Maddie Arlett takes first medal for Great Britain on day six of World Rowing Championships

Maddie Arlett claimed GB’s first medal of the World Rowing Championships as she took bronze in the lightweight women’s single sculls

After sitting in fourth behind the South African sculler at the 1km point, Arlett, coached by Darren Whiter, kept her cool to row through and take the bronze.

“I’m over the moon.” said Arlett of her first World Championships medal. “To finally have a result to my name and to do it by myself – it was daunting, but I feel like it’s an unbelievable achievement. I’m so happy.”

Vicky Thornley secured Great Britain’s first Olympic women’s single sculls place since 2000 as she clinched second place in her semi-final. The result was even more significant for Thornley, coached by Paul Reedy, who missed the 2018 season due to overtraining and has been making her return to form in 2019.

“I’m so happy – it’s great for the team that the single is now qualified.” said Thornley. “Now I can enjoy the final and race with freedom.”

John Collins and Graeme Thomas, coached by Dan Moore, finished third in their semi-final to gain an Olympic qualification spot and put themselves through to the A final.

For Collins, the result was of huge importance after the tough B final he faced in the 2015 qualification regatta: “This time in 2015 we [Collins and Jonny Walton] were in the B final in one of the tightest, most stressful races ever, so to be in this position is a dream.

“That race was quite a long way from a perfect row, but through sheer grit we got to where we needed to be and held our place.

“Crossing the finish line in a qualifying spot, I just felt like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders – I got quite emotional on the finish line. It’s awesome to be in the final and everything from now is a bonus.”

At his first World Championships, Benjamin Pritchard, coached by Tom Dyson, won his semi-final to secure Great Britain a PR1 men’s single sculls spot at the 2020 Paralympic Games.

The stunned Welshman said: “I just feel elated. To get to a Paralympic or Olympic Games is every kid’s dream; three years ago I had an accident and now I’ve qualified for the Paralympic games. It beggars belief.”

The men’s pair of Morgan Bolding and Tom Jeffrey finished sixth in their semi-final, putting themselves through to tomorrow’s B final, while in the final for the lightweight men’s single, Sam Mottram missed out on the medals by less than a second.

Tomorrow sees ten GB crews in action, starting with the lightweight men’s double sculls C final at 9:03am BST. You can watch Saturday’s action live on BBC One from 1:15 to 3pm as well as watching all the races live on www.worldrowing.com.

Results

PR1 men’s single sculls (A/B semi-final)

1. Benjamin Pritchard (GBR) 9:46.13

2. Rene Pereira (BRA) 9:55.19

3. Shmuel Daniel (ISR) 10:07.43

Next GB race: A final

Men’s pair (A/B semi-final)

1. Thomas Murray and Michael Brake (NZL) 6:26.63

2. Sam Hardy and Joshua Hicks (AUS) 6:27.07

3. Valentin Onfroy and Theophile Onfroy (FRA) 6:27.30

…

6. Morgan Bolding and Tom Jeffrey (GBR) 6:45.16

Next GB race: B final

Men’s double sculls (A/B semi-final)

1. Phillip Doyle and Ronan Byrne (IRL) 6:13.88

2. Ioan Prundeanu and Marian-Florian Enache (ROU) 6:14.86

3. John Collins and Graeme Thomas (GBR) 6:15.84

Next GB race: A final

Women’s single sculls (A/B semi-final)

1. Kara Kohler (USA) 7:33.60

2. Vicky Thornley (GBR) 7:35.49

3. Jeannine Gmelin (SUI) 7:36.78

Next GB race: A final

Lightweight women’s single sculls (A final)

1. Marie-Louise Draeger (GER) 7:43.98

2. Chiaki Tomita (JPN) 7:47.28

3. Maddie Arlett (GBR) 7:49.82

Lightweight men’s single sculls (A final)

1. Martino Goretti (ITA) 6:59.48

2. Peter Galambos (HUN) 7:02.37

3. Sean Murphy (AUS) 7:04.55

…

5. Sam Mottram (GBR) 7:05.39