Great Britain team announced for 2019 Gavirate International Regatta
The Gavirate International Regatta takes place in Gavirate, Italy, between 18-19 May, with 10 athletes selected for the Great Britain team
A squad of ten athletes has been selected for the 2019 Gavirate International Regatta (18-19 May), including three Paralympic champions, four world champions and multiple medallists from the Para-rowing event’s 2018 edition.
>>> Check out the team announcement on social
Two Paralympic champions feature in the same boat, with Laurence Whiteley and Lauren Rowles reprising their Rio 2016 gold medal-winning combination in the PR2 mixed double. Lauren missed the 2018 Gavirate International Regatta due to injury, but Laurence claimed a gold and a silver in last year’s PR2 men’s single.
Both Andy Houghton and Ben Pritchard return to compete individually in the PR1 men’s single event, with Andy claiming a strong silver medal and Ben taking sixth place in the same final last year.
The GB Rowing Team is fielding a PR3 mixed coxed four, with Ollie Stanhope, Ellen Buttrick and cox Erin Wysocki-Jones all returning from winning gold at the 2018 World Championships in the same category. They are joined by Paralympic champion James Fox in the three seat, with 2017 PR3 mixed coxed four World Champion Giedre Rakauskaite completing the line-up.
Paralympic lead coach Tom Dyson said: “We’re delighted to announce this squad to kick off our 2019 regatta season. With Tokyo 2020 Paralympic boat qualification on the line at the World Championships later this summer, it’s great to be able to field a squad with such strength.”
Debutant Gregg Stevenson was also due to take to the water in a single scull, competing for GB for the first time in the PR2 men’s single, however he has been withdrawn on medical grounds.
You can follow the action from Gavirate across British Rowing’s social media channels over the course of the weekend.
Great Britain squad for 2019 Gavirate International Regatta – Gavirate, Italy (18-19 May)
PR1 M1x
Andy Houghton (Club: Maidenhead RC / Hometown: Newbury)
Ben Pritchard (City of Swansea RC / Swansea)
Coach: Tom Dyson
PR2 M1x
Gregg Stevenson (Agecroft / Colne) (withdrawn on medical grounds)
Coach: Tom Dyson
PR2 Mix2x
Laurence Whiteley (Tees RC / Northallerton)
Lauren Rowles (Worcester RC / Bromsgrove)
Coach: Tom Dyson
PR3 Mix4+
Oliver Stanhope (Molesey BC / London)
James Fox (Leander / Peterborough)
Giedre Rakauskaite (Worcester RC / Worcester)
Ellen Buttrick (Leeds RC / Leeds)
Erin Wysocki-Jones (cox) (Leander Club / Wantage)
Coach: Nick Baker
Coaches/support
- Tom Dyson
- Nick Baker
- Ella Willott
- Pat Dunleavy
- Tom Rusga
- Brendan Purcell