
The weekend of testing began with a 2k ergo test on the Saturday, before Sunday’s 5k time trial on the water for Women’s and Men’s single sculls and Men’s pairs. 72 women and 132 men (64 in single sculls and 68 in pairs) took part.
Women’s single sculls
As the only Paris 2024 athlete who elected to compete here, it was no surprise that Olympic Champion Lauren Henry (Leicester RC) dominated the Women’s single sculls. Jenny Bates (Oxford Brookes University BC), was second with Freya Keto (Thames RC/Cambridge University BC) in third place. Bates and Keto had their first taste of international representation earlier this year, when they finished sixth in the Women’s Double Sculls at World Cup III in Poznan, were runners up in the Stonor Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal Regatta, and won the Championship Double Sculls at Henley Women’s Regatta.
Zara Povey (Reading University BC) was the fastest Under 23, in sixth place.
Men’s single sculls
George Bourne (Cambridge University BC) won the Men’s single sculls ahead of Cedol Dafydd (Leander Club), with Rory Harris (Leander Club/Reading University BC) finishing third. Bourne, who won silver at the World Championships in 2022 and at World Cup III in 2023 in the Men’s Quadruple Sculls, and competed at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta this summer, has recently embarked on an MBA at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School. He’s also vying for a seat in the Cambridge Blue Boat for the next Boat Race, getting his campaign off to a good start as a member of the Cambridge crew that won the Championships Eights at the Head of the Charles three weeks ago.
Fifth-placed Matt Long (Reading University BC/Kingston RC) was the fastest Under 23.
Men’s pairs
In contrast with the sculling events, the top of the Men’s pairs event, which is not open to athletes on certain funding programmes, was extremely tight. Saxon Stacy (Oxford University BC) and Felix Rawlinson (Oxford University BC/Thames RC) snatched first place with Marlow Depeza (Leander Club/Lea RC) and Matthew fielding (Leander Club/Clydesdale ARC) second, and Josh Burke (Thames RC/University of London BC) and Maximilian Deering (Thames RC) third.
Paralympic trials
Following the most successful results at a Paralympic Games ever in Paris this Summer, this first trial was an opportunity for a group of up and coming pathway athletes to start their Paralympic journey. 15 athletes competed across a two day ergo and water assessment held at Caversham. Like those racing in Boston, many of the athletes in attendance were at their first GB Rowing Team trial.
Without the Paralympians in attendance the coaching team were pleased to see an uptake in entry numbers; this is something we hope will continue to build as we progress through the Paralympic cycle to LA2028. We are always looking to recruit existing rowers from our clubs as well as new athletes to join our expanding pathway group. Please get in contact with our pathway coaches at [email protected] if you know of anyone in your club who might be eligible.
