Gold for PR3 mixed coxed four as GB take three medals on day one of finals at Gavirate International Regatta

Great Britain’s PR2 mixed double took silver, while Ben Pritchard took bronze in the PR1 men’s single sculls

Great Britain’s PR3 mixed coxed four continued their dominant display at Gavirate International Regatta, winning gold in Saturday morning’s final, taking the win over their nearest rivals Australia in second, and Ukraine in third.

Buttrick, who is racing at Gavirate for the first time said: “Last year, I was watching the team compete at this regatta as a development athlete having never rowed in the four. A year on, and I am on the podium with a gold! I am so excited to be part of such a powerful crew as we head towards Paralympic boat qualification later this summer.”

Gold was immediately followed by silver, with GB’s PR2 mixed double of Laurence Whiteley and Lauren Rowles taking second, behind an impressive Dutch crew. Whiteley said: “This morning was a positive one for us. We haven’t raced together since 2017 so it was about getting out there and enjoying the racing. It’s been great to see what we can do together again.”

It was pure delight for Ben Pritchard who found himself on the podium, picking up bronze in the PR1 men’s single sculls, behind Paralympic champion, Roman Polianskyi who took gold and World champion, Erik Horrie who took silver. Great Britain’s Andy Houghton took fourth place in a well fought final.

Following the race, Pritchard said: “This morning was incredible as I got to share the podium with a Paralympic and World Champion. It was the first time I have really proved myself and that the winter miles have been worth it. It was also great to race Andy to the line and I am looking forward to going again in tomorrow’s second final.”

The Great Britain crews all returned to the water later that afternoon for the second round of racing. The PR3 mixed coxed four, and both PR1 men’s singles won their respective heats, with GB’s PR2 mixed double sculls taking second spot. All crews will race in tomorrow’s A finals, the last races of the regatta.

You can follow the racing on the live stream: www.raisport.rai.it.

Saturday morning, A finals

PR3 mixed coxed four

1. Great Britain (Ellen Buttrick, Giedre Rakauskaite, James Fox, Ollie Stanhope & Erin Wysocki-Jones (cox) 7:04.90
2. Australia 7:16.50
3. Ukraine 7:22.30

PR2 mixed double sculls

1. The Netherlands 8.19.04
2. Great Britain (Lauren Rowles & Laurence Whiteley) 8:23.02
3. France 8:40.08

PR1 men’s single sculls

1. Ukraine 9:31.05
2. Australia 9:52.03
3. Great Britain 2 (Ben Pritchard) 10:12.06
4. Great Britain 1 (Andy Houghton) 10:15.03

Saturday afternoon heats

PR3 mixed coxed four, heat

1. Great Britain (Ellen Buttrick, Giedre Rakauskaite, James Fox, Ollie Stanhope & Erin Wysocki-Jones (cox) 7:17.92
2. Ukraine 7:32.05
3. France 7:36.05

PR2 mixed double sculls, heat

1. The Netherlands 8.22.00
2. Great Britain (Lauren Rowles & Laurence Whiteley) 8:36.03
3. France 9:00.06

PR1 men’s single sculls, heat 1

1. Great Britain 1 (Andy Houghton) 10:20.09
2. France 11:00.01
3. Hungary 11:11.08

PR1 men’s single sculls, heat 2

1. Great Britain 2 (Ben Pritchard) 10:23.07
2. Belarus 10:46.00
3. 12:22.03