British athletes shine at the 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships
The virtual 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships saw a strong showing from British athletes, with standout performances across the 2000m, 500m, and relay events
The 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships, presented by Concept2, took place virtually on 15-16 February and 22-23 February 2025. Out of a total of 1600 athletes competing from 75 countries, 140 British athletes raced in the 2000m, 500m, 2000m Relay and 5000m Relay.
2000m
British competitor Rachel Fisher secured a top 10 finish in the Women’s 2000m event, finishing in ninth place overall and second in the Women’s 23-39 2000m category in a time of 7:01.8.
After winning gold at the 2024 British Rowing Indoor Championships, Justine Reston claimed another victory here on the world stage, finishing in 7:33.0 and winning the Lightweight Women’s 55-59 2,000m category.
Other brilliant performances included Julie Drake, who finished second in the Lightweight Women’s 55-59 2000m after coming 23rd in the semi-finals with a time of 7:51.1, Samantha Ayres, who clinched the bronze medal in the Lightweight Women’s 50-54 200m in 7:50.8, and Mandy Calvert, who also won silver in the Lightweight Women’s 60-64 2000m in 7:53.1.
In the men’s 2000m event, Benjamin Stevens was the fastest British competitor, finishing 11th overall and seventh in the Men’s 23-39 category in a time of 6:05.7. Close behind was Chris Power, who finished in 6:11.0 for 15th overall and 10th in the same category. Among the lightweight competitors, Roderick Chisholm set a time of 6:42.7, earning second place in the Lightweight Men’s 50-54 category and 19th overall.
500m
The explosive 500m races saw Rachel Fisher finish just outside the medals, taking fourth place overall in the women’s 500m and third in the Lightweight women’s 23-39 event with 1:24.9. British athlete Sally Brierley secured second in the women’s 40-44 category and 17th overall, crossing the line in 1:33.9.
After securing a silver medal at the 2024 British Rowing Indoor Championships in the 500m distance, Chris Scott took seventh overall and fifth in the Men’s 23-39 category in a time of 1:15.3, having earlier finished second overall in his semi-final in 1:15.8. Right behind him, Lee Davies recorded 1:15.5, placing eighth overall and sixth in the same category.
In the Men’s 40-44 category, Jim Berriman tied with Spain’s Alberto Fernandez in 1:17.0 to finish second in his category and 17th overall.
Relay
After becoming 2024 British Champions in the Adult Open 4km Relay in December, the NewWave CrossFit team again delivered two exceptional performances, securing silver medals in both the 2000m and 5000m relays.
For the 5000m relay, the NewWave Crossfit team were joined by Olympic Champion Rory Gibbs, who won gold in the Men’s eight at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The team crossed the line in 13:03.1, finishing in second place.
In the 2000m relay, the team of Rhys Westall, Alistair Turpie, Frazer Brent, and Elliot Awin powered to second place overall with a time of 4:59.0.
World Rowing commentator Camilla Hadland said, “It was wonderful to be part of a really successful World Rowing Indoor Championships, which for the first time was spread virtually across two weekends. It was fantastic to see such great representation from the 140 British athletes competing, as well as seeing entrants that had come via the 2024 British Rowing Indoor Championships.”
